Classes
Friday Class Descriptions
- Old Time Favorites: (Cindy adv.beg.)
Learn some classic tunes of the Old Time repertoire and some techniques to survive jam sessions. - Jigs and Reels: (Jody adv.beg.-int.) Learn some great tunes from Ireland, Scotland, and other Celtic lands, along with tips on embellishment and backup. This class is open to players of other instruments, those attending should have reasonable facility on their instruments and be able to learn tunes either from written music or by ear.
- Playing Techniques/Repetoire: (Randy int.) This class will show you basic drills to improve your hammer technique and finding all of the notes on your HD. We'll learn songs that use these techniques. You'll learn the basics of dynamics and backup playing. The repertoire will range from old-time, celtic to gypsy and swing. Chromatic drills (yes, the "standard HD" is a chromatic dulcimer) will be shown as well.
- Left hand melody, Right hand Chords: (Mick adv.)
From Ireland to the Caribbean to some pseudo country-blues. Take a simple tune and harmonize with the right hand. Then play a tune with a syncopated right hand harmony. Then improvise over a straightforward chord progression. Good for hours of fun!
Saturday Class Descriptions
All classes meet for the entire day… choose ONE class.
- All Day Beginning Sampler: (Cindy new beg.)
A full day class for people just starting to play. It will include tuning, finding the notes, playing techniques, and some tunes and tricks to perk up your playing. Rental instruments are available. - All Day Advanced Beginning Sampler: (Jody)
This class hones skills of hammering, recognizing scale patterns, simple chord theory, dynamics and more while building a lively repertoire including Celtic, renaissance, and more as well as some drills and exercises to build skill and confidence in the budding player. - Intermediate Class: "Melodies from the Americas: (Mick)
Flora De Santa Cruz (Bolivia), The Lizard (Caribbean) and
La Llorona (Mexico)
Learn the melody to each tune, read chord charts, and learn back-up parts, and play these tunes in ensemble.
Take progressive steps to improvisations based on these melodies. - Play With The Band: (all instruments welcome int-adv.)
(Wes, Bob and Pete of NSA). Learn a few pieces from the repertoire of No Strings Attached and then work on ensemble arrangements, trading leads, back up strategies, timing, tips for performing and more. - Advanced Playing Techniques Sampler: (Randy)
More advanced technique drills will be taught during the morning sessions. We'll end the morning sessions learning a number of the waltzes that I've written over the years (French Girl's Waltz, T-Bear's Lullaby, Waltz of the Jewel, The Princess Waltz) and others. The afternoon session will focus on the different playing styles you need to learn when playing in different instrument ensembles. We'll learn some more of the No Strings Attached repertoire that included Arabic, Gypsy swing, Celtic
and original NSA arrangements.
Sunday Morning Class Descriptions
- Harmonize the Major Scale: (Advanced Beginners)(Mick)
Build chords on each note of the scale. Play through common chord progressions in 3/4, 4/4 and 6/8 time. Write chord charts for well-known tunes. Read (and play!) the chord charts along with the melodies. Trade off!" - Play With The Band: (all instruments welcome adv.beg-int.)
(Wes, Bob and Pete of NSA). Learn a few easy pieces from the repertoire of No Strings Attached and then work on back up strategies, timing, tips for playing in jam sessions and more. - Arranging Techniques: (int.-adv ) (Randy)
Using a choice piece or two from the NSA repertoire, Randy will teach techniques for solo and ensemble arrangements. - Deck the Dulcimer: (Jody int.-adv.) It's not too early to brush off that holiday repertoire! In this workshop we'll learn some solo arrangements, duets, and trios for two or more dulcimers or mixed instruments.
- Learn your Abc'sABC Notation that is!: (Cindy all levels) Learn about the notation and software that allows sending and receiving music over the internet in small text files. Thousands of tunes at a click! Software, shareware and freeware allows turning the text notation into standard notation and tablature. Bring your laptop!
Upper Potomac Music Weekends