General Sessions

Even as beginners, we can play some great, old hymns on the mountain dulcimer. In this class, we’ll play some by Fanny Crosby, Charles Wesley, and plenty others while talking about effective ways to play these hymns in church and other settings.

Learn how to properly, and “cooly”, mess up a tune; extra notes, early beats, learn where and when to add embellishments and "fancy" notes. Play a fiddle tune like a fiddler would.

Using hammer ons, pull offs, trills and changing the timing. We will also learn about chords, their names and shapes.

A variety of ballads and songs from Appalachia and across the pond.

Left hand fingerings, chord shapes, and right-hand strumming patterns and rhythms can be overwhelming.  We’ll demystify them all and let you enjoy your music even more!  DAD Tuning

This class will begin with song arrangements to get you familiar with using the 1.5 fret, and then go into how the 1.5 fret adds so much to your repertoire.  You will have a book of tunes by the end of the class with arrangements in D Major, D Minor, G Major, and G Mixolydian keys. From simple one note additions to chords, you will be loving your 1.5 fret by the end of the course!

You will learn the basics needed to start playing your dulcimer. You do not need to read music. I will show you the tricks to make learning a song easier and your first embellishments. You will understand how your instrument works and will be able to make it sound like what made you want to play it. Come get started and more.

You can after this class – and several other holiday favorites as well. Add accessible embellishments and techniques; make medleys. Impress your friends and neighbors. They’ll smile and throw money (maybe).

We'll explore all manner of exercises with rhythmic twists and turns to broaden and deepen your rhythmic and syncopation vocabulary. With exercises that are presented in order of difficulty, you’ll be grounded in a steady pulse on different parts of the beat so your syncopation can be solid. We’ll learn a few tunes that have different kinds of syncopation, and you’ll learn techniques to help you count tricky rhythms more reliably.

Just a drum with a hunk of wood and strings attached but oh the possibilities! This class will explore the banjo styles of Western North Carolina. From clawhammer to 2 finger, you will become familiar with the rhythmic and melodic sounds that a banjo can produce. We will go through topics such as technique, timing, practice, ear training and much, much more. Skill level for the class will be determined.

Learn 12 of the most user-friendly strums that you'll need to play bluegrass, old time, folk, country, swing, blues, rock, reggae, calypso and more. We'll learn the strums and try em out with some fun singable favorites. PDF provided for download prior to the festival.

Counts as a 2-session class - sign up for both!

A totally different concept from what we’ve been doing all these years, let’s learn the ins and outs of playing multiple parts all at the same time. Thrilling? You betcha! Come see what all the hoopla is about. Spend 2 hours a day learning new music, performance skills, and loads about playing with others! You don’t want to miss this!

Come sing and/or play Sacred Songs from the mountains and beyond.

There are wonderful tried-and-true methods of learning the dulcimer that many great instructors are teaching in person and online… Well, we ain’t gonna do NONE of them. This is a decidedly non-traditional approach to getting started on dulcimer OR a just great way to supplement what you already know.

Each day in this class you will play a different song with an accompaniment track made for it. You will receive a recording of those tracks and be given permission to use them in your own performances. If time permits, Joe will share some of the processes and tools he uses to create those tracks.

Improve your play of slow songs in a smooth and melodic style. Discover left and right-hand techniques which facilitate smooth play. Explore ways of adding expression and feeling to your play. Learn how to provide backup accompaniment for others playing slowly. Incorporate these techniques to popular melodies you already know. All new material for 2023. DAD

Playing together is great fun and develops listening skills, which will improve your playing. The class includes varied repertoire with two parts and some bass and rhythm parts. DAD Tuning

We’ll take some of the music from great composers like Beethoven, Mozart, Pachelbel, and Haydn, we’ll assign easy single-note parts to different sections, and then, together, we’ll make a joyful noise in triumphant harmony! Along the way, we'll learn composition fundamentals and also take a look at arranging for mountain dulcimer.

You may have wondered, "Am I the only one who gets nervous playing in front of others?" (you are NOT!) Do your hands shake so badly you drop your hammers? Can't even remember how the tune goes? It's totally OK to be nervous—it's how we learn to manage the jitters that is important. Let's learn some strategies in a supportive environment where we can test the waters of performing for your peers. Come with a couple of tunes you know well. All levels welcome; class limited to 12 participants.

Fill your arranging toolbox with lots of options for customization. Bring a tune you’d like to make your own, then experiment with an assortment of methods to create your unique and personal interpretation. It’s always good to have options....

An introduction to the layout of the hammered dulcimer. Covers major and minor scales and chords. Includes hammer patterns for practicing both scales and chords.

Doc Watson would have had his 100th birthday this year. Doc was famous for his playing of rags including, of course, Black Mountain Rag (in A) and East Tennessee Blues (in C). We will tackle syncopations, chromatics, lots of fun variations, circle of fifths chord movement, and backup ideas.

