Schedule
Folk College 2026 Schedule
Folk College is full of great workshops, concerts, singing, and dancing.
Key
Levels:
1=beginner/non-musician
2=advanced beginner
3=intermediate
4=intermediate/advanced
5=advanced/professional
Codes:
S=Singing
I=Instrumentals
E=Taught by ear
L&C= Lyrics & chords provided
M=Sheet music provided
P=Percussion
Workshops are for all instruments unless otherwise indicated
2026 Schedule
Friday, May 22, 2026
Friday, 10 am to 1 pm Pre-Event Intensives
Begin your weekend with an intensive workshop that will energize and prep you for what is sure to be a memorable and fun few days. Each class offers an opportunity to spend a three-hour block of time with a respected master teacher exploring a topic in depth. Class size is limited and a separate registration is required.
Separate Registration Required
Basics for Beginners — Carson McHaney & Karl Henry
Level 1-2, all instruments
Banjo — Jay Best
Level 2-5
Bass for All — Noah Harrington
Level 3-5
Blues Guitar — Scott Ainslie
Level 3-5
Fiddle Bowing — Nathan Bishop
Level 3-5
Flute — Clif Nesseth
Level 2-5
Folk Cello — Dani Hawkins
Level 3-5
Guitar Backup — Isaiah Gardham
Level 2-4
Hammer Dulcimer — Grace Leee
Level 2-5
Harmonica — Richard Sleigh
Level 2-5
Mandolin Techniques — Tom Krumm
Level 3-5
Singing for All — Liz Simmons & Flynn Cohen
Level 1-5
West African Drumming — Kelly Parker & Lori Russo
Level 1-5
Folk College Begins
Friday, 3 to 4 pm
Intro to Shape Note Singing – Rachel Hall (Level 1-5, S)
Making a Song Your Own – Eric Ian Farmer (Level 1-5, SI)
Rhythm for Beginners – Jay Best (Level 1-2, I)
How to Jam – Henry Koretzky (Level 1-2, SI)
Slow, Beautiful, Easy Tunes – Karen Hirshon & Linda Littleton (Level 2-3, I, music)
Scandinavian Tunes Overview – Mikey Marget & Alex Nelson (Level 3-5, I, music)
Irish Reels- Grace Lee (Level 3-5, I, ear)
Blues Improv- Richard Sleigh (Level 4-5, I)
Tough Tunes That Are Worth the Effort- Nathan Bishop (Level 4-5, I, ear)
Friday, 4:15 to 5:15 pm
Blues Gospel – Lily Sexton (Level 1-5, S)
Blues Techniques for Non-Blues Singers – Scott Ainslie (Level 1-5, S)
Beginner’s Jam – Jay Best (Level 1-32, SI, ear)
Tips for Beginners – Tom Krumm (Level 1-2, I)
Old Time Tunes – Carson McHaney & Isaiah Gardham (Level 3-4, I, ear)
Nordic Modal Music – Paul Sauey (Level 3-4, I, music)
Pennsylvania Tunes – Henry Koretzky (Level 3-5, I, ear)
Balfolk Tunes – Dani Hawkins (Level 4-5, I, music)
Learn a Jazz Tune – Noah Harrington & Karl Henry (Level 4-5)
Friday, 7 pm Faculty Concert
Simple Gifts
Low Lily
Ponyfolk
Friday, After the Concert
Beginners’ Jam – Simple Gifts (Level 1-2, SI, ear)
Blues Jam – Scott Ainslie (Level 2-5, SI, ear)
Celtic Jam – Nathan Bishop (Level 2-5, I, ear)
Bluegrass Jam – High Horse (Level 3-5, SI, ear)
Songwriters’ Circle – Eric Ian Farmer (Level 1-5, SI)
Drum Circle – Kelly Parker & Lori Russo (Level 1-5)
Friday, 11 pm
Dorm Jam – Jay Best & Grace Lee (Level 2-5)
Saturday, May 23, 2026
Saturday, 9:30 - 10:45 am
Try a Hammer Dulcimer – Grace Lee (Level 1)
Intro to Drum Circles – Carol Lindsay (Level 1-3)
Peter Rowan Songs – Lily Sexton (Level 1-5, SI)
Hearing Chord Changes – Henry Koretzky (Level 1-53, SI)
How to Learn Melodies by Ear – Dani Hawkins (Level 2-3, I)
Modal Tunes – Jay Best (Level 2-3, I, ear)
Metronome Practicing – Flynn Cohen (Level 2-4)
Chord Substitutions – Clif Nesseth & Alex Nelson (Level 3-4)
Playing Polskas – Pony Folk Mikey Marget & Paul Sauey (Level 3-5, I, music)
Mississippi John Hurt Style Guitar – Scott Ainslie (Level 3-5)
Mandolin Open Lessons Drop-in – Tom Krumm (Level 1-5)
Saturday, 11 am to 12:15 pm
Try a Harmonica – Richard Sleigh (Level 1)
West African Drumming – Kelly Parker & Lori Russo (Level 1-5)
South American Songs – Ady Martinez & Eric Ian Farmer (Level 1-5, S)
Jean Ritchie Songs – Liz Simmons (Level 1-5, SI, l&c)
Advanced Beginner Jam – Jay Best (Level 1-2, I, ear)
Is it a Jig, Reel, or Hornpipe? – Grace Lee (Level 2-3, I, music)
Backing Up a Singer – Karen Hirshon (Level 3-4, I, ear)
Rhythmic Groove – Noah Harrington (Level 3-5, I, ear)
Learn a Classic Swedish Tune – Clif Nesseth & Mikey Marget (Level 3-5, I, music)
Bowed Backup – Karl Henry & Carson McHaney (Level 2-5, fiddle & cello)
Bluegrass Guitar – Isaiah Gardham (Level 2-5)
Piano Backup – Rachel Hall (Level 2-5)
Saturday, 1:45 to 3 pm
Try a Bowed Psaltery -Linda Littleton (Level 1)
Percussion Petting Zoo – Carol Lindsay (Level 1-3)
Vocal Health & Technique – Liz Simmons (Level 1-3, S)
How to Sing Harmony – Pony Folk Alex Nelson & Paul Sauey (Level 2-4, S)
Reading Rhythms – Lori Russo (Level 1-2, SI, music)
Easy Waltzes – Dani Hawkins (Level 2-3, I, ear)
Rhythm, Accenting, and Phrasing – Henry Koretzky (Level 2-3, I)
Contradance Band Practice – Nathan Bishop & Rachel Hall (Level 3-5, I, music)
Sweet Georgia Brown – Richard Sleigh (Level 4-5, SI, ear)
Classical Melodies for Folk Musicians – Carson McHaney (Level 3-5, I, ear)
Irish Flatpicking for Guitar – Flynn Cohen (Level 3-5)
Fiddle Open Lessons Drop-in – Karen Hirshon (Level 1-5)
Saturday, 3:15 to 4:45 pm
Folk Band Rehearsal – Faculty coaches (1-5, SI, ear, music)
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.
Saturday, 6 pm Young Adults Gathering
Saturday, 7 pm Faculty Concert
Scott Ainslie
Midnight on the Water
High Horse
Saturday, After the Concert
Contradance – Bob Nicholson (Dancers 1-5)
Dances will be taught and called by the world’s best dance caller and party leader! If you can walk and count to 4, you can contradance!
Contradance Open Band – Midnight on the Water (Instruments 3-5, I, music)
Play along with the contradance band and watch in amazement as the dancers are in sync with what you’re playing! Sheet music and chords will be provided. Bring a flashy outfit and get ready for a high-energy night of fun!
Jamming with Low Lily – Low Lily (Level 3-5, SI, ear)
Jamming with Pony Folk – Ponyfolk (Level 3-5, SI, ear)
Saturday, 11 pm
Dorm Jam – Richard Sleigh & Eric Ian Farmer (Level 2-5, SI, ear)
Stop by the dorm lounge for informal jamming before you roll into bed. Anything you want to play or sing is welcome!
Sunday, May 24, 2026
Sunday, 8:45 to 10 am
Shape Note Singing – Rachel Hall (Level 1-5, S, music)
Songs from the 60’s – Richard Sleigh (Level 1-5, SI, l&c)
Practice Smarter – Noah Harrington (Level 2-5, I)
Easy Southern Tunes – Jay Best (Level 2-3, I, ear)
Better Backup – Henry Koretzky (Level 2-3, I)
Music Theory Basics – Lori Russo (Level 1-3)
Morning Jam – Pony Folk Mikey Marget & Alex Nelson (Level 2-5, SI)
How to Write Melodies – Carson McHaney (Level 3-5)
Dwight Lamb’s Danish Tunes – Clif Nesseth & Karl Henry (Level 4-5, I, ear)
Irish Jigs – Flynn Cohen (Level 4-5, I, ear)
Voice & Songwriting Open Lesson – Liz Simmons (Level 1-5)
Sunday, 10:15 to 11:30 am
Blues Techniques for Non-Blues Singers – Scott Ainslie (Level 1-5, S)
Learn an English Ballad – Liz Simmons (Level 1-5, S)
West African Drumming – Kelly Parker & Lori Russo (Level 1-5)
Awesome Easy Tunes – Henry Koretzky & Richard Sleigh (Level 2-3, I, ear)
Finding the Groove – Jay Best & Eric Ian Farmer (Level 2-3, SI)
Next Steps for Novices – Nathan Bishop & Grace Lee (Level 1-3)
How to Play Harmony – Dani Hawkins & Tom Krumm (Level 3-5, I)
Making it Sound Old Timey – Karl Henry (Level 3-5, I)
Improvising a Solo – Lily Sexton (Level 4-5, I)
Learn a Tune in 7/8 Meter – Linda Littleton & Karen Hirshon (Level 4-5, I, ear)
Guitar Open Lessons Drop-In – Isaiah Gardham (Level 1-5)
Sunday, 1:15 to 2:15 pm
Folk Band Rehearsals
Sunday, 2:30 to 4:30 pm
Student Band Concert
Sunday, After the Concert
The Last Jam – Tom Krumm
Stick around after the concert and jam one last time until we see each other again at the Pennsylvania Folk Gathering in September. This will be a mix of singing and instrumentals, whatever tunes or songs you want to suggest.
*Schedule subject to change
