8-Week Classes – Fall 2010

Sept 20 – Nov 12

TUITION:
$140 for an 8-week class.  Classes meet for 75 minutes each week.

REGISTRATION:
Register by Sept 20.  You can register through PayPal by choosing your class(es) from the list below: simply click “Sign up for this class.”  You can also register by phone: 423-827-8906.  Some of these class will fill up; register early to make sure you get on the list for the classes you want.

FAMILY DISCOUNT and MULTI-CLASS DISCOUNT:
If two people from the same household register, take $40 off the second registration.  Want to take more than one class? Pay full tuition for the first, and only $100 for each additional class.  [How this works: If you're paying through PayPal, you'll pay full price for two or more registrations, and we'll refund you the discount amount directly.]

RENTAL INSTRUMENTS:
A limited number of fiddles, guitars, banjos, dulcimers, and other instruments are available for rent.  Call us!

PRIVATE LESSONS:
Come once a week for your private lessons! $80/mo. for weekly, 1/2-hour lessons.  Private lessons are taught by several of our teachers, and are ongoing throughout the year.  Like our group classes, private lessons are taught at the folk school location at 250 Forest Ave.

Beginner Classes

Bluegrass Banjo I

Instructor: Randy Steele

Meets: Mondays at 7:30pm, starting Sept 20.

In this introduction to the banjo you will have an opportunity learn the basics of Bluegrass Banjo. Topics cover will include tuning, reading tablature, basic left and right hand techniques that will get you started playing tunes! No experience required. This class is ideal for the beginner as well as anyone that wants to refresh the fundamentals.

Guitar I

Instructor: Gordy Nichol

This class will focus on getting started playing folk-style and flatpick guitar, playing chords, picking out single melody notes, and learning to read tablature.

Meets: Tuesdays at 7:30pm, starting Sept 21.

Fiddle I

Instructor: Matt Evans

Meets: Thursdays at 7:30pm, starting Sept 23.

Get started playing any style of fiddle music in this class that will focus on learning and improving basic fiddle techniques.

Harmonica I

Instructor: Ed Huey

Meets: Tuesdays at 7:30pm, starting Sept 21.

Exploration of basic harmonica skills used in folk, old time, blues, country and gospel music including:  rhythmic chording, single note melodies in first and second position and note bending.  No experience necessary.  Students need a 10 hole diatonic harmonica in the key of A (Hohner Marine Band or Hohner Special 20 are quality instruments), a notebook and pencil.

Mandolin I

Instructor: Dean Arnold

Meets: Mondays at 6:00pm, starting Sept 20.

Students with little or no experience on the mandolin will learn the techniques to be able to play melodies and chords by the end of this class.  We will start at the beginning introducing the fret board, fingering techniques, holding the instrument, scales, and chords.  We’ll take the fear out of playing and learn to make wonderful sounds with this beautiful instrument.

Mountain Dulcimer I

Instructor: Joe Ridolfo

Meets: Wednesdays at 6:00pm, starting Sept 22.

This is a beginner/advanced beginner class.  It will be “around the drone” and start in DAA tuning for two weeks then advance to DAE for minor tunes with a special capo rig and DAD, which turns the dulcimer player into a guitar or banjo picker but still with a distinct voice.

Clawhammer Banjo I

Instructor: Matt Evans

Meets: Wednesdays at 7:30pm, starting Sept 22.

Learn right hand technique and good rhythm.  We’ll also learn a few tunes and work on playing along with old time fiddle tunes.

A Natural Approach to Singing

Instructor: Gary Scheufler

Meets: Mondays at 6:00pm, starting Sept 20.

A beginning class for the non-singer who would like to become one.  Class limited to 4 – 6 students.  We will work on breathing technique, opening up the natural resonators and working on some easy songs.

Upright Bass I

Instructor: Gordy Nichol

Meets: Tuesdays at 6:00pm, starting Sept 21.

Dobro I

Instructor: Gordy Nichol

Meets: Wednesdays at 7:30pm, starting Sept 22.

Irish Whistle and Flute

Instructor: Ken Doyle

Meets: Mondays at 7:30pm, starting Sept 20.

This class offers an introduction to the tinwhistle and Irish simple-system flute (NOT the metal keyed flutes played in concert bands) for students with little or no prior experience. Instruction will start with the most fundamental techniques and a few very simple tunes. Tunes will be learned by ear, but sheet music will be made available after each lesson. Students may choose either the flute or the tinwhistle. A limited number of flutes will be available to rent for the duration of the course. Please bring a recording device and a flute or tinwhistle in the key of D.

Intermediate Classes

Music Theory for Musicians

Instructor: Gary Scheufler

Meets: Tuesdays at 6pm, starting Sept 21.

How to make sense out of the language of music and how to use this knowledge to become a better musician.

