The workshop schedule for the 2011 Albuquerque Folk Festival is coming together.
All of these workshops are designed for festival goers' participation. Even if you don't have an instrument to play, workshop presenters and/or other participants can often loan you one or share theirs to give you chance for a little hands on. Don't be shy! Come join the fun! And if you do have an instrument at home, don't hesitate to bring it along. We have an instrument check room available from the festival start until 10:00 PM so you don't have to lug that instrument around all day if you don't want to.
One of the great things about the folk festival is that everybody participates. Main stage performers are more than willing to share their expertise with everyone at the festival. This year, you'll find instrument workshops with members of the Carolyn Martin Trio, the Jonathan Edwards Trio, and Goddess of Arno, and a gospel singing workshop with Kim and Reggie Harris.
Workshops labeled with a (B) are especially targeted to beginners. If a workshop is labeled with an (I), it's for intermediate players.
Thanks to Scott Reeder for organizing the instrumental workshops and Art Brooks for organizing the vocal workshops.
Workshop 1
Friday
Time
Session
Name
Description
6:00 PM
Jaw Harp (B)
Ken Dean
Symphony musician Ken Dean will go over basic techniques for this ancient mouth-resonated instrument. Feel free to bring your own instruments. There will be a limited number of instruments available for $6.00 each at the workshop.
With members of Goddess of Arno Balkan band. Learn to sing a song and play a melody using the exotic scales, harmonies & rhythms of the Balkans (if we're lucky we'll learn more than one song!). Learn melodies and chords by ear- sheet music and lyrics (in Romani or a Slavic language) also provided. All levels welcome. Dancers also welcome.
Saturday
Time
Session
Name
Description
11:00 AM
Introduction to Bodhrán (Irish Frame Drum) (B)
Dain Forsythe
You'll feel the heartbeat of Irish Traditional Music when you learn the rudiments of how to play Ireland's drum. This is a hands on workshop for everyone.
12:00 PM
Apple Mountain Strings & Things
Apple Mountain Strings
Albuquerque-based acoustic instrument club where players at all skill levels enjoy well-loved folk tunes with friends. Come and just listen, or bring your instrument and play along.
1:00 PM
Mountain Dulcimer (B)
Irma Reeder
Spend some time exploring this versatile instrument! It's easy and fun to get started. We'll learn some basics, then enjoy playing songs. All levels welcome to come and play along! Some instruments provided. Irma is the 2009 Colorado State and 2011 Texas State mountain dulcimer champion. She is also co-founder and director of the New Mexico Dulcimer Festival (October 14-15).
Fiddle tunes from the Ozarks for the mountain dulcimer, for intermediate players and beginners ready to move up. Jonathan is the 2007 Southern Regional champion and 2009 National silver medalist.
3:00 PM
Folk Harp (B)
Julietta Anne Rabens
Learn the basics of Folk Harp. We'll start with an introduction to the instrument, followed by basic chords, simple melodies, and a little improvisation. Harps will be available, or bring your own.
Learn how to play this fun instrument - learn strumming, a few chords, and some songs - and have Joy for life! Loaners available.
Workshop 2
Friday
Time
Session
Name
Description
6:00 PM
Western Swing Fiddle Workshop (I)
Gretchen Van Houten
Come learn with Gretchen, past Winfield national fiddle champion. Like they say,"It don't mean a thing...if it ain't got that swing!" Show up and we'll doozy up a tune or three.
7:00 PM
Bluegrass vs. Old Time
Wayne Shrubsall and Bruce Thomson
Because the instrumentation is the same, many folks are confused about the distinction between bluegrass music and old timey or traditional music. Though there are some dramatic differences, in fact there're a lot of similarities too and many great musicians use ideas from both genres. This workshop will highlight the differences and the similarities by teaching tunes in both styles.
Saturday
Time
Session
Name
Description
11:00 AM
Introductory Irish Fiddle (I)
Gary Papenhagen
We'll take a hands-on look at Irish Fiddling ornaments, basic rhythms, and a simple little jig, "Lannigan's Ball" will be taught by ear.
12:00 PM
North American Fiddle (I)
Bruce Thomson
Because we're a melting pot, North America has many styles of fiddle music including the rustic crooked music of the desert southwest and Mexico, the rhythmic old timey dance music of the Appalachians, the smooth intricate swing of Texas, and the lyric and bouncy music of New England. This workshop will explore variations by teaching tunes in old timey, bluegrass, and New England music styles.
1:00 PM
Hammered Dulcimer (B)
Scott Reeder
Fun to tune (ha ha – 70 plus strings), and a blast to play! Where else do you get to hit a stringed instrument with sticks? Introduction for non-players and tips for new players.
Learn a fiddle tune created especially for ABQ by Stuart Schulman of the Jonathan Edwards Trio.
4:00 PM
Mexitunes
Scott Mathis and Linda Askew
Scott and Linda will explore traditional instrumental music from Mexico, New Mexico and Arizona. Polkas, Valses, Cumbias, Inditas, Cunas and more. Any instrument is acceptable.
Workshop 3
Friday
Time
Session
Name
Description
6:00 PM
Mandolin (B)
Laurie Phillips
Bring your ax and learn which end is right (and don't be left). You don't need to read music ... but we won't hold it against you if you can! We'll discuss the local music scene, point to some things to work on, and practice some basic moves and tactics. And we WILL learn a tune. As always: a handout to take home!
7:00 PM
Banjo
Zach Mongan of Dixie Bee-Liners
Touching on aspects of the banjo such as tuning your banjo and how to keep it in tune, different styles and techniques including clawhammer and 3-finger Scruggs style, and how to incorporate the banjo in a non-traditional style song. Bring your banjo, recorder and any questions you may have!
