www.folkcollege.com

2008 Workshops

Schedule and workshops are subject to change without notice.

Workshop Levels

Beginner = Just getting started on your instrument, or perhaps you haven’t started yet.
Advanced Beginner = Is developing a repertoire of tunes, but doesn’t yet play up to full speed.
Intermediate = Learns music easily by ear or from sheet music.
Advanced = Experienced musician, performer, professional who wants a real challenge.
Beyond Beginner = For all levels from advanced beginner through advanced.

Friday, May 23

2:00pm - Registration and dorm check-in begins in Brumbaugh Hall Lobby

3:00-4:00pm - Workshops:

Stephen Foster Songs - Tim Craven of Rustical Quality
Stephen Foster (1826-1864), a native of Pittsburgh, wrote some of the songs that have become American favorites, including Oh Susanna, Camptown Races, My Old Kentucky Home, Beautiful Dreamer, and Swanee River, to name a few. We’ll sing some of the old favorites, and learn some of Foster’s lesser-known songs. We’ll mostly work by ear, but some chords and sheet music will be provided. There will be opportunities for instrumentalists too, so bring your instrument if you play.

English Country Dancing - Bob Nicholson (all levels)
What better way to start the weekend than with some beautiful and exciting English country dancing? No experience is necessary. Wear soft-soled shoes if you have them. Live music will be provided by Will Mills. Instrumentalists who know the repertoire are welcome to join in.

Easy Contradance Tunes - Members of Rustical Quality (adv. beginner)
There's a whole body of easy but wonderful contradance tunes, and we'll learn several. Besides learning the melodies, we’ll work on the rhythm support that is crucial to playing solid contradance music, and we’ll talk about how to make the music danceable. Sheet music will be provided.

Hearing Chord Changes - Creaking Tree (adv. beginner)
You’re at a jam, and someone suggests a tune you don’t know. What do you do? An important skill toward surviving a jam session is to learn to hear chord changes. This workshop will teach you to hear and identify common chords and chord changes and to understand where and when they occur. We’ll also explore how to anticipate what chord is coming and more.

Balkan Tunes - Gordon Bonnet (intermediate)
Would you like to learn some tunes in non-standard time signatures? In this workshop, we'll find out about the asymmetrical rhythms used in Balkan music, and learn some dance tunes in 7/8, 11/16, and other weird and wonderful time signatures found in Eastern European music. Sheet music will be provided. (Don't be afraid, it's easier than it sounds!)

Native American Music - Spirit Wing (intermediate)
This is the first time in nine years that Folk College has offered a workshop on Native American music. We’re offering it twice so that everyone has a chance. Don’t pass it up!

Adding Stuff to the Music - Simple Gifts (advanced)
Simple Gifts often finds themselves in a situation where one of them is on the melody, one is playing backup, and the other does something that’s somewhere in between. They’ve come to call this “stuff.” Simple Gifts’ stuff consists of fills, syncopations, and rhythmic and melodic variations. In this workshop, Simple Gifts shares their ideas on how to successfully play the stuff that isn’t melody or backup, though sometimes includes a bit of each, and certainly goes a long way toward making a band’s sound special.

4:15-5:15pm - Workshops:

Beginners’ Sampler - Peggy Shutes with Jerry Trusty
Beginners can get tips on playing just about any folk instrument. We’ll have a variety of instruments for you to try, with assistance and TLC appropriate for total non-musicians. We’ll show you how to play 2 or 3 chords on your instrument of choice, and then you’ll be ready to play as we start a very sloooow jam session. This workshop is offered twice, and you’re welcome to attend one or both.

Singing the Blues - Scott Ainslie (all levels)
African sensibilities, suffused with aesthetic and spiritual traditions, brought the art of singing in America to dramatically new territory and have changed what we expect of singers in popular, blues, soul, jazz, and gospel music today. From a white choir boy to folk singer to blues singer, Scott has spent a lot of time thinking about and exploring just what it means to sing in an African-based tradition. The voice is the most personal instrument. Come prepared to learn something about the differences between European traditions and African traditions and to use your voice to express your emotions.

Easy Irish Tunes - Will Mills & Jeff Howanek (adv. beginner)
We’ll look at several Irish tunes that are easy to learn and fun to play. We will try to learn by ear, but sheet music will be available if needed.

How to Jam - Members of Rustical Quality (adv. beginner)
If you’ve sat quietly at jam sessions wishing you knew how to jump into the music, this session is for you. We’ll discuss how to pick up enough of the tune to join in and how to figure out the chord progressions to play along. We will also discuss when to listen and when to jump in.

Contradance Band Rehearsal - Genticorum & Rachel Hall (intermediate)
We’ll play through the medleys planned for this evening’s contradance and learn basic arrangement ideas that make them come alive! Music and chords will be provided. [Note: It’s ok to skip this workshop and play for the dance anyhow.]