Join Uke master Lil Rev and Learn the ins and outs of pattern playing, arpeggios, and 6 of the most practical picking sequences that you'll need to know including: Alternating thumb, inside/outside, 4-3-2-1, The Pinch, Rev's Banjo Roll, and many more. See the benefits of using Rev's approach to pattern playing for song accompaniment, improv and other great ideas that will foster finger-style proficiency. PDF provided for download prior to the festival.

Western North Carolina has a long history of shape-note singing (an easy method of learning how to read music by applying shapes to notes in the scale). From the haunting melodies of William Walker’s Christian Harmony to the complex, moving parts of Stamps-Baxter Conventional Hymn Books, this class will be an exploration of all things shape-note. Gospel harmony has always been an important part of traditional singing and you’ll get the chance to hear where Josh, along with many others, got their start in music. We will begin by learning the shapes, so no prior experience is required. Get ready to have lots of fun hearing some amazing harmony and experiencing it with a full group in four-part harmony.

Play some fun percussion instruments and improve your rhythms skills. You'll play spoons, washboard, body percussion, and other interesting instruments. We'll play along to a variety of musical styles. I will provide spoons and washboards. You are welcome to bring your own percussion instruments as well.

Continued from session 1.

(Sign up for both sessions 1 and 2.)

This workshop is for anyone who has ever wanted to write their own instrumental tune. From idea to first attempts through editing and notating the music for printing, Bing will take students through the entire process as he composes a brand-new tune in class, based on their suggestions! Everyone will leave with the beginnings of a tune (or a complete one).

Traditional Songs and Fiddle Tunes covering a variety of topics. Mostly material not taught in previous years.

Easy jam tunes that are commonly played at most jams. Includes TAB and chords.

Learn wonderful fiddle tunes that are sure to spice up any jam session.  Improve your playing of fiddle tunes and faster songs. Learn left and right-hand techniques that facilitate smooth playing.  Learn how to easily play in the keys of D, G, A, Em, and C. Explore the use of “chopped” chords to make your backup come alive.  Don’t worry about keeping up. We will learn all tunes slowly and then build speed. A capo and smile are required! All new material for 2023. DAD

Have you ever wanted to just pick up a piece of music and start playing it on the dulcimer? I love playing the dulcimer from lead sheets, piano music, or any music sans tablature as it gives me the freedom to make my own arrangements as I go, which makes it easier to remember and play by memory! We will begin day one with reviewing how to read music, playing it note by note on the dulcimer, then start to incorporate chords and even writing down our own arrangements by the end of the course!

We will start with the Basics and work our way up. Basic chords and timing are a must. You will learn many new tools to help you play beautifully!

Harmonies and drones will create movement to your music. You will come out of this class with new techniques to use in all of your songs. Thirds make great harmonies until they don't work. Find out why and how to make them work. Drones create that definitive hammered dulcimer sound. Playing harmonies with drones will make your playing sound magical. This is a fun class with lots of playing. Come have fun learning.

We will explore a host of arranging ideas and a backup for two “summer waltzes”: Swedish guitarist Ale Moller’s lovely Summer Waltz and my original Summer’s End.

We'll take a more challenging O'Carolan piece and learn techniques to dress it up. A variety of ornaments, both rhythmic and melodic will be taught, discussed, and put into practice. The beauty of this work is once you understand how to do it correctly, you can apply it to any number of other tunes.

Students frequently ask me for hymn arrangements to play in church and/or nursing homes. We will learn simple arrangements written by Mary Lynn Michal for well-loved hymns, including many arranging concepts that you can apply to other tunes to make your own arrangements. As promised last year, we will learn "For the Beauty of the Earth" and others.

This class covers the basics of the Irish drum including technique, Irish music styles, dynamics, changing tone, rolls, and care of the drum. You will need a Bodhran for this class. I will have a limited number of drums to rent. Contact Danny Shepherd to reserve a rental drum at ihitstuf@yahoo.com

This class will focus on ways to develop a song from the seed of an idea to completion without forcing the process. Through exercises designed to unleash your creativity, we will make it approachable rather than a struggle. Traditional music will be our vehicle, BUT you never know where an idea might lead! All forms of word crafting will be explored as well as how to pair lyrics with music. Let’s write something together!

Join Lil Rev for an exciting class that teaches a wide array of approaches to playing bluegrass & country music on the ukulele. We'll study fiddle tunes, backup ideas, banjo rolls, percussive techniques, muting, repertoire building and jam etiquette. PDF provided for download prior to the festival.

