2026 Workshops
Ear training, Melody and Chord Changes (Jonas)
Say What!? Open up those ears and learn how to turn sounds we hear into sounds we play. This is a crash for understanding relative pitch for both melody and chord players.
All Instruments
Everyone Swing! (Chris, Ellen, Mitzi, Sue, Amanda, Jonas, & Luke)
This entire session will be dedicated to learning the rhythms, phrasing, and accompaniment patterns that give swing music its unmistakable groove. We’ll start with breakouts by instrument. Lead instruments (banjo/mando, fiddle, and voice) will learn melody and harmony parts as well as accompaniment to keep the rhythm going. The guitars will work on the rhythmic style behind western swing and old standards, using easy moveable chord shapes up and down the neck. The basses will learn (FILL IN). Then everyone will learn a handful of basic swing dance steps and see how dancers connect to that rhythm. Finally, we'll put it all together, playing and dancing at the same time and experiencing firsthand how swing music gets people moving.
Chris - Guitar
Ellen, Mitzi, Sue - Lyrics and harmony
Amanda - Bass
Jonas - Fiddle/Mando
Luke - Banjo
Music Theory for Folkies (Ellen)
In the folk tradition, we don’t have to read music to make music. But a little understanding of how music works can help us identify patterns common to many different songs so that we can more easily pick out harmony parts, hear chord changes, play leads, and communicate in a common language with other musicians. In this workshop, you’ll have lots of “that’s so cool!” moments about why things sound good, and you’ll leave being able to hear thirds, fourths, fifths, and minors like nobody’s business. We’ll delve into some new material from past years, and we’ll leave time for your pressing questions. Mysteries revealed!
All instruments
Scruggs-style Banjo (Chris)
In this course devoted to bluegrass banjo, Chris approaches both classic Scruggs-style banjo tunes as well as song melodies played Scruggs-style. We place special attention on Earl’s melody and backup work within the first five frets and its relationship to his position-playing higher up the neck.
Banjo
Vocal Harmony Fun and Fundamentals (Ellen & Mitzi)
How do we find harmony parts as singers? At folk jams, where the goal is to get everyone singing, it’s ok to just grab a note that feels good. But if you're singing in a duo or trio, it's important to be strategic and choose a part that enhances the song. In this workshop, we’ll take a “behind the music” look at how harmonies work and play with easy ways to find them. You’ll learn how to think about the harmony line as being part of a conversation with the melody and other harmony lines. You’ll discover that you (yes, you!) already feel harmony in your body, and with a little confidence and practice, you’ll be harmonizing like a pro!
Vocal only
Acoustic Trio (Peggy, Maura, & Lou)
We'll learn a simple tune on our instruments and practice taking leads and keeping rhythm for each other. We'll talk about what the “job” of each instrument is when playing the melody and when playing rhythm, do we play on the “one and three” or the “two and four” beats? We'll practice getting a full sound with all three instruments. “The sound is the teacher.” All instruments welcome.
All Instruments
Write Your Own Damn Protest Song (Sue)
Is it time to write your own protest song? Look to the past, look at the now, look inside, look to the future. There is no wrong way to write a resistance song, but Sue can guide you with a few steps that can help you on your way dammit!
Songwriting
Introduction to the Pentatonic Scale for Guitars (Lou & Maura)
Have you been playing guitar for a while but want to expand beyond strumming chords? Learn to add fills and play leads in this gentle introduction to the pentatonic scale. There will be some theory, but most of the workshop will be devoted to hands-on practice with a few different songs.
Guitar
Clawhammer Banjo - Nowhere Man (Jonas)
Jonas will teach his arrangement for the Beatles classic “Nowhere Man.” An excellent example of using clawhammer banjo for non-traditional tunes.
Banjo
Arrange It! (Sue)
Hang out with Sue in this new class and work through layers, ideas, and harmonies to add to your songs. Find ways to include others in your repertoire for live or recorded life. Is it time to expand your work for more voices? Bring your songs, your instrument, & your phone to record ideas.
Vocals, All Instruments
Irish Jig Ensemble (Lou)
In this workshop we’ll learn a traditional Irish jig. We’ll start with the melody and then add backing chords and variations to round an arrangement. Much of the instruction will be geared towards fiddle, mandolin or guitar, but anyone comfortable learning tunes by ear is welcome.
Fiddle, Mandolin, Guitar, All Instruments
Bowing Technique (Jonas)
It ain’t all taters!!! Get your bow moving differently to apply interesting rhythms to your fiddle tunes and comfortably back different genres of songs.
Bowed Instruments
Double Stops on the Fiddle (Lou)
In this workshop you will learn how to use double stops to enhance your own melody playing and to provide accompaniment to other musicians. We’ll spend some time on the theory of how chords are built, but the emphasis will be on using your new double stop knowledge.
Fiddle
Singing & Playing (Amanda)
Can you do both at the same time? It’s not easy! We’ll work together to merge the two. All instruments are welcome as we learn ways to chunk, layer, and practice this handy skill.
All Instruments
People Get Ready: Songs of Freedom and Resistance (Mitzi & Ellen)
Music empowers social change movements, giving people the courage to get into “good trouble” and stand up to injustice. We’ll draw on selections from the Civil Rights Movement, many with roots in pre-Civil War African American spirituals, with their potent themes of struggle, hope, and strong determination to make it to the “promised land.” We’ll also explore songs from the modern Singing Resistance, a mass movement of singers to protect and care for communities with simple songs of love, nonviolence, and solidarity.
Vocal only
Jump Into Jamming (Amanda)
The best way to improve is to play with others. Ditch the jam jitters at this workshop! We’ll cover jam etiquette, common styles of jams, and general tips to jump in and have a blast. All levels are welcome as we practice typical communication strategies (including body language cues, reading “hands,” Nashville numbers, and how to lead a song).
All Instruments
Bruce! (Peggy & Maura)
The iconic master musician continues to make music and spread the message of hope, light and peace. Let’s take a look at some of his wonderful songs.
All Instruments
Mandolin Chop and Melody (Chris)
Here we work on mandolin chop chords for bluegrass, Monroe-style playing, in addition to a melody approach for songs as well as fiddle tunes.
Mandolin
Blues Is The Truth (Peggy & Maura)
Come with guitar in hand to break down the blues riffs, lines and chords of some of the greats we celebrate. We’ll have a guitar focus, but other instruments are welcome.
Guitar, All Instruments
Jug Band Repertoire (Jonas)
All levels are welcome to attend this class that will dive a little deeper into the repertoire of Jug Band music for those people who already have a hold of the classics. No prior experience necessary and a crash course and Jug Band instruments will be provided.
All Instruments
Fleming Brown’s Banjo (Peggy)
Fleming Brown was Chicago based and taught at the Old Town School of Folk Music. He traveled the country and learned from true old-time musicians and brought his knowledge back to his students at the Old Town School. In this workshop we’ll delve into two songs he handed down, Red Rocking Chair (the original one) and Mole in the Ground. We’ll look at what tunings he used on the banjo and some of his right hand techniques. This is banjo centric, but other instruments are welcome.
Banjo
Joyful Noise: Gospel Choir (Mitzi)
Rooted in the African-American tradition, gospel songs and spirituals have a way of touching our souls—regardless of our faith tradition. Get a taste of the exhilaration that comes from singing these powerful songs of survival, love, freedom, and transcendence. We’ll learn simple melodies and harmonies by ear, then join together as one voice to raise the rafters. Get ready to clap, sing, and sway in jubilation!
Vocal only
Strawberry Point (Luke and Chris)
When Chris Walz played in Special Concensus, Al Murphy taught them a rare tune he learned directly from Bill Monroe that he had named after a little town in Iowa called Strawberry Point. Lukas Simpson will teach mandolin and Chris will teach guitar.
Mandolin and Guitar
Incorporating Bass Notes & Runs (Maura)
This will be an intro-level workshop that gets us comfortable adding some things to your rhythm guitar playing to give it a little more "sparkle". We'll think about timing and placement of bass notes, bass runs and little fill-ins, to create a fuller sound, while keeping the song moving.
Guitar
Two Finger/Thumb Lead Banjo (Luke)
Want to try playing something on the banjo that isn’t clawhammer and isn’t Scruggs but sort of feels like clawhammer and sort of feels like Scruggs? Try Two Finger/Thumb Lead!
Banjo