2020 Faculty
John McCutcheon
Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer
Appleseed Collective
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Ellis Delaney
Tasana Camara
Vidar Skrede & Randy Gosa
Folk College 2020 Postponed to 2021
*Schedule subject to change
Friday, May 22, 2020
10 am - 1 pm Intensive
(SEPARATE REGISTRATION REQUIRED)
See Intensive page for Intensive descriptions
Guitarist's Toolbox
Taught by Andrew Brown of Appleseed Collective
Tips and techniques for getting the most out of your guitar playing, including left-hand techniques to make your playing more fluid, approaches to chord playing, and a solid look at rhythm, phrasing, timing, and expression. Music will be taught by ear and from tablature.
For intermediate/advanced guitarists
Nordic Fiddle
Taught by Vidar Skrede
Learn the fiddle styles of the Nordic countries from a native of Norway. We'll look at rhythms, styles, harmonies, and ornamentation of these styles, and you'll have a chance to try a Norwegian Hardanger fiddle.
For intermediate/advanced fiddlers
Mandolin Techniques
Taught by Brandon Worder-Smith of Appleseed Collective
The mandolin is a wonderful little instrument that can do so much with melody, rhythm, and backup. Study with Brandon Smith, a veteran mandolin and fiddle player with the award-winning band Appleseed Collective. We'll explore techniques and approaches to make your playing really shine.
For all levels beyond beginner
Old Time Banjo
Taught by Cathy Fink
We'll look at various approaches to the frailing stroke, explore drop-thumb styles, and experiment with different banjo tunings. You'll learn to accompany traditional dance tunes and songs and pick out melodies and solos.
For all levels beyond beginner
Ukulele Techniques
Taught by Marcy Marxer
his workshop will take your ukulele playing to the next level as Marcy shares tips and techniques for playing this wonderful little instrument. We'll look at chords, theory, strumming and improvising to get the most out of your uke.
For all levels beyond beginner
Everything Blues
Taught by Richard Sleigh
We'll touch on all aspects of singing and playing the blues, including
theory, improvisation, chord patterns and stylistic approaches. You'll
have a clear path for finding your own way to sing and play the blues by
the end of the session.
For all instruments and voices, all levels beyond beginner
Folk Piano
Taught by Judy Minot
We'll explore simple yet effective ways to use the piano in folk music. You'll learn to play chords and to “strum” along to your favorite songs, just like a folk guitarist does. Playing chords on the piano follows a simple formula, unlike guitar chords which come in all shapes and sizes. It doesn’t take long to learn how to develop simple chordal accompaniment into something that will make you sound like you’ve been playing the piano for years. With these skills you will learn to play and sing your favorite songs, accompany a singer, or join in a jam! This class does not require a lick of note reading. Please bring a keyboard and headphones, or contact us if you need to borrow.
For all levels beyond beginner
Undefended Songwriting
Taught by Ellis Delaney
Learn to approach your songwriting with an undefended heart. Ellis will share her songwriting processes and the many strategies she uses to generate and explore song ideas. She will help you prime your brain and open your heart to support creativity and identify and utilize strengths you have that you may not always see to keep those songs coming!
For all levels.
Basic Folk Skills
Taught by Simple Gifts
In this special workshop designed for advanced beginners of all instruments, we'll address basic folk music skills that will help you get the most out of the weekend. We'll particularly look at how to learn tunes by ear, how to jam, how to play backup, how to play melody, and how to play well with other musicians. Simple Gifts, the creators and hosts of Folk College, are well-known for their fun and inclusive, yet powerful, workshops and teaching style.
1:00 pm General Folk College Registration Opens
1:30, 2:30 & 5:30 pm Newcomers’ Orientation & Walking Tour
3:00-4:00 pm Workshops
Try a Bodhran
Shelley Kelley
(for all)
Beatles Songs
Appleseed Collective
(for all)
Easy Three-Chord Songs
Richard Sleigh
(instruments welcome, all levels singers)
How to Jam
Jay Best (all instruments, novice)
Easy Norwegian Tunes
Vidar Skrede & Randy Gosa
(all instruments, novice)
Power Your Playing with Pentatonics
Wayne Fugate
(all instruments, intermediate)
Exotic Tunes
Henry Koretzky
(all instruments, advanced)
Mixed Styles Jam
Judy Minot
(all instruments, novice to advanced)
4:15-5:15 pm Workshops
Try a Penny Whistle
Shelley Kelley
(for all)
Let’s Sing!
Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer
(instruments welcome, all levels singers)
Classic Country Songs
Henry Koretzky
(instruments welcome, all levels singers)
How to Learn Tunes by Ear
Wayne Fugate
(all instruments, novice)
Easy Contradance Tunes
Judy Minot
(all instruments, novice)
West African Melodies
Tasana Camara & Kelly Armor
(all instruments, intermediate)
Nordic Tunes
Vidar Skrede & Randy Gosa
(all instruments, advanced)
Old Time Jam
Ryan & Brennish Thomson
(all instruments, novice to advanced)
5:30-6:30 pm Dinner
7:00pm Concert:
Simple Gifts
Tasana Camara & Kelly Armor
Ellis Delaney
The Appleseed Collective
After the Concert
Singing with Appleseed Collective
(for all)
Picking with Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer
(all instruments, intermediate to advanced)
Beginners’ Jam with Simple Gifts
(all instruments, beginner to novice)
Songwriters’ Gathering with Ellis Delaney
(for all)
Drum Circle with Tasana Camara & Vince Russo
(for all)
11:00pm Late jam at the dorm
Dorm Jam – Ryan & Brennish Thomson & Shelley Kelley
(all instruments, novice to advanced)
This jam is held at the dorm so you can jam until you're ready to roll into bed! We'll include a mix of styles and a mix of vocals and instrumentals.
Saturday, May 23, 2020
7:00
Yoga for Musicians - Judy Minot
In yoga we work to balance effort with relaxation. We pay detailed attention to what the body is doing, and we practice breathing deeply to help us relax and become flexible and strong. These are all great things for musicians to work on! Even if you’re “not a yoga person” there’s plenty of benefit here. If you have your own mat, please bring it. (a few will be available).
7:30-8:30 am Breakfast
8:45-9:15 am Orientation
Meet the staff, sign up for a folk band, and get oriented as to what’s happening for the rest of the weekend.
9:30-10:45 am Workshops
Songs of Social Justice
John McCutcheon
(for all)
Metronome Tips and Tricks
Cathy Fink
(for all)
Practicing for Performance
Wayne Fugate
(for all)
Try a Ukulele
Karen Hirshon & Linda Littleton
(for all)
West African Singing
Tasana Camara
(for all)
How to Sing to a Baby
Marcy Marxer
(for all)
Easy Music Theory
Judy Minot
(mostly discussion, novice)
Constructing a Blues Solo
Richard Sleigh
(all instruments, intermediate)
Penny Whistle
Shelley Kelley
(novice to advanced)
Improvising on the Fiddle
Brandon Worder-Smith
(intermediate/advanced)
Irish Session
Ryan & Brennish Thomson
(all instruments, novice to advanced)
Mini-Lessons on banjo, guitar, fiddle
Jay Best
(all levels)
11:00-12:15 Workshops
Hambone Body Percussion
John McCutcheon
(for all)
Conquering Stage Fright With Presence
Brandon Worder-Smith
(for all)
Ultimate Guide to Circle of Fifths
Wayne Fugate
(for all)
Try a Banjo
Jay Best
(for all)
Tones with Drones: Explore Your Voice!
Eric O’Daly
(for all)
Funny Songs
Ellis Delaney
(for all)
Easy Old Time Tunes
Henry Koretzky
(all instruments, novice)
Irish Jigs and Slip Jigs
Randy Gosa
(all instruments, intermediate)
Swing Rhythm Guitar
Andrew Brown
(novice to intermediate)
How to Get Good Tone on Your Fiddle
Vidar Skrede
(novice)
African Jam
Tasana Camara & Kelly Armor
(for all)
Mini-Lessons on fiddle, mandolin, guitar
Karen Hirshon
(all levels)
12:30-1:30 pm Lunch
1:45-3:00 pm Workshops
Performance Tips
John McCutcheon
(for all)
Beginning Harmonica
Richard Sleigh
The Business of Music
Linda Littleton
(for all)
Try a Kalimba (Thumb Piano)
Kelly Armor
(for all)
Embody Your Voice
Ellis Delaney
(for all)
Backup for Beginners
Vince Russo & Eric O’Daly
(all instruments, novice)
French Dance Tunes
Shelley Kelley
(all instruments, intermediate)
Contradance Band Practice
Judy Minot & Jay Best
(all instruments, intermediate)
Balkan Tunes
Rachel Hall
(all instruments, advanced)
Gypsy Picking Guitar
Andrew Brown
(intermediate to advanced)
Rise Up Singing
Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer
(for all)
Mini-Lessons on mandolin and guitar
Henry Koretzky
(all levels)
3:15-4:45 pm Folk Band Rehearsal
Based on the form you filled out during orientation (Saturday 8:45 am), you’ll be assigned to a band that will rehearse with the help of a staff coach and then perform at Sunday’s Student Concert. There will also be an option to join a non-performing band. Band lists and locations will be posted in Von Leibig Lobby. If you haven’t filled out a folk band form, go to the lobby and we’ll figure out where to fit you in.
5:00-6:00 pm Dinner
7:00 pm Faculty Concert
Vidar Skrede & Randy Gosa
Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer
John McCutcheon
After the Concert
Contradance with Open Band
Judy Minot, Jay Best, & Rachel Hall will lead an open band.
Bob Nicholson will teach and call the dances.
Jamming with John
John McCutcheon
Mostly Celtic Session
Vidar Skrede & Randy Gosa
11:00 pm Late jam at the dorm
Dorm Jam - Wayne Fugate & Richard Sleigh
This jam is held at the dorm so you can jam until you're ready to roll into bed! This jam will include a mix of styles and a mix of vocals and instrumentals.
Sunday, May 24, 2020
7:30-8:30 am Breakfast
8:45-10:00 am Workshops
Hymn Singing
Jay Best
(instruments welcome, all levels singers)
Chant From the Heart
Eric O’Daly
(for all)
Mathematics of Music
Rachel Hall
(discussion - no playing)
Meet the Kora, Balafon, and Kalimba
Tasana Camara & Kelly Armor
(for all)
Performing with Intention
Ellis Delaney
(for all)
Try an Accordion
Judy Minot
(for all)
Slow, Easy, Beautiful Tunes
Henry Koretzky
(all instruments, novice)
How to Backup a Singer
Richard Sleigh & Wayne Fugate
(all instruments, intermediate)
New England Tunes
Ryan & Brennish Thomson
(all instruments, intermediate)
Nordic Harmonies
Vidar Skrede & Randy Gosa
(all instruments, advanced)
Banjo Techniques
Cathy Fink
(all levels beyond beginner)
Ukulele Techniques
Marcy Marxer
(all levels beyond beginner)
Swing Jam
Brandon Worder-Smith, Vince Russo, Andrew Brown
(intermediate to advanced)
10:15-11:30 am Workshops
Shape Note Singing
Rachel Hall
(for all)
Multicultural Children’s Songs
Cathy Fink, Marcy Marxer & Kelly Armor
(for all)
Meet the Hurdy Gurdy
Shelley Kelley
(for all)
West African Rhythms
Tasana Camara
(for all)
Body Awareness for Musicians
Brandon Worder-Smith
(for all)
Try a Fiddle
Jay Best
(for all)
Hearing Chord Changes
Ryan & Brennish Thomson
(all instruments, novice)
How to Improvise
Judy Minot
(all instruments, intermediate)
Tunes from Rogaland
Vidar Skrede
(all instruments, intermediate)
Irish Reels
Randy Gosa
(all instruments, advanced)
Fooling Around with Guitar
Ellis Delaney
(novice to intermediate)
Mandolin Techniques
Wayne Fugate
(all levels beyond beginner)
Mixed Styles Jam
Karen Hirshon & Linda Littleton
(for all)
11:45 am Group Photo
Bring your instrument and smile!
12:00-1:00 pm Lunch
1:15-2:15 pm Band Rehearsal
Another rehearsal with the same band as yesterday
2:30-4:30 pm Student Concert
After the Concert
Last Jam
Jay Best & Henry Koretzky
(for all)