2020 instructional workshops
Register now for 2020 BOTMC online workshops!
This year, all workshops will be held online, using the online meeting platform that starts with Z. Participants must have an account, which is free; sign up at this website. Links and passwords for workshops will be sent with confirmation, after you register.
Recordings of all BOTMC workshops will be made available to paid participants later. So, even if you already have plans to be scuba diving in Bora Bora this weekend, you can still sign up for a workshop, and take it at a time more convenient for you!
Please do not share the links to the workshops with others; the income from the workshop goes to the instructors, so if you do share, it comes out of the instructor's pocket.
PLEASE NOTE CHANGE IN BANJO WORKSHOP SCHEDULE.
FREE WORKSHOP, Sat. Sept. 26 at 1:00 pm PDT -- Lecture-demo with TONY THOMAS. Learn, ask questions and discuss Black Banjo with one of the foremost scholars on that subject. To get the link for this FREE workshop, sign up for the BOTMC email list (at the bottom of this page on the left) and you will receive all the links via email. We are not posting any links on the internet for the online platform that begins with Z.
Tuition is $25 per workshop. This year, we are also offering an ALL-ACCESS pass ---- this entitles you to attend as many workshops as you want (as many as 8), for the all-inclusive price of $100.
To register for a workshop, click HERE. Credit card only this year.
Material will be taught by ear; we hope to be able to record/video the workshops and make the recordings/videos available to participants, but we're still working that out.
2020 BOTMC ONLINE WORKSHOP SCHEDULE - all times PDT
workshops are one hour in length
Sat. Sept 26
DANCE:
11:00 am PDT - Flatfooting Fundamentals - Beginning Clogging - Charmaine Slaven -
Appalