Greenwood Furnace Folk Gathering

5:00 - 7:00

Registration in the Visitors Center
Dinner will not be provided. There are not many options for buying food in the area, so we recommend that you eat before you come or bring a picnic meal with you.

7:00

Staff Concert
Hear a couple tunes from each of the groups on staff. Free and open to the public.

9:00

Jamming after the concert
Instrumental jam with Simple Gifts; Singing with Clark, Cindy, Liz & Pete; Oldtime jam with Keystone Rebels

8:00 - 9:00

Breakfast* (* meals can be purchased with registration)

8:30

Orientation, welcome and announcements during breakfast

9:00 - 10:00

Music Games – Rachabelle
Whether you need a Saturday morning wakeup, a way to get to know your fellow festival attendees, or just a little laid-back fun, this workshop of music games from around the world is sure to get you involved and make you smile.

Song Writing – Jim Colbert
Unlock your inner songwriter! How to get started and how to keep going. Bring songs you’ve written for feedback and advice.

Pennsylvania Tunes – Simple Gifts
Learn some wonderful but lesser-known tunes collected in Pennsylvania. Sheet music will be provided. For all instruments; all levels beyond beginner.

West Virginia Tunes – Druckenmillers
For all instruments, all levels beyond beginner.

Ear Training – Gail Blake
Step by step, phrase by phrase, work on playing or singing back what you hear.

10:15 - 11:15

Instant Musician – Clark Parry and Cindy Durkee
For the absolute beginner or non-musician, c'mon in and we'll get you going. You'll be strumming along before you know it.

Pennsylvania Fiddle Music: Demo & Discussion – Keystone Rebels
This session will be part concert and part discussion as Keystone Rebels gives an overview of traditional PA music. We’ll particularly look at the work of Samuel Bayard, Pennsylvania’s most prolific tune collector. Keystone member Carl Rahkonen is an ethnomusicologist at Indiana University of PA and is considered to be an expert on PA fiddling.

Songs of the People: Carter Family and Woody Guthrie – Jim Colbert & Pete Hawley
We’ll sing songs by these two American icons and discuss their history and influence. Lyrics & chords will be provided.

New England Tunes – Kitchen Chair
For all instruments, all levels beyond beginner.

How to Jam – Jerry Trusty & Liz Friedel
If you’ve sat quietly at jams wishing you knew how to jump into the music, this session is for you!

11:30 - 12:30

Try a Mountain Dulcimer – Clark Parry & Cindy Durkee
This is a fun and easy instrument that can be used in a jam session, to accompany voices, or all by yourself! Dulcimers will be provided.

Contradance Basics – Bob Nicholson
Contradancing is easy enough that you’ll be fine at the evening dance even if you’ve never tried it before. But you’ll have a better time if you come to this workshop to learn the basics.

Pennsylvania Songs – Folkemer Family Band
Beth Folkemer has been studying field recordings of ballads collected by Samuel Bayard in Pennsylvania. She and her family will teach a few of their favorites.

Old Time Tunes – Mark Tamsula & Todd Clewell
For all instruments, all levels beyond beginner.

How to Improvise – Rachel Hall & Jerry Trusty
Improvising is easier than you think, and this session will give you a basic intro. For all instruments, all levels beyond beginner.

12:30 - 1:30

Lunch*and jamming with Howard Blumenthal

1:30 - 2:30

Honoring Pennsylvania Heritage Musicians John & JoAnn Dively
In this special session, we will honor long-time Pennsylvania musicians, John and JoAnn Dively. The session will be mainly chatting and hearing the Divelys’ stories, but there may be some jamming and listening to the Divelys sing and play as well. Facilitated by Henry Koretzky, Karen Hirshon, and Linda Littleton.

Open Stage – Facilitated by Holly Foy
This is your chance to perform for all and listen to others. Everyone at any level is welcome, and the audience is guaranteed to be supportive and encouraging! If there are more takers than time, we’ll draw straws at the beginning of the session.

Jamming – Howard Blumenthal & Jerry Trusty
For all instruments and voices. Bring along your favorite tunes and songs for all to share!

2:45 - 3:45

Square Dance Basics – Bob Nicholson
For all levels of dancers, especially beginners.

Old Time Tunes with Words – Druckenmillers & Todd Clewell
From “Soldier’s Joy” to “June Apple,” we’ll get into some great old-time tunes that have fun verses to sing. For all levels of singers; instrumentalists beyond beginners.

