For the full list of workshops, see the workshop schedule.
- Early Bird Workshops
- Workshops during the Festival
Arriving early to Podunk? We have something special that you may want to check out, but register soon since space is limited!
Wednesday, August 3, 2011 from 2:30 PM 5:00 PM
Thursday, August 4, 2011 10:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Contributing songs to jams involves some know-how. This 2 and 1/2-hour class will use your song choices to quickly build skills that you can immediately use at THIS year's Podunk Festival! Jams move along SO nicely when we feel confident in how to deliver a song in a jam. After all, instrumentalists NEED singers to add to everyone's experience!
Registration Information:
Cost: Wed. or Thurs. 8/3 or 8/4, $40 for early sign-ups (by July 19), $50 after that.
Enrollment fee does not include admission ticket to festival.
Class size is limited to the first 10 registered students. It is recommended to sign up early!
To sign up contact Mary at MaryMaguire.us or call 603.455.0238
About the workshop:
Hand-outs and conversation and hands-on experiences will cover:
1. choosing songs
2. overcoming vocal shyness
3. finding your perfect keys
4. communicating tempo's for your songs
5. how to quickly introduce the song to the jam
6. where and how to welcome instrumentals
7. How to confidently guide everyone to the ending of the song
Our concerns and experiences with jam situation 'train wrecks' will make this class well informed AND amusing! Please bring song ideas, lyrics, note-taking tools, drinking water, recorded examples and recording devices if you wish.
About the Instructor Mary Maguire ~
Coming down from the hills of New Hampshire, Mary is one of the Northeast痴 most engaging and talented singers of contemporary folk, bluegrass, and swing, Mary was guitarist and founding member of Sweet, Hot & Sassy! With 6 recording of her own and appearing on several other musicians recording projects, Mary is a seasoned and perceptive sonstress. She will have shy singers happily leading songs in their jams in no time!
For a decade Mary and Jeff Horton have been revealing the mystery of harmony at workshops for thousands of festival goers at Podunk, Grey Fox, Joe Val, Thomas Point and Ossipee Valley Bluegrass Festivals. Join New England performers Jeff Horton and Mary Maguire and make your Podunk Festival extra memorable and carry away with you more singing skills!
Wednesday, August 3, 2011 from 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Thursday, August 4, 2011 from 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Includes instructor Jeff Horton)
EVERYONE loves to hear solid singing! Creating interesting vocal arrangements will set you apart and engage your deserving audience. This class will use YOUR songs and quickly give you ideas to start using right away at THIS year's Podunk Festival!
Registration Information:
Cost:
Wed. (2 1/2-hour class) $40 for early sign-ups (by July 19), $50 after that.
Thurs. (3-hour class) $60 for early sign-ups (by July 19), $70. after that.
Class size is limited to the first 10 registered students. It is recommended to sign up early!
Enrollment fee does not include admission ticket to festival.
To sign up contact Mary at MaryMaguire.us or call 603.455.0238
About the workshop: We'll look at ...
- Noticing differences in arrangements
- Assessing the vocal 'tools' on hand
- Tips for expanding vocal skills
- Sources for creative ideas
- Easy arrangement 'tricks'
- Rehearsal tips
- Arranging for the song
- Vocal arrangments and instrumentals
- Let's arrange YOUR songs
- Fitting your arrangement into a jam situation
Feel free to bring song ideas, lyrics, note-taking tools, drinking water, recorded examples and recording devices. Music reading skills are not needed it's the Bluegrass way!
About the instructors:
Jeff Horton ~ Hailing from Rhode Island, Jeff is ever in demand as one solid bluegrass bassman and powerfully soulful singer. Jeff was a founding member of the Neon Valley Boys, as well as a 6-year veteran of Northern Lights, and now plays with The Mary Maguire Band and The Pegheads. His distinct voice will inspire ALL you singers to just let it out!
Mary Maguire ~ Coming down from the hills of New Hampshire, Mary is one of the Northeast痴 most engaging and talented singers of contemporary folk, bluegrass, and swing, Mary was guitarist and founding member of Sweet, Hot & Sassy! With 6 recording of her own and appearing on several other musicians' recording projects, Mary is a seasoned and perceptive sonstress. She will have shy singers impressing audiences in no time!
