4-Week Classes – Summer 2010

JULY and AUGUST SESSIONS:
We are offering two different sets of 4-week classes.  July’s classes are old-time and blues, and August’s classes will all be bluegrass.  Students in the various classes will learn the same repertoire so they’ll be able to play together at the end!

TUITION:
$70 for a 4-week class.  Classes meet for 75 minutes each week.

REGISTRATION:
Register for the July classes by July 5, or the August classes by August 9.  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 $20 off the second registration.  Want to take more than one class? Pay full tuition for the first, and only $50 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.

July Classes (7/5 – 7/30)

Old Time Banjo 2

Instructor: Matt Evans

Meets: Tuesdays at 7:30pm, starting July 6.
We’ll work on between two and four old-time standards. We’ll try learning phrases by ear, but tab will be provided. This class is for students who can play a handful of tunes and want to add to their repertoire.

Beginning Harmonica

Instructor: Ed Huey

Meets: Tuesdays at 6:00pm, starting July 6.

Through interactive participation students will learn fundamentals for getting started on harmonica: how to play, how to practice, what to practice, how to listen, hand position, breathing, developing a good tone, hand expression and harmonica tablature (TAB), how to care for your instrument. For students interested in covering the aforementioned fundamentals. No experience necessary.
Materials you will need: One harmonica: Hohner Marine Band Key of A – or – Hohner Special 20 key of A; small notebook for taking notes; small recorder (optional).

Upright Bass

Instructor: Gordy Nichol

Meets: Tuesdays at 7:30pm, starting July 6.

Fingerstyle Guitar

Instructor: Lon Eldridge

Meets: Tuesdays at 7:30pm, starting July 6.
Pre-req: A solid understanding of the language of guitar and substantial experience with chording/strumming. Probably at least two years of playing experience.

Course description: This course will explore some of the more advanced techniques of fingerstyle guitar such as learning alternating basslines, rhythm/melody overlays, and three-finger picking focusing on a Delta Blues/Piedmont style.

Hammered Dulcimer 2

Instructor: Christie Burns

Meets: Wednesdays at 7:30pm, starting July 7.

We’ll work on some old time tunes and learn techniques to make your playing fit in an ensemble alongside banjos and fiddles.  Before starting this class, students should be able to play major scales and arpeggios in the keys of D, G, and A, and be able to play a simple two-part tune at a moderate tempo.

Mountain Dulcimer 2

Instructor: Butch Ross

Meets: Tuesdays at 6:00pm, starting July 6.

This is a summer dulcimer refresher course, continued work on technique with fun and wonderful old-time tunes that you’ll be able to play with other summer course students and at local jams.

Guitar 2

Instructor: Matt Evans

Meets: Wednesdays at 7:30pm, starting July 7.
Think of this class as “advanced beginner.” We’ll get practice playing rhythm guitar for a handful of old-time standards. Students in this class should be close to changing chords at a moderate tempo.

Old-Time Fiddle 2

Instructor: Christie Burns

Meets: Wednesdays at 6:00pm, starting July 7.

We’ll work on good rhythm and easy variations for old time tunes on the fiddle.  Before starting this class, students should be able to play major scales in the key of D, G, and A, and be able to play a simple two-part tune at a moderate tempo.

August Classes (8/9 – 9/3)

Bluegrass Fiddle 2

Instructor: John Boulware

Meets: Tuesdays at 6:00pm, starting Aug 10.

A look at general bluegrass fiddling. We’ll cover the styles, tricks, and licks used by some great fiddlers. We’ll apply them to some classic bluegrass fiddle tunes.

Bluegrass Banjo 2

Instructor: Randy Steele

Meets: Wednesdays at 6pm, starting Aug 11.
Three distinct styles of bluegrass banjo will be introduced: the Scruggs style of Earl Scruggs, the Single String style of Bela Fleck, and the Melodic Style of John Hartford. Each week a different style will be covered, and tabs and audio will be provided.
This is a beginning/intermediate class. Students who take this class should already have some experience playing banjo.

Bluegrass Guitar 2

Instructor: Roy Curry

Meets: Mondays at 7:00pm, starting Aug 9.
We’ll cover different techniques used in playing lead and rhythm guitar in the bluegrass style. Chord changing and alternate picking will be discussed.

Bluegrass Mandolin 2

Instructor: John Boulware

Meets: Wednesdays at 6pm, starting Aug 11.

An overview of some essential bluegrass tricks on the mandolin. We’ll work with double-stops, tremelo, and of course a staple of bluegrass rhythm, the “chop”.

Bluegrass Singing

Instructor: Laura Walker & Dean Arnold

Meets: Mondays at 7:00pm, starting Aug 9.
This class will focus on harmonies used in a bluegrass setting. The most common harmony is three-part singing but two-part “brother-duet” style will also be explored. The class will focus on how to hear the harmonies, what styles are used in what settings, finding the right key to suit the singers and other techniques to create the “high-tight” and beautiful sound of bluegrass harmony.

Upright Bass

Instructor: Gordy Nichol

Meets: Tuesdays at 7:30pm, starting Aug 10.
Beginner to intermediate, learn basic skills to be able to play a two or three chord song. Correct hand positions so you can advance quickly . Ear training, will enable you to “Hear” chord changes. We have fun in my class!