Performance Band – Folkemer Family Band
Come join the band! We’ll look at issues of arranging and performing music and then put them to use by arranging a song to be performed at the start of the Saturday night concert. For all instruments and singers. All levels are welcome.

Scandinavian Tunes – Carl Rahkonen & Rachabelle
We’ll learn a few tunes and prepare for an emerging festival tradition of processing while playing right before the Saturday evening concert. For all instruments, all levels beyond beginner.

Jamming with Pennsylvania Heritage Musicians John & JoAnn Dively
We’ll sing and play music from the Divelys’ repertoire. This will be a chance to get to know and share music with musicians that have deep roots in south-central Pennsylvania. Facilitated by Henry Koretzky and Karen Hirshon.

4:00 - 5:00

Foot Percussion – members of Tunescape
Learn the French Canadian tradition of using your feet as a rhythm instrument. All levels are welcome.

History of Songs – Paul Fagley
Hear a unique perspective on music and history from Greenwood Furnace State Park’s historian, Paul Fagley.

Contra & Square Dance Band – Rachel Hall, Rachabelle, Henry Koretzky, Bob Nicholson
We’ll look over the music that will be played at this evening’s contradance. Music and chords will be provided. For all instruments; all levels beyond beginner. Note: If you miss this session, it’s still ok to play for the dance.

Waltzes – Kitchen Chair & Liz Friedel
For all instruments, all levels beyond beginner.

Old Time Jam (instruments & singing) – Druckenmillers & Pete Hawley
For all levels of singers and all instruments beyond beginner.

5:15 - 6:15

Picnic Dinner *

6:30

Concert with Clark & Cindy, Kitchen Chair, Tunescape and Simple Gifts
We’ll start with a processional by the Scandinavian workshop group, then the Performance Band will play, and we’ll follow it up with concerts by four talented groups! Free and open to the public.

8:00

Contradance (after the concert)
Bob Nicholson will teach and call the dances. No experience is necessary and no partner is necessary. If you can walk and count to 8, you can do these dances! Live music will be provided by an open band led by Rachel Hall, Rachabelle, and Henry Koretzky. All musicians are welcome to join the band, even if you didn’t attend the practice earlier in the day. Free and open to the public.

10:00

Jamming after the dance
Instrumental jam with Kitchen Chair; Singing around the bonfire with Druckenmillers& Jerry Trusty; Oldtime jam with Keystone Rebels

8:00 - 9:00

Breakfast*

9:00 - 10:00

Hymn Singing – Clark Parry & Cindy Durkee
A good old-fashioned hymn sing held at the historic Greenwood Furnace Church. Bring your instrument if you play. Song sheets with chords will be provided. This workshop is free and open to the public.

Tunes that are Cooler than they are Hard – Rachel Hall & Tunescape
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 fun and groovy! We’ll try to learn by ear but music will be available if needed. For all instruments, all levels beyond beginner.

Music Theory – Jerry Trusty
We’ll examine chords, scales and other building blocks that will help you to understand how music “works”. All levels.

Fiddle – Todd Clewell & Liz Friedel
Tips and techniques for all levels beyond beginner.

10:15 - 11:15

Mini-concert & Discussion – Druckenmillers & Folkemers
Our two family bands will perform for you and discuss their philosophy and approach to music.

Pennsylvania Tunes collected from Sarah Armstrong – Todd Clewell & Henry Koretzky
Todd has been studying the music of Sarah Armstrong, an early 20th century fiddler from Southwestern Pennsylvania. Hear about Mrs. Armstrong’s life and learn several of her tunes. We will learn by ear but sheet music will be available as well. For all instruments; all levels beyond beginner.

Creative Arrangements – Simple Gifts
Learn how to arrange your music so that it sounds more interesting and professional. For all instruments; all levels beyond beginner.

Clawhammer Banjo – Jerry Trusty & Mark Tamsula
Tips and techniques for all levels beyond beginner.

11:30 - 12:30

Harmony Singing – Druckenmillers
Learn to make your voices blend in beautiful harmony! For all levels of singers.

Old Time Tunes – Mark Tamsula & Karen Hirshon
For all instruments, all levels beyond beginner.

Rhythm & Groove – Tunescape
Learn how to feel the rhythm as a group and to lock into a rhythmic groove for a solid band sound. For all instruments, all levels beyond beginner.

Mandolin – Henry Koretzky & Pete Hawley
Tips and techniques for all levels beyond beginner.

12:40

Group Photo
Meet at the blacksmith shop for a group photo. Bring your instrument!

12:45

Lunch* and jamming