International Jam - International Folk Sounds (intermediate)
Play music from other countries, and explore unusual rhythms and harmonies. Sheet music (in C and B flat) will be provided.

Crooked Tunes - Gordon Bonnet (advanced)
Every musical tradition has a few tunes which don't go the way you think they will -- that have rhythms that rely on unexpected shifts in stress, have unusual numbers of measures, or break the usual mold in a variety of other ways. In this workshop, we'll learn a few "crooked" tunes from a variety of musical traditions. Sheet music will be provided.

5:30-6:30pm - Picnic Dinner & Open Mic

7:00pm - Staff Concert in Ellis Hall Ballroom
Spirit Wing, Simple Gifts, Creaking Tree

After the concert:
Contradance - caller Bob Nicholson with open band led by Genticorum & Rachel Hall
Slow Jam - Howard Blumenthal and Curt Osgood
Intermediate/advanced Jam - Creaking Tree
Native American Drumming & Vocals - Spirit Wing

11:00pm - Late jam at the dorm
Intermediate level jam with Howard Blumenthal and Curt Osgood

Saturday, May 24

7:00-8:00am - Breakfast in Ellis Hall

8:15-8:45am - Orientation Meeting in Brumbaugh Auditorium
Meet the staff, sign up for a folk band, and get oriented as to what’s happening for the rest of the weekend.

9:00-10:15am - Workshops:

Music Games - Rachabelle
For the young and young at heart! Come have fun participating in music games from around the world. No singing, dancing, or playing experience necessary. A great way to get to know your fellow Folk College participants!

Try a Drum Set - Doug Penglase of Spirit Wing
Everyone’s got a little “wanna play drums” in them. Come give it a try!

Bluegrass Harmony Singing - Members of Rustical Quality
Bluegrass harmony singing combines of the raw power of the genre with tight knit and moving vocal structures. We’ll focus on learning to hear your part, staying in tune, and other harmony challenges (like how to sing that always-difficult baritone part). Your singing in the shower will never be the same!

Easy International Folk Dance Tunes - International Folk Sounds (adv. beginner)
Learn a sampling of tunes from Serbia, Romania, Russia, and elsewhere! Explore different rhythms. Sheet music in C and B flat will be provided.

Learning by Ear - John Showman & Brad Keller of Creaking Tree (adv. beginner)
Learning to play by ear will open a whole new world to you where you can pick up tunes at jam sessions and by listening to recordings. Brad and John will help you take sounds you're hearing and turn them into simple chunks that your fingers can understand, then put them together, step-by-step, into the music that you are yearning to play!

Native American Melodies - Barbara and Barry of Spirit Wing (intermediate)
Native American melodies will be taught on flutes but appropriate for all melody instruments. This is a journey into the contemporary side of Indigenous Music, such as Joanne Shenandoah, Bill Miller, Spirit Wing, etc. We’ll focus on developing the right feel and approach, including discussion of the spiritualism of the music.

Rhythm & Groove - Genticorum (intermediate)
Genticorum is known for the incredibly tight sound they get, with all of them being in the same groove. Learn how to feel the rhythm as a group and to lock in rhythmically for a solid sound.

Jazz Theory & Improvisation - Andrew & Brian of Creaking Tree (advanced)
A fast-paced discussion of how jazz changes work and how to approach improvising over them. We’ll dissect a tune, and the discussion will include chord scales, tritone substitution, jazz harmony, secondary dominants and more. Part of this workshop will use sheet music, and part will be by ear.

Fiddle Techniques - Will Mills (adv. beginner)
We’ll look at a broad range of bowing and left-hand techniques that can improve your sound and ease of playing.

Slide Guitar - Scott Ainslie (all levels)
There are about five basic techniques that are (1) not obvious, and (2) a bit counter-intuitive, that provide us with the keys to the kingdom of slide guitar. Bring a slide that fits securely on your little finger: mass is a good thing (thicker pyrex, mudslides, acousti-glide brass slides, bottlenecks all welcome). We will explore these right and left hand basics, then have a look at slide on open tunings, and finally in standard tuning.

Open Jam Room - no leader (beyond beginner)
Start your morning with a jam session!

10:30-11:45am - Workshops:

Washboard (available for purchase) - Mick Smyer of Rustical Quality
The washboard is a fun percussion instrument that’s full of complexities but easy to get started on. We will explore basic rhythm patterns, progress to “trading fours” and consider the role of the “second line” in bluegrass, dixieland, zydeco, and other traditional music forms. The goal is to unlock the “inner percussionist” in us all!

International Folk Dancing - International Folk Sounds (all levels)
Learn dances from around the world, from Bolivia to the Balkans!

Song Writing - Tim Craven of Rustical Quality (all levels)
The purpose of this class is twofold: it will be an opportunity initially to share original songs and then to enter into a discussion of song creation techniques. Depending on the interests of the attendees, we might write a song together!

Easy Modal Tunes - Gordon Bonnet (adv. beginner)
Modal tunes are tunes which don't follow the common major and minor scales used in most western music, and as a result they sound wonderfully exotic and fresh. Come to this workshop to learn a few easy modal tunes, and break free of the straight and narrow!We'll work by ear if possible, but sheet music will be available if needed.

Creative Arrangements - Creaking Tree (intermediate)
One of the things we love most about Creaking Tree is the creativity and innovation of their arrangements. Come learn what goes into their process and try some of it for yourself. We’ll work partly by ear and partly from music.

Backing up a Singer - Karen of Simple Gifts & Celia of Rustical Quality (intermediate)
We’ll look at fills, rhythms, and other techniques that instrumentalists can use to make a singer sound wonderful!

Using Syncopation - Rachel Hall of Simple Gifts (advanced)
Syncopation can really snaz up your playing. Learn when and how to use it, and learn some rhythm licks that sound great and are fun to play!

Old Time Banjo - Mike Rovine of Rustical Quality (intermediate)
We will pick a couple of old time favorites and fancy them up by learning some rhythmic and melodic variations. We will also learn a more challenging tune that will include more advanced picking techniques.

Québécois Guitar Accompaniment - Yann of Genticorum (intermediate/advanced)
Learn the techniques and approach that go into playing backup guitar for Québécois tunes.

Jamming - Howard Blumenthal and/or Curt Osgood (beyond beginner)
Howard and Curt are the jamming-est people we know! Bring your ideas for tunes you’d like to play.

noon-1:00pm - Lunch in Ellis Hall

1:15-2:30pm - Workshops:

Foot Percussion - Pascal Gemme of Genticorum (all)
Learn how to tap your feet in the lively Québécois style to accompany fiddle tunes and songs.

Native American Drumming & Vocals - Spirit Wing (all)
Spirit Wing will provide shakers and hand drums, or bring along your own drum or any percussive instrument. This workshop promises to be something really different. As Spirit Wing puts it, “This is not what the movies or Florida State’s fight song have shown you.” Come experience the difference!

Easy Waltzes - Will Mills & Jeff Howanek (adv. beginner)
Using sheet music, we’ll work through three or four easy waltzes, with input for both melody and backup players.

Simplified Versions of Standard Tunes - Karen & Linda of Simple Gifts (adv. beginner melody players)
One approach for advanced beginners is to play tunes slowly. Another less commonly used approach is to leave out enough notes so you can play up to speed. We’ll look at a few standard tunes and learn simple versions that will allow you to keep up in a jam. This workshop if for melody players only. Sheet music will be provided.

Improvising on Traditional Tunes - Mike Rovine of Rustical Quality (intermediate)
Learn how to play variations on traditional tunes as a way to approach improvising. We will learn how to construct a solo over the chord progression using arpeggios, repetitive patterns, and rhythmic variations and how to create alternate versions of the tune based on the harmonies.

Piedmont & Delta Blues - Scott Ainslie (intermediate)
These two great branches of African American traditional blues form the back bones of country, boogie woogie, and rock. This class will explore some of the repertoire and showcase the differences between the ragtime based East Coast Piedmont styles with the more clearly African Delta Blues.

Québécois Flute - Alex de Grosbois-Garand of Genticorum (intermediate/advanced)
We’ll focus on playing flute in a Québécois style.

Squeeze Box Techniques - Rachel Hall of Simple Gifts (all levels)
Tips and techniques for squeezing your squeezable instrument!

Jamming - Howard Blumenthal and/or Curt Osgood (beyond beginner)
Howard and Curt are the jamming-est people we know! Bring your ideas for tunes you’d like to play.

2:45-4:15pm - Folk Band Rehearsal
Small groups will be coached by a professional musician to work toward performing in the Sunday concert. Choice of old time, blues, contradance tunes, international, French Canadian, Native American, Irish, avant garde, gospel, old country, waltzes, squeezebox band, or beginners’ band.

4:30-5:30pm - Student-Run Workshops
Sign up at the info desk if you want to offer a workshop. A list of available workshops will be posted in the lobby.

5:30pm - Dinner on your own

7:00pm - Staff Concert in Brumbaugh Auditorium
Scott Ainslie, Rustical Quality String Band, Genticorum

After the main concert
Encore Concert - Hear the staff that didn’t already perform tonight or last night.
Mostly instrumental jam - Genticorum (beyond beginner)
Mostly singing jam- Rustical Quality (all levels)

11:00pm - Late jam at the dorm
Intermediate level jam with Howard Blumenthal and Curt Osgood.

