Workshops Hands on events to help you learn to play better and to become a better musician.

Clawhammer Banjo * Fiddle * Stringband Construction * Jam Etiquette

Business of Folk Music * Master Class

* Workshop and Master Class Fees *

Clawhammer Banjo

Meet The Banjo™

Meet the Banjo: There are many folks taken with the banjo these days, but not necessarily able or willing to make the initial investment in an instrument or lessons. While instruments such as guitars and even fiddles are plentiful to rent or own at low or no cost, the banjo continues to be less available. This workshop is based upon the belief that more people would enjoy learning the banjo if they had a chance to try the banjo for a small cost of time and dollars.

This is a special workshop begins with a basic history of the instrument and demonstration (via playing and recordings) of the various styles of banjo music available (bluegrass, clawhammer, strum, tenor, plectrum). 5 string banjo basics - tuning, hand positions, scales and a tune playable in both clawhammer and bluegrass - are taught to the participants in order to help them choose what type of music (and hence banjo) they would like to learn to play. NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY! BANJOS PROVIDED. Contact Dan directly to schedule this workshop.

Clawhammer From Scratch

Claw your way to banjo fame with this course intended for pre-beginners as well as those with a desire to review "from scratch" their clawhammer banjo skills. Starting with how to tune the instrument in the "Double C" tuning and learning the basic right hand motion and left hand style. Participants learn basics and will be given exercises and tips for continued self growth. We have some banjos to provide you for this innovative course. NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!

Continuing (Post Beginner) Clawhammer

This course is intended to help you improve your skills while you learn how to continue growing as a clawhammer banjo player. Basics are quickly reviewed to get an understanding of the actual level of participants. "Double D" tuning is introduced. We also get into refining their right and left hand movement and work on becoming more comfortable with their instruments. Students should be able to play a tune and will have at least one more when they are finished with this session.

Intermediate to Advanced Clawhammer

Students should be able to play in multiple keys and pick up a tune by ear. Tunes here are more complex. Tab provided as a basic reference point but not necessarily followed note for note. Chorded backup and improvisation is addressed here.

Playing by ear

Learn to find tunes without tablature! Titled "Post Tab Depression" by the Fox Valley Folklore society, this workshop helps students reduce dependence on written music, TAB or otherwise. Beginning with Tuning by Ear and quickly moving on to How To Determine The Key, Tuning, Chord Structure, and ultimately The Melody of a tune without the aid of written music or electronic tuners.

Beginning Fiddle

Students learn basic tuning, bowing and fingering of the fiddle. Covers an introduction to scales and exercises, tips and techniques necessary to continue learning.

Intermediate Fiddle

Learn to play a tune or two. Here we work on learning to play by ear. The selected tune is broken down into fragments which are played and repeated. Time is pent here on bowing and intonation. Cross tuning is introduced if time and level allows.

Advanced and Beyond Fiddle

Whether you want to know about bowing, cross tuning or how to mic your instrument on stage, this workshop conforms to the students attending. You come with questions and we all work on answering them while letting you grow into your own fiddle style and technique.

Works in groups of musicians with different instruments. Discussion of how a stringband is developed, ensemble playing, "politics" of being a band, and other factors of band life. Musicians should come with instruments and will break up into band groups which are selected by random drawing. (each member puts their name and instrument on an index card and they are divided and drawn by instrument into bands.) Goal is to pick and perform a tune as a unified band.

The ultimate workshop which everybody needs. This is a discussion session of the ins and outs of a jam session. When do you join? When DON'T you? What about spectators? Come tell us your best and worst experience and let's discuss how to make every jam session a good one -- even if it's one you only want to record.

So, you think you are ready for the road, or you just want to be a bit more professional in your
presentation. Here are some nuts and bolts of running a performance music business.

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A Master Class is a private lesson with intent! That intent is to give you a dedicated hour of intensive learning time where you get to work on the issues that concern you. Some folks just want to have me play and record for an hour while others have lots of questions they wish to answer and still others have a specific technique or two they would like to learn. It's up to you! Scheduled by mutual agreement at the homestead or in your town as I travel.

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Workshop and Master Class Fee Schedule

Workshops: The average rate these days is $50 for a 1/2 day (2-3 hrs) and $90 for a full day (usually 9 or 10 AM to 4 or 5PM with a one hour lunch break) workshop. Multi-day rates are available.

Master classes are currently $50 per hour.