Folks always say that the dulcimer is the easiest instrument to learn to play. Well...yes, it is very simple to work out a melody; however, when you put that tab in front of folks, they often remind me of the deer in headlights. In this class, we will learn the Secret Language Called “Music”.  What are all those funny words and symbols splashed across the sheet music or tab? Knowing how to “speak” Music, you will find yourself a much better player with a much better sound, because you will now be able to understand what those funny words / notations mean, or where to go to find more!

Sometimes there are phrases in tunes that have slight syncopations, often due to lyrics. While they may—on the page—seem hard and intimidating, they are as cuddly as a kitty cat, if you know how to tame them. So come learn learn how to go from "bah bah bah bah" to "badup buh-ba ba bada".

You are already a very good dulcimer player! You will be challenged with skills necessary to become a great dulcimer player. Discover how to add variation by moving the melody to different regions of the fretboard. Explore the use of harmonics, hammers, pulls, and slides, to add spice to your play. Performance tips, playing with others, and playing without music will also be discussed. Bring a capo and a smile. All new material for 2023. DAD

The tunes of Scotland and Ireland are often based on sad songs… this will be a class of beautiful tunes with harmonics and other embellishments. Also how to keep your fingers down so you don’t have choppy playing… AND have a blessed day!

Let's learn a few songs from one of our most famous composers and those anonymous musicians who gave us the wonderful body of music we call American music. DAD tuning

This course covers the variety of music found in the Irish genre of music including, the slow lamentations and songs, dance tunes (different from last year’s course) that work well together as a medley, or set, and even the more common sing along songs that you will hear in Irish pubs.  Dulcimer tablature, along with chords and standard notation will be provided and will be the focus of the class, but if you want to bring a different instrument or a friend that plays a different instrument who loves Irish music, we welcome “other” instruments and will have a great time learning and playing together.

It takes mental AND physical skills to play smoothly and communicatively. Develop your awareness and your control through exercises and intentional focus. Guaranteed to increase positive feedback!

We'll be building skills to add to your musical “bag o’tricks” while tackling different of types of rolls, rhythmic variations, adding chords in different ways, endings, and general arranging techniques. Using the stunning three-part Slavic Waltz as a vehicle to apply these concepts, we’ll work together to create a fluid arrangement in class. The overarching goal is to build skills to create a fluid arrangement that changes in interesting and subtle ways every time the tune is played instead of locking into a set and static arrangement. This is where the fun really starts, both for the performer and for the listener.

Captain O'Kain is a lovely and lesser known piece by Irish composer and harpist Turlough O'Carolan. Newly arranged by Mary Lynn Michal, we will learn the melody and a backup, along with a basic arrangement and more complicated arranging ideas. Written music and video summaries will be provided.

Playing great music requires several layers of techniques to be used at the same time. Pulse, beat, rhythm, dynamics, phrasing and more. Understanding Pulse, defines how long our holds are held. It is not a "count", it is a feeling of the pulse. This class will help you develop this skill. Putting these layers together and knowing how to manipulate them will make your playing be very expressive. Learn how to tell a story with your music.

This beautiful, haunting, and expressive instrument dates back 4000 years on the North American continent. Originally used in courtship and later in ceremonies and, more recently, ensemble performances, the Native American flute now enjoys great popularity in all types of music. You'll be surprised at just how easy it is to play! In this workshop, you'll learn basics: flute anatomy, how to hold it, breath control, major and minor scales, ornamentation techniques, and how to discover your very own spirit song. If you don't have a flute, contact Bing (bingfutch@yahoo.com) to order one and have it sent to you or brought to the workshop. The key of the flute does not matter if you wish to bring your own.

Uke class for those already playing songs in several keys. You should already be able to play chords: C, F, C7, Am, G, G7, and D7.  You’ll learn more chords, songs, fancy strums, styles, accompaniment patterns, scales, how to read TAB, transpose songs, moveable chord forms, and simple chord melodies.

Ever wondered how people go about writing wonderful songs? This class will help you write your own and/or improve the ones you have already started. Joe will be sharing tools and processes he uses that you can adapt to your own musical and lyrical creativity. You do not have to be a great dulcimer player to take this workshop, but a proficiency on any instrument would be helpful.

The key to playing old time fiddle is developing a rhythmic bowing style. Using 2-3 tunes, this workshop will focus on several bowing approaches (e.g. Nashville shuffle, 3-1 bowing, bow rocks, string-crossing, ghost bows, mid-bow pulses). To dress up your playing, left-hand ornamentation (e.g. slides, triplets, grace notes, drones, chords etc.) will be addressed. To improve your sound, we will cover right and left-hand technique as needed.

Covers pick technique, scales, and chords. Several common fiddle tunes are taught as basic melodies then more "notey" versions.

In this workshop, you will learn the basic features of the popular Studio One DAW. Recording equipment such as a USB audio box interface, cables, and microphones will also be discussed. You will learn how to record a simple song, add multiple tracks, looping patterns, audio effects, and mixdown to a digital mp3 music file.