Sunday, May 27

7:45-8:45am - Breakfast in Ellis Hall

8:00-8:45am - Student Run Workshops (after a quick breakfast)
Sign up at the info desk if you want to offer a workshop. A list of available workshops will be posted in the lobby.

9:00-10:15am - Workshops:

Hymn Singing - Tim Craven of Rustical Quality
(Exit Brumbaugh, turn right. Church is at 2nd intersection on the left.)
Non-denominational, no sermon, no collection basket. Just soulful songs anyone can sing. Instruments are welcome too. Some handouts with chords and lyrics and some music will be provided. Ends at 9:45.

Easy Old Time Tunes - Members of Rustical Quality (adv. beginner)
There are some easy but wonderful tunes in the old time string band repertoire, and we'll take a look at several. We'll work by ear, with sheet music available at the end of the workshop

Tunes that are Cooler than they are Hard - Rachel Hall & Rachabelle (adv. beginner)
Just because a tune is super cool doesn't mean it has to make your brain hurt. Come learn a few refreshing tunes that are manageable but full of zest and sparkle! We will concentrate on a few tunes, taught by ear with sheet music available at the end of the workshop.

Playing into a Sound System - Curtis Rockwell (intermediate)
Playing music with a sound system is rather different from playing in an acoustic setting. We will provide tips for making the best use of a PA system, and you’ll have an opportunity to try the equipment being provided for the concerts. Topics to be covered include how to sing into a microphone, where to place the mic for your instrument, and what a sound engineer expects from a performer. We will focus on how the performer interacts with the equipment on stage and will not cover the technical information of how to set up and run a sound system.

Québécois Tunes - Alex de Grosbois-Garand & Pascal Gemme of Genticorum (advanced)
This will be a quick-paced session of learning tunes from Québéc, with a look at how to give them an authentic Québécois sound.

Intermediate/Advanced Fiddle - John Showman of Creaking Tree
John is a master at bringing melodies to life through groove, and he has developed some unique bowing and left hand techniques. Come hear and try the secrets of his fantastic sound! We’ll work partly by ear and partly from music.

Guitar Styles - Scott Ainslie, Yann Falquet of Genticorum, Brad Keller of Creaking Tree
With three incredible guitar players in the same room at the same time, magical things are bound to happen! Yann plays Québécois, Brad plays bluegrass and swing, and Scott plays blues and slide guitar. Each will present some basics from their traditions. DADGAD, Standard, and Open G/D tunings will all be touched on. There should be some fingerboard AHA moments amidst the fun.

Open Jam Room - no leader (beyond beginner)
Start your morning with a jam session!

10:30-11:45am - Workshops:

Native American Dancing - Spirit Wing (for all)
Learn traditional Eastern Woodland dances, with some discussion of how the dance and culture are intertwined.

Blues & Québécois Call & Response Singing - Scott Ainslie; Alex & Yann of Genticorum (all levels)
Expect a lot of singing and a little jawing about the origins and uses/goals of call and response musical structures out of these two traditions. You can't say we aren't casting our nets wide!

Easy Breton Tunes - Rachabelle & Gordon Bonnet (adv. beginner)
Experience the cyclic, mesmeric beauty of these accessible tunes from Brittany, the Celtic region of France. Tunes will be taught by ear, with sheet music available at the end of the workshop.

Basic Music Theory - Peggy Shutes (adv. beginner)
We’ll examine chords, scales and other building blocks that will help you to understand how music “works”.

Pennsylvania Tunes - Simple Gifts (intermediate)
We’ll look at about ten wonderful but relatively unknown tunes collected in Pennsylvania. Sheet music and chords will be provided.

Add Some Avant Garde to your Playing - Creaking Tree (advanced)
Join the four members of Creaking Tree to talk about how they create new and different sounds by pushing the boundaries of traditional music. Hear the inside scoop on the sounds and techniques that are unique to this band, sounds with code names like The Scary Goat, Moo-Moo, and Flanking.

Québécois Fiddle - Pascal Gemme of Genticorum (intermediate/advanced)
Learn tunes from the Québécois fiddle repertoire, and take a look at what gives them a Québécois sound.

Mandolin - Andrew Collins of Creaking Tree (beyond beginner)
Tips and techniques for getting the most out of your mandolin playing. We’ll work partly by ear and partly from sheet music.

Jamming - Howard Blumenthal and/or Curt Osgood (beyond beginner)
Howard and Curt are the jamming-est people we know! Bring your ideas for tunes you’d like to play.

noon-1:00pm - Lunch in Ellis Hall

1:00-2:15pm - Folk Band Rehearsal
More coaching with the same groups as Saturday.

2:30-4:30pm - Student Concert in Brumbaugh Auditorium

5:00pm - Dorm Check-out
After you check out of your dorm, join an intermediate level jam in the auditorium or sign up at the info desk for a student-run workshop.