Guitar
An Introduction to Soloing

This class is for anyone who is comfortable playing rhythm guitar or other stringed instruments but would like to become a lead player as well.

We’ll look at approaches to finding the melody of a song, using chords as a source of soloing notes and some simple scales that can work well in a number of musical settings.

We’ll also discuss how to come up with short intros and endings. The written material we’ll be working with has been prepared with guitarists in mind but may benefit other string players as well.

Bluegrass Guitar

Curious about the role of a guitarist in a bluegrass band?

We’ll look at a number of aspects including keeping steady rhythm, using bass run fills, intros, soloing and dynamics.

Making A Fiddle Tune Your Own

We can all find dots and lines in books and online, but how do you leave YOUR signature on a fiddle tune? I have some ideas!

The class will allow us to explore some of the countless options we have at our disposal for just such a thing, using 2 stylistically contrasting tunes.

Sideperson 101

Usually when a musician learn songs, we’re learning the lead “spotlight” part. Fiddle tunes, melody, the lead vocals, etc.

But what if you want to play in a band and are required to *gasp* … share that spotlight? (And you do!) I’ll show you my approach to being a sideman, and some of the do’s and dont’s I’ve picked up along the way.

We’ll use one familiar folk song with easy chords as a foundation. Bring a pencil!

Principals of Song Craft

In Principles of Song Craft we will be looking at the fundamental structures of songs that work.

Doing away with values such as good and bad, you’ll learn practical ways to structure and edit your songwriting so they work for the songwriter and the listener.

We’ll be looking in depth at songs that work from Alberta and further afield, learning through sharing ideas and practical songwriting exercises.

Performance Tips
for Songwriters and Beyond

Learn road-tested tips on how to make your performance more engaging and fun for you and the audience.

There will be time for Q&A including live and online performance advice.

Music Theory for the Average Jane (or Joe)

Applied Tips and Tricks …

Have you ever wondered how to find a harmony line every time, but were afraid to ask?  Understanding how a scale works to create chords can help you unlock the mystery! Interested in what different time signatures mean, so that you can play those jigs and reels with feeling?  Let’s go!

This class is a fun, gentle introduction to some basic concepts which we can apply to any instrument, including how to change keys when you need to, and how to figure out what key that pesky guitar player is in once he puts on his capo.  We will use songs and tunes to demonstrate ideas on various instruments, including voice, and have plenty of learning aids to help in the form of downloadable files, sound clips and videos, and loads of pictures

No question is too big or too small,  no instrument or tune too obscure.

Song Arrangements for the Duo

Many of us enjoy getting together with friends to play and sing, and if you’re getting together regularly, it’s incredibly rewarding to choose a song and work on it over time, polishing the rough edges while adding to your musical toolbox.

In this one hour session, learn how to choose a song that lends itself to duo harmonies, how to find a key that works, the process of choosing harmony lines, and how to arrange the song in an interesting way.

Nashville recording artist Craig Young will join this session, and we will demonstrate the process from start to finish.

Crossing the River of Suck
Intermediate Mandolin

Taking your mandolin playing to the next level can feel discouraging. Sometimes you feel like your musical goals are on the other side of a raging river, and it feels impossible to get to the other side. But with the proper tools in place, we can build stepping stones and bridges to help us get across the River of Suck and reach those goals.

In this course we’ll talk about developing those tools starting from some foundational keys like right hand position and pick contact, and simple warmups to help relax the pick hand. From there we’ll build towards some unique ways of approaching rhythm playing beyond the pervasive ‘chop’ chords. Finally we’ll delve into the lifelong journey of playing intuitive breaks through common chord progressions.

We’ll use a variety of tunes, tabs and song segments to work through these ideas in a way that you’ll get some time to view up close, listen, and then play along live. There will be plenty of time to ask for questions or clarifications along the way, and a designated ‘Q & A’ time at the end.

Mellow D Melodies
For Mandolin

The mandolin seems to be well suited to both traditional contemporary melodic tunes in the Key of D.

We’ll explore a few beautiful melodies together, swap favourites, then try to work our way through some of the ‘crux’ parts of a couple nifty pieces.

A Musical Mish-Mash

In this class we’ll tackle how to prepare your songs (editing, pre-production) and how to prepare yourself for a live performance.  

We’ll look at technical things like gear and stage set up, and go a bit deep with non-technical things like asking yourself why you’ve chosen the songs you have and “serving the song.”  

Students are encouraged to come prepared to share a song with the class, with questions they may have around arrangement and performance. 

If time permits we can venture a bit further down the road into the world of touring (how to book shows) and the world of recording.

Jumpstart Beginner Clawhammer Banjo

For those who have been intrigued by the mystery of the clawhammer banjo but haven’t had a chance to explore it, this workshop is for you!

We’ll dig right in on the right hand technique and get you playing. Many guitar players (particularly fingerstyle players) find the right hand clawhammer technique wacky to understand, but I promise you can do this!

Let’s have some fun!

Guitar
Noodles & Twiddly Bits

This workshop is for those who are competent with basic Guitar chords and scales; can manage chord changes at a tempo appropriate for different song styles – folk & country songs, ballads, blues etc. and have an awareness of the different time and key signatures. Lyric, chord & finger-style diagram sheets will be provided for all songs.

We will cover various strumming, finger-picking and melody techniques – “noodles & twiddly-bits” – to enhance the guitar accompaniment to different songs.

Ukulele BYOB

Uke Be Your Own Boss is focused on creating stylized song arranging that results in a unique sound. What can we mess around with you ask.

Pretty much any elements of a song:  Melody; Lyrics; Key; Tempo; Time Signature; Chord progression; Rhythm; Phrasing; Dynamics; Adding Colour; Idiom.

It’s bumping up songs a notch you’re familiar with in a fun and hands on class.

The techniques you can apply will result in you Being Your Own Boss with your material where your Mom can pick you out of the crowd when she hears your song.

By the way, you can Bring Your Own Bottle to the class. What goes on in there stays in there.

Messing with Chords with Ease for Ukesters

Let’s look at going beyond 4th fret and 7th chords working mostly with 3 note chords.

The ever friendly Family of Triads are really good and easy to work with. e’ll put this into immediate use with familiar songs.

We’ll look at what changing just one note in a chord makes a difference in the voicing of a song.

Vocals

After a brief introduction–who we are and why we are here in this class, we will focus on the fundamentals of how the voice works. Following this we’ll discuss voice maintenance and care, acute and chronic vocal problems and their remedies.

Although much of the class time will consist of lecture-style information and demonstrations, student questions and individual voices can best be served by active participation. You sing or speak, I listen, assess, give feedback about your voice.

We can learn the most when we all hear each other in open discussion, and I’d encourage all students to feel free to make those sounds, sing that snippet of song in example that we more fully understand and learn. But relax, there will be no pressure on anyone to “perform”. This class is not about artistic judgement, but about vocal self-discovery and freedom of expression.

Voice Workshop

Learn the fundamentals of voice function, as well as maintenance and care of this remarkable instrument.  

Guitar / Uke
Get Rhythm!

Come join as we mess around with rhythm, weaving our way through a selection of time signatures and grooves.

We’ll discover the fun of adding new life to an old song. Suitable for guitar strummers and pickers alike.

Ukuleles welcome too!