Etta Baker is perhaps best known as a skilled Piedmont blues guitarist; however, she also played the banjo. Given that many blues guitarists of Baker’s generation claimed to have learned from banjo-playing relatives, her unique up-picking style may represent an important crossover point for old-time and blues music. Participants will learn a tune as she played it.
This class will explore the unique driving fiddle and banjo style of our regional repertoire, rooted in Southwest Virginia's dance music tradition. Learn from local master musicians Chris Prillaman, Jared Boyd, Mac Traynham, and Andy Buckman.
The Handmade Music School, along with The Floyd Country Store, is excited to announce the Third Annual Floyd County Old Time Music Get-Together at the beautiful EcoVillage in Floyd County, Virginia! This amazing four day camp will take place in early spring on October 15-18, 2020 (rescheduled from March 2020). Instructors include Caleb Klauder, Sammy Lind, Nadine Landry, Reeb Willms, Tatiana Hargreaves, Jake Blount, Adam Hurt, and Phil Jamison. Cost is $400 for the four day camp.
The Handmade Music School: Online Sessions presents Bluegrass Banjo: From Imitation to Improvisation with Gina Furtado on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 at 3:00pm. The workshop will be presented via Crowdcast as part of our Handmade at Home online series. Cost is $1 to $100 (suggested donation of $15).
The Handmade Music School presents an Old Time Fiddle and Banjo Workshop with Paul Brown and Terri McMurray on Saturday March 7, 2020 from 1:30-3:00pm. Explore the interaction between old-time fiddle and banjo through demonstrations and your own participation. All levels welcome, and other instruments are welcome too! Paul and Terri have played fiddle & banjo together for decades, as a duo and in bands including the Toast String Stretchers and Smokey Valley Boys. Get some great tips, and generate your own new insights.
The Handmade Music School presents an introductory Clawhammer Banjo Workshop with Andy Buckman on Saturday, February 29, 2020 from 3:30-5:00pm. This workshop is appropriate for beginning and intermediate banjo players who wish to explore the distinctive “mountain” clawhammer banjo style of SW Virginia and NW North Carolina.
The Handmade Music School presents an intermediate old time clawhammer banjo workshop with Rachel Eddy on Saturday, February 22, 2020 from 3:30 to 5:00 pm. This clawhammer banjo workshop will focus a lot on how to use your thumb to make the banjo swing in different percussive ways. We will study common phrases on the banjo and learn how to vary them in different ways.
The Handmade Music School presents an old time fiddle and banjo repertoire workshop with Lucas Pasley and Chris Johnson on Saturday, January 18, 2020 from 3:30 to 5:00pm. Cost is $30.
The Handmade Music School presents an intermediate/advanced Round Peak workshop on Saturday, December 21, 2019 from 3:30 - 5:00 pm. The workshop includes your choice of fiddle with Kirk Sutphin, banjo with Kevin Fore, or guitar with Chester McMillian. Cost is $30 for one workshop.
The Handmade Music School is excited to present this intermediate/advanced Bluegrass banjo workshop on Sunday, November 10, 2019 from 1:30 - 3:30 pm, with two of our own local Bluegrass legends, Sammy Shelor and Gene Parker.
The Handmade Music School presents an intermediate banjo workshop with Jared Boyd on Saturday, September 28, 2019 from 3:30-5:00pm. Cost is $30. This workshop will focus on a few Round Peak/Galax area tunes, as well as some clawhammer techniques and licks you can add to your playing to give it more character/variety. We will go through tunes phrase by phrase at a moderate pace so as to get in as many tunes as possible. Attendees are expected to be able to learn by ear or by watching, as no tablature or written notation will be provided.
The Handmade Music School presents an introductory Clawhammer Banjo Workshop with Andy Buckman on Saturday, July 20, 2019 from 3:00-5:00pm. This workshop is appropriate for beginning and intermediate banjo players who wish to explore the distinctive “mountain” clawhammer banjo style of SW Virginia and NW North Carolina. Andy will emphasize rhythm, backbeat, and drone skills while teaching local dance tunes. Workshop participants can expect to gain a clear understanding of the basic mechanics of an exciting, highly danceable banjo sound that is fun to play! Cost is $30.