For a decade Mary and Jeff have been revealing the mystery of harmony at workshops for thousands of festival goers at Podunk, Grey Fox, Joe Val, Thomas Point and Ossipee Valley Bluegrass Festivals. Join New England performers Jeff Horton and Mary Maguire and make your Podunk Festival extra memorable and carry away with you more singing skills!
Date: Thursday, August 4, 2011
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
This fiddle workshop will be a two and a half (2 ½) hour session. It is aimed for the complete beginner up to those that can play a few basic tunes. Children under 8 welcome with a “helper” (can be a parent or older sibling).
Registration Information:
About the Workshop:
Possible topics include:
- Overview of Instrument Care
- Easy Chording
- Technique – bow & fingering
- Reading Tab
- Learn a tune or two
- How to get past the current hurdle you are at
- How to Jam
What to Bring:
-
Fiddle with bow
- Pencil and Paper for notes
-
Recorder
Please email with any other suggestions. Class will be lead by Corrine but steered by you.
Corrine Judd has been playing Old Time fiddle for more than 25 years. During her younger years you could find her performing with a youth fiddle group, going to Old Time campouts, workshops, jamming, or on the stage with a couple guitars at any opportunity she had. She began teaching at a young age, sharing her love of the instrument and music with anyone that was interested. As an adult she was asked to direct the same youth fiddle group she had been a part of for so many years. She developed a special type of tablature to help fiddlers be able to learn tunes much faster by incorporating timing. She has compiled some of those great old tunes into two booklets for beginners and advanced beginners. She continues to teach students in her home and at the Washington Old Time Fiddler's Workshop every summer. She loves working with the beginners and showing them how much fun it is. Learn more about Corrine at www.fiddlelessonsbycorrine.com
Thursday, August 4, 2011 from 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
This fiddle workshop will be a three (3) hour session. If you can play 15+ basic tunes on your own but don’t feel you are quite the “hot shot” this is the class for you. Children under 8 welcome with a “helper” (can be a parent or older sibling).
Registration Information:
About the Workshop:
Possible topics include:
- How to Chord in any key
- Learn two or more tunes
- Technique – bowing, vibrato, flourishes
- Ear training tools
- How to get past the current hurdle you are at
- How to Jam
What to Bring:
- Fiddle with bow
- Pencil and Paper for notes
- Recorder
Please email with any other suggestions. Class will be lead by Corrine but steered by you.
Corrine Judd has been playing Old Time fiddle for more than 25 years. During her younger years you could find her performing with a youth fiddle group, going to Old Time campouts, workshops, jamming, or on the stage with a couple guitars at any opportunity she had. She began teaching at a young age, sharing her love of the instrument and music with anyone that was interested. As an adult she was asked to direct the same youth fiddle group she had been a part of for so many years. She developed a special type of tablature to help fiddlers be able to learn tunes much faster by incorporating timing. She has compiled some of those great old tunes into two booklets for beginners and advanced beginners. She continues to teach students in her home and at the Washington Old Time Fiddler's Workshop every summer. She loves working with the beginners and showing them how much fun it is. Learn more about Corrine at www.fiddlelessonsbycorrine.com
Date: Thursday, August 4, 1:00 - 5:15 PM
Registration Information:
- Cost: $60 for early sign ups (by 7/18/11) and
$70 after that. (Does not include admission ticket to festival)
- There is a minimum of 8 attendees.
- To sign up: contact Stacy at archduke@stacyphillips.com. Pay via PayPal or by check.
About the Workshop:
This dobro workshop will be a four hour session with a short break. It
is aimed for all levels of players. Possible topics include:
- Backup and accompaniment to vocals.
- Playing in all keys. Using open strings in all keys
- Soloing out of one position (instead of moving the bar to each chord
position)
- Techniques: rolls, slants, string pulls, speed, developing bar
control & accuracy
- If there is interest, Stacy will teach a tune
- How to find your way when soloing over minor chords. and a new
way of playing minor chords! Has the holy grail been found?
- Easy retuning options
- Discussion about the dobro in swing, bluegrass,
blues, Hawaiian, and country-folk.
- Ear training and music theory for dobroists
- How to effectively "fake" solos at jam sessions
These are starting points for the four hour session. The class will
have input into topics to be covered.
Learn more about Stacy at his web site:
http://www.stacyphillips.com
Some quotes about Stacy Phillips
"Stacy Phillips is one of the hottest pickers around."
- - - Guitar Player magazine
"Stacy Phillips hits almost every high point on this new release ("From
the Inside), from klezmer to Hawaiian to bluegrass to Western Swing.
This album is just damn beautiful, and if I don't write about it hear,
you may miss it. Phillips has a masterful touch on one of my favorite
instruments. . . Listening to this album is like listening to Gabby
Pahinui, or Mississippi John Hurt, or your favorite gentle, totally
fluid, totally present practitioner of American roots musics. [GRADE:
A+]"
- - -The Klezmer Shack (on line album reviews) at
http://www.klezmershack.com/
"Stacy Phillips' playing is compelling and moving."
- - - Acoustic Guitar magazine
"innovative, imaginative,and impressive"
- - - Down Home Music Newsletter
"Outrageously delightful Dobro playing. Exquisite playing."
- - -Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine
"Resophonic guitar virtuoso. . .stretching the stylistic limits of his
instrument."
- - -Dirty Linen magazine
Thursday – August 4, 2011 from 11:00am - 2:00pm
This workshop is intended for guitar players who are new to playing
lead, or have had trouble learning to play lead before. In this
workshop we'll learn both right and left hand technique, how to read
and learn from tablature (tab), and more. We will learn the classic
fiddle tune Old Joe Clark as means to introduce a variety of lead
soloing techniques. To take full advantage of this course, students
should already have some ability to play basic bluegrass rhythm. You
don't need to have previous experience playing any style of lead
guitar, or know how to read music. Students should bring a playable
guitar, a capo, and a three ring binder (handouts will be provided).
Cost is $50 per workshop, or $85 for both (and includes handouts and
CD) Enrollment is limited to 10 students per workshop.
Pre-Registration is required To register or for more info: contact
Tony at tonywatt@gmail.com
Thursday, August 4, 2011 from 3:00pm - 6:00pm
This workshop is intended for guitar players who have some experience
playing bluegrass rhythm, but would like to move beyond the basic
bluegrass "boom-chick". Among many topics we will cover
bluegrass-specific chords, syncopated bass runs between chords and
syncopated G-runs, substitutional passing chords, and a fuller
sounding rhythm pattern that I call the "subdivided boom-chick"
rhythm. Students do not need to be able to read music, and should
bring a playable guitar and a three-ring binder (handouts will be
provided).
Cost is $50 per workshop, or $85 for both (and includes handouts and
CD) Enrollment is limited to 10 students per workshop.
Pre-Registration is required To register or for more info: contact
Tony at tonywatt@gmail.com
About Tony: Award-winning flatpicking guitarist Tony Watt has
performed throughout the United States and Europe, on the Grand Ole
Opry, and elsewhere. He has been featured in Bluegrass Now Magazine
and Flatpicking Guitar Magazine, and toured and recorded with
Nashville-based Cages Bend, east Tennessee-based Meridian, with
Rounder Recording artist Alecia Nugent, and most recently with Leigh
Gibson, guitarist for The Gibson Brothers. Tony currently performs
with his band, Southeast Expressway. He has taught privately for over
10 years, and now teaches courses in bluegrass guitar, mandolin and
jamming for the Boston Bluegrass Union's Bluegrass Academy. He has
also taught workshops and Kids' Academies at bluegrass festivals
including Grey Fox, Joe Val, Thomas Point Beach, and many more. Tony
teaches lessons, classes, workshops and jam sessions in Albany, NY,
Cambridge, MA, and points in-between. Visit
http://www.theoriginaltonywatt.com for more info.
Friday, August 5 from 12:30 - 1:20 PM
Instructor: Dick Neal
A look at Bill Monroe's songs from a writer's perspective. What are his tendencies and techniques? How are his melodies shaped and structured? How does he organize ideas and transform them into lyrics?
We will consider a few general songwriting tips, then with those in mind listen to and analyze examples of Monroe's music in an attempt to discover what makes up a classic bluegrass song.
Although instrumentals are not included in this program, pickers can also benefit from an examination of Monroe's vocal melodies. By playing lyrically, you can make your instrument sing!
Facilitated by Instructor Louisa Branscomb, Songwriter
August 6 and 7, 2011 from 10am - 5pm
Registration Information:
- Fee: $25.00 (Does not include admission ticket to festival)
- Register online or mail in your Registration Form (PDF: 85KB)
- Program is limited to the first 15 individuals who register with full payment
About the Workshop:
Songwriting is not just a discipline and a craft, but an attitude toward life that fosters creativity, a set of skills applied to a good idea, and a process of refining the song, with the goal of working with an artist toward arrangement and performance.
