Workshops

Jim offers a variety of workshops at several levels for the following instruments:

Hammered Dulcimer

     Covers care and maintenance of the hammered dulcimer. Common problems such as bridge placement, changing strings, cleaning, and tuning are discussed.

     B/I - Covers major/minor scales and major/minor chords. Includes hammer patterns for practicing both scales and chords.

     B - Intro to the hammered dulcimer including scales, chords, and hammer patterns. Several simple tunes are taught.

     I/A - Covers chords and how they relate to melodies. Takes several familiar tunes and adds embellishments to make them more interesting.

Mountain Dulcimer

     Same as above but for MT. Dulcimer.

     All levels - Same as above for Mountain dulcimer

    I/A - Covers several common jam tunes that are traditionally played in A and G

    I/A - Changing keys to play in A and G without using a capo

    B/I - Covers several tunes in the public domain that were recorded by the Carter Family

 Mandolin

    Covers chords, scales, pick technique, and several simple melodies.

     B/I - Covers techniques and tunes found in Old Time music.

     B/I - Covers several tunes in the public domain that were recorded by the Carter Family

     I/A - Covers pick technique, rhythms, and melody for several common jigs, reels, and  hornpipes. 

Guitar     

     Covers tuning, scales, and chords. Discusses strums, bass runs, and pick technique.

 Banjo

     Covers the claw hammer lick , chords, and several simple melodies.

Uke

     Covers tuning, chords, and strums. Several tunes are taught

     B/I - Covers tuning, chords and several standard uke tunes in the public domain.

     B/I - Common folk tunes we all know and love. Includes words, chords and tab

Autoharp

     Covers tuning, chords, scales, and several simple melodies

Bass

     I/A - Play the bass dulcimer like a bass guitar. Covers alternating bass, bass runs, walking bass, blues, and boogie woogie.

     B/I - Covers basic upright bass techniques including alternating bass, bass runs, boogie woogie, blues and bowing

Bowed Dulcimer

     B/I - Covers bowing techniques, proper tone production, and harmonization. Several simple tunes are taught.

 

Percussion

     Mountain or Hammered Dulcimer - I/A -Rhythmic and melodic liberties are taken on several common fiddle tunes. Rhythm patterns are tabbed out as well as alternate melodies. Rhythm instruments are provided or bring your own.

     All levels and instruments - Covers Latin, African and Indian rhythms. Instruments are provided or bring your own.

Ear Training 

Music Theory

     All levels and instruments - Covers scales, chords, modes, intervals, and chord progressions. Helps explain why we do what we do when we play.

     Same as above but specifically for mountain or hammered dulcimer.

     All levels and instruments - Covers note names on treble and bass clefs, note values, timing, and key signatures.