of Traditional Music and Culture
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Further Adventures in Fingerpicking Guitar
This course is designed for folks who know basic chords and have some experience with fingerpicking styles that involve playing melody with the fingers of the right hand while simultaneously playing a steady bass with the thumb. WeÕll explore the styles of such players as Mississippi John Hurt, Big Bill Broonzy, Merle Travis, Doc Watson, Rev. Gary Davis, and Dave Van Ronk along with up-the-neck positions and alternate tunings. Level: intermediate (beyond beginner). Minimum: 3 Students, Maximum: 10 students. Listen to a sample of the music by downloading this mp3 file or this mp3 file. Each file is less than 0.9MB. Instructor: Mark Greenberg • 10-week session begins Tuesday, February 17th, 2009 • Location: Monteverdi Music Bldg, 46 Barre St, Montpelier • Time: Tuesdays, 6:30-7:45 pm • Cost: $200 |
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Music Theory for Folkies – a Practical Approach What is a scale? How are major and
minor keys different? How do I know where to put the capo or how
to transpose from F# to C? Just what is a dominant 7th
chord? This course will help you understand the logic of music
and expand your abilities as a player by answering these and more
questions with specific reference to stringed instruments and
folk-based musical styles. You don't need to know how to read
music, and no prior knowledge of music theory is necessary. Level:
beginner. 3-10 students. |
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American Harmony Singing Learn to sing three and four-part New
England shape-note hymns, close harmony Appalachian songs, and Carter
Family tunes. Explore the history of the music, and trace popular songs
to their Appalachian and European roots with Katie Trautz. This is a
great place to start singing informally, with special instruction on
style and harmonizing. Most tunes are taught by ear. Join the Folk
Choir! (No experience necessary-welcome one and all.) Listen to a
sample of the music by downloading this mp3 or wma file. Each file is 1.4MB |
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General West African Drumming Styles If you have learned some basics of West
African drumming, and are ready to move on to improve your percussive
skills, this class is for you. This class will cover many styles of
drumming, and will survey the music and dance traditions of West
Africa. Beginner and Intermediate drummers are welcome, if you have
taken this class before, you will build on skills you have already
developed. |
| Scottish Fiddle This class will focus on tune types (slow air, march, strathspey, reel, etc.), bowing, and ornamentation of Scottish fiddle, augmented by comparisons of different Scottish styles and their associated histories and dances. Inspiration may be provided by the music of West Highland fiddler Aonghus Grant, East Coast's Hector MacAndrew, Orkney's Jennifer Wrigley, American cellist Natalie Haas and Cape Breton's Jerry Holland. Students are encouraged to have at least intermediate fiddle or classical violin experience and have the ability or desire to learn by ear. Sheet music will also be provided. Teens and adults are welcome in the class. • Instructor: Joanne Garton • 10-week session, beginning Feb. 19th, 2009 • Time: Thursdays, 6:30-7:45pm • Cost: $200 • Location: 46 Barre St., Monteverdi/Summit School building |
| Irish Reels for all Instruments Comprising the majority of the tunes played at many Irish music sessions, reels can be uniquely rewarding- and uniquely challenging. In this 6-week course, we will work on a number of classic and important Irish reels, and concentrate on how they are played. There will be special emphasis on confidence, rhythm, and "lift". Open to all melody instrument players from lower intermediate to advanced. • Instructors: Benedict Koehler and Hilari Farrington • 6-week session, begins March 17, 2009 • Time: Tuesdays, 7:30 - 9 p.m. • Cost: $120 • Location: 46 Barre St., Monteverdi/Summit School building |
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Folk Banjo Styles Learn how to accompany yourself and
others and to play melodic leads using a variety of traditional
5-string banjo techniques ranging from Pete Seeger’s “basic
strum” to double-thumbing, a bit of frailing/clawhammer, and
3-finger styles. We’ll also learn basic chords and a couple
of tunings and explore the use of the capo to find the key that’s
right for you. Level: beginner. 3-10 students |
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General West African Drumming Styles
If you have learned some basics of West African drumming, and are ready to move on to improve your percussive skills, this 10-week class is for you. This class will cover many styles of drumming, and will survey the music and dance traditions of West Africa. Beginner and Intermediate drummers are welcome. Listen to a sample of the music by downloading this mp3 or wma file. Each file is 1.4MB Instructor: Jordan Mensah • 10-week session, begins Thursday, September 18th, 2008 • Location: Monteverdi Music Bldg, 46 Barre St, Montpelier • Time: Thursdays, 7:00pm-8:30pm • Cost: $200 |
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Beginning Clawhammer Banjo Learn to play banjo in the old-time,
Clawhammer style! This course starts from scratch for adult
beginners with little or no banjo experience. You will master the
basic clawhammer strum as well as crucial "fret-hand" techniques. You
will learn old-time fiddle tunes and songs to put both hands to
work. We will explore several tunings, listen to recordings of
great players, and choose songs to work on collectively and
individually. By the end of the session, students will be able to
play several songs in the standard tunings, use paper and web resources
effectively for more learning, and jam at a moderate tempo with
classmates and others. You will need a 5-string banjo (preferably
"open-back"), and an electronic tuner is recommended. Listen to a
sample of the music by downloading this mp3 of "Shaving a Dead Man." The file is 1.6MB |
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Easy as A, B, C: The Language of Improvisation David Grisman, Ella Fitzgerald, B.B. King
, Alison Krause, Kieth Jarrett, Bela Fleck; what connects these
diverse artists is their ability to improvise. Once the melody of a
tune has been performed, these artists delve into themselves and bring
out new melodies on the spot to play over the tune’s chord
progression. Seems like magic? Not entirely. |
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Beginning Capoeira (Afro-Brazilian Dance) Class Capoeira Angola is an Afro-Brazilian
folkloric dance, martial art, and game combining movement, music, and
ritual into a liberating and strengthening art form. Once used by
African slaves to escape from bondage, Capoeira is now the national
sport of Brazil, and inspired the creation of break-dancing in the U.S.
in the 1970s. Classes can be found in most cities around the
world. This class is open to all ages and no experience is
necessary. However, this class will be difficult for those with
serious injuries or limitations. Non-scuffing shoes and
comfortable clothing are required. |
| Songwriting We will listen to and analyze songs from diverse traditions and eras including folk ballads, blues, showtunes, classical "art songs", popular 20th century music and our own material. The goal of the workshop is to increase and improve our songwriting abilities through applied exercises, extensive editing, critique and collaboration. Participants are expected to share original material in class, possibly co-write with other class members and perform/participate in an end of semester showcase. Previous musical experience is not necessarily a requirement. 4-10 students. • Instructor: Colin McCaffrey • 10-week session, Beginning Feb. 18th, 2009 • Time: Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30pm • Cost: $200 • Location: 46 Barre St., Monteverdi/Summit School building |
Address: P.O. Box 646, Montpelier, VT 05601