Mandolin II

Instructor: John Boulware

Meets: Wednesdays at 6:00pm, starting Sept 22.

Harmonica II

Instructor: Ed Huey

Meets: Tuesdays at 6:00pm, starting Sept 21.

For students who completed the 2010 summer class.
Building on our exploration of basic harmonica skills learned during summer semester we will further investigate rhythmic chording, single note melodies in first and second position and note bending as practiced in folk, old time, blues, country and gospel music. Students need a 10 hole diatonic harmonica in the key of A, a notebook and a pencil.

Fiddle II

Instructor: John Boulware

Meets: Wednesdays at 7:30pm, starting Sept 22.

Guitar II

Instructor: Roy Curry

Meets: Tuesdays at 7:30pm, starting Sept 21.

The students in this class should know some simple chords and should have already started picking out melodies and/or playing a few songs. From there we will cover alternating picking, hammer-ons, slides, bends, pull-offs, double stops and other interesting techniques related to flatpicking. We will also discuss rhythm, connecting chords together with runs, as well as various types of strumming.

Bluegrass Banjo II

Instructor: Randy Steele

Meets: Mondays at 6:00pm, starting Sept 20.

Ensemble Classes

60s Folk Rock Ensemble

Instructor: Dean Arnold

Meets: Mondays at 7:30pm, starting Sept 20.

We’ll learn some of the music of Bob Dylan, the Byrds, and other artists who brought folk music into the popular realm in the 1960s.  All acoustic instruments are welcome.  You should have some basic proficiency in chords and/or playing simple melodies on your instrument.  We’ll also explore vocal harmonies, learn a few things about music theory, and have a lot of fun!

Ukulele Ensemble

Instructor: Jim Pankey

Meets: Wednesdays at 6:00pm, starting Sept 22.

In this mixed-level ensemble, you’ll learn how to hold, tune and play your ukulele with basic chords and rhythm patterns. You’ll also learn how to sing and play at the same time. In this relaxed, fun group, you’ll cover standards, songs from Tin Pan Alley, student requests, and an assortment of other songs. Beginners and experienced players are both welcome.  The main focus of this ensemble is to introduce you to the ukulele and to have fun learning by doing.

No experience necessary.

For any ukulele in C6 (G-C-E-A) tuning (Soprano, Concert, and Tenor all use this tuning). Ukuleles are available for purchase at the Folk School of Chattanooga.

Irish Traditional Music

Instructor: Ken Doyle

Meets: Mondays at 6:00pm, starting Sept 20.

This class offers an introduction to playing Traditional Irish Music for students who already have some experience with the basics of their instrument and can play some tunes at a slow pace. This class is for those who play melody instruments common to the Irish tradition such as fiddle, mandolin, Irish flute, tinwhistle, tenor (4-string) banjo, hammered dulcimer, button accordion, concertina, uilleann pipes, and harp. This course will cover several common Irish session tunes and include instruction on how Irish music works, different types of tunes, ornamentation and variation, a bit of Irish music history, and some basic session etiquette. Tunes will be learned by ear, but sheet music will be made available after each lesson. Tinwhistles, Irish flutes, and uilleann pipe chanters should be in the key of D. Please bring a recording device.

Gospel Anyone

Instructor: Gary Scheufler

Meets: Mondays 7:30pm, starting Sept 20.

Gospel Anyone is a repertoire building class.  Instrumentalists and singers of all skill levels are welcome.  We will be learning a group of gospel tunes in the common repertoire of old-time string bands and traditional Bluegrass bands.  For a list of potential tunes see: Old Time Gospel Favorites by Wayne Erbsen.

Kids Classes

Kids Intro to Fiddle

Instructor: August Bruce

Meets: Tuesdays 5:00pm, starting Sept 21. (This class will meet for 45 minutes each week.)

For ages 7-12. Kids can learn the fiddle in a fun group environment with an easy to understand note system. We will learn lots of fun kids songs along with an understanding of how the fiddle/violin works.

Kids Mountain Dulcimer

Instructor: Christie Burns

Meets: Thursdays 1:00pm, starting Sept 23.

For homeschooled kids ages 8-12.  We’ll learn our basic scales and chords on the mountain dulcimer, and learn some fun tunes by ear.

Instrument Explorers

Instructor: Christie Burns & other Folk School instructors

Meets: Thursdays 4:00pm, starting Sept 23.

For kids ages 7-12.  Over the course of 8 weeks, we’ll check out the mountain dulcimer, hammered dulcimer, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, banjo, and other instruments at the Folk School.  Everyone will have a chance to play the instruments, find out how they work, and learn about the instruments’ fascinating histories.

**For this one class only, we are offering an “a la carte” option: Join us for just a class (or two or three, etc.) for $20 per student**