In this special Master workshop, nationall-known songwriter Louisa Branscomb will facilitate an experience designed to help you add to your skills on building songs from inspiration to artist. The workshop is limited in number to create a hands-on, interactive, and lively atmosphere designed to foster group and individual creativity.
A special feature of the workshop will be the creation of a “group song” which the participants will work on together. Participants will then have the opportunity to actually see the song come to life, by working with national recording artist Donna Ulisse, to arrange the song for performance. The song will then be performed on the main stage on Sunday afternoon.
The workshop is appropriate for songwriters of all levels, including those who have never written a song! Workshop goals are designed for those with an interest in bluegrass, country, or Americana/roots songwriting.
Please bring: Note pad, instrument if you play one, and an open mind!
Workshop Schedule
Saturday, August 6, 2011
| 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM |
Introductions
Songcatching: Finding and fostering inspiration |
| 12:00 to 12:30 PM |
Lunch Break at Workshop Site |
| 12:30 to 1:30 PM |
Creative Crafting: Taking Your Song to the Next Level |
| 1:30 to 2:20 PM |
Demonstration and Discussion |
| 2:30 – 5:00 PM |
Group Songwriting
We will work together to find a theme, hook, and style for the group song, then craft the song, using individual and group exercises and discussion along the way. |
Sunday, August 7, 2011
| 10:00 - 11:00 AM |
Prepare for takeoff: Refining the song |
| 11:05 AM – 12:00 PM |
Collaboration with the Artist
The group will interact with Donna Ulisse to make final edits, and observe how the artist takes a song and arranges it to best present the song and the artist. |
| 3:15 PM |
(Main Stage) - Touchdown! The Song Arrives - Donna Ulisse will perform the 2011 Master Class Song on the Main Stage during her set. |
About the Instructor Louisa Branscomb
Louisa Branscomb is a "household word" in bluegrass and acoustic music, and credited with bringing a "whole generation" into bluegrass via her classic composition "Steel Rails," as recorded by Alison Krauss. Louisa’s honors include recordings on two Grammies (Krauss and John Denver), SPBGMA song of the year in 1991, a part in two IBMA Bluegrass Recorded Events of the Year, and the distinction of one of the longest running chart hits in Bluegrass Music with "Steel Rails." During 2009-2010, her song "Don't Turn Your Back," recorded by Dale Ann Bradley, held a place on bluegrass charts for nearly a year, won a fans' choice CMA video award, and was selected as a candidate for nomination for 2010 IBMA Song of the Year.
A nominee for 2011 SPBGMA Songwriter of the Year, Louisa has over 90 cuts in bluegrass and acoustic music. Her soon-to-be-released Compass project "I'll Take Love" pairs world-class vocalists with Branscomb creations that span country to bluegrass to swing, including Dale Ann Bradley, John Cowan, Claire Lynch, Alison Krauss, and mega-players Alison Brown, Josh Williams, Stuart Duncan, Missy Raines, Rob Ickes, and others.
Louisa hosts a songwriter retreat center at her North Georgia farm, Woodsong, and has served as a mentor for songwriters for several decades through private workshops, festivals, and working as a founding member of the IBMA Bluegrass Songwriter Committee. In addition to her 35 years as a professional performer and songwriter, Louisa draws on her careers in education and psychology, in which she holds an M.A. and Ph.D. respectively.
Thursday – 6:30-7:20pm
Instructor: Jim Hurst
In this workshop, we’ll work on importance of timing, rhythm, tempo, dynamics and melody. We’ll also talk about fundamentals and the importance of having at least some understanding of them.
Friday – 10:00-11:00am
Instructor: Jim Hurst
Discovering how to find a melody, the key to play it, and how to determine where best to play it if first task in playing a song. Then we’ll build it from there.
Friday – 1:30-2:20pm
Instructor: Jim Hurst
Let’s work on getting past our current level and grow to be a happier player. It calls for digging in and dealing with the simple things we tend to ignore.
Saturday – 3:30-4:20pm
Instructor: Jim Hurst
Jim Hurst performance, open forum for questions and answers between songs.
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