Saturday
Time
Session
Name
Description
11:00 AM
Flatpicking Guitar (I)
Gretchen Van Houten
We can work on picking, pull-offs and hammer-ons that smooth out picking.
12:00 PM
Build a Washtub Bass
Cliff Johnson
Learn how to build and play a Washtub Bass by building one with a 5-gallon pail. Materials provided, take your finished instrument home with you (and play it at other festival activities).
This workshop will focus on making the most of what you already know, and then setting a path for improvement. We will look at the basics - tuning, holding the pick, primary chord forms - and then get into different rhythms, more advanced chord forms, scales and playing leads. Finally, we will explore how the mandolin's role in a band.
Accordionist extraordinaire, Rory will discuss the many roles of the accordion in swing and western music. Topics will include comping, soloing, the left hand, the difference in playing styles when accompanying a vocalist and whether accordions really caused stampedes in the old west.
A two for one workshop as we'll learn the basics of both the autoharp and mountain dulcimer. We'll use the autoharp for rhythm accompaniment and the mountain dulcimer to pick out simple melodies. Free loaners available on both instruments; no experience necessary.
4:00 PM
Guitar (B)
Bill Balassi
We'll be learning chords that you can sing along with. The guitar is one of the easiest and the most difficult instruments to play, but it takes only a short time to get started.
Workshop 4
Friday
Time
Session
Name
Description
6:00 PM
Washboard
Cliff Johnson
Learn how to play a washboard; materials, sources, & options. Loaners available.
A crash course in playing this wonderful melodic instrument, full of rich chords and beautiful arpeggios. By the end of the workshop, we'll be changing chords rhythmically in time as we sing some old favorite folk songs. Free loaner autoharps available; no prior musical experience necessary.
Saturday
Time
Session
Name
Description
11:00 AM
Tin Whistle (B)
Andy Moss
Workshop for whistle beginners. In one hour, play a few tunes. Have lots of fun.
12:00 PM
Zimbabwe Gourd Rattles
Armando Ortega
Learn to play the Zimbabwe hosho (gourd rattle). Armando Ortega of Wagogo will be teaching variations on 6/8 and 4/4 shaker patterns that accompany marimbas and thumb pianos.
1:00 PM
3-Finger Bluegrass Banjo (I)
Wayne Shrubsall
Learn some of the basic right- and left-hand patterns that characterize and define bluegrass banjo style, all in the open "G" tuning. Bring your banjo! Tablatures will be provided.
2:00 PM
Swing Guitar (I)
Michael Muldawer
This workshop is designed for guitarists who have some facility with the instrument but are relative beginners to swing chording. Michael will teach the essentials of playing movable/closed chords and the comping technique that creates the strong rhythm provided by a swing guitarist. He will begin with a 2-chord song to establish the fundamentals, then demonstrate a more complex swing song. Attendees will be provided with chord charts for these two (and possibly more) examples as well as a transposition chart, recommended self-education material, and a page of finger positions for the more common chords used in swing tunes. At the end of the session, the attendee should not be afraid to tackle a tune in keys such as F or Bb and containing diminished, augmented, minor 7, and 6 chords in several positions around the fretboard. Michael will teach one essential intro/turnaround found throughout jazz.
3:00 PM
Klezmer Music
Beth Cohen
Klezmer refers to the the dance music of the eastern European Jewish people. Learn to play a klezmer dance tune with Beth Cohen: a long-time ABQ music teacher and folk musician, Community Klezmer band director since 1995, co-producer of KlezmerQuerque & band member of The Rebbe's Orkestra & Goddess of Arno. All levels of musicians and all instruments are welcome.
4:00 PM
Harmonica (B)
Alex Hastings
Blues harmonica player Alex Hastings will be hosting this introductory harmonica workshop. He has been playing for over 9 years and teaching the harmonica for 3. Bring a harmonica in the key of C, or buy an inexpensive one from one of our festival vendors before the workshop.
Harmonic singing, originating with Tuvan throat singing, is a way of singing and listening with acute attention to the overtone spectrum of the voice, producing a sound at once otherworldly and deeply human. Harmonic singing deepens and enhances the natural voice, giving singers a direct experience of the physical laws of sound, powerful insight into the nature of harmony and a glimpse at the roots of human language and song.
Together We Sing...raise your voice in song, as Kim and Reggie Harris lead you in experiencing and developing song leadership and community building, focusing around songs of faith and freedom. Relax, sing, and celebrate!
2:00 PM
Shape Note
Shape Note Singers of Albuquerque New Mexico
Shape Note, or Sacred Harp, singing originated in colonial New England. Our songs come from that era as well as the 19th and even the 20th century albeit in the original style. We sing without accompaniment in four part harmony in a "hollow square" formation.
3:00 PM
Cowboy / Country Gospel
Wing and a Prayer
Old-time, cowboy, country gospel band that combines lively vocals with a multitude of acoustic instruments from the familiar to the unusual.
4:00 PM
Celtic Songs
Celtic Singers of New Mexico
The Celtic Singers of New Mexico is a group dedicated to the study, preservation, and enjoyment of traditional vocal music from the Celtic lands, particularly Scotland and Cape Breton Island. Many of our songs are sung in Scots Gaelic, others in Broad Scots dialect or English.
5:00 PM
Group Singing
Albuquerque Folk Song Circle
Participatory singing. Each person around the circle will have an opportunity to lead a song, request a song, or just enjoy the singing of others. Most songs will be selected from "Rise Up Singing"; copies will be available to borrow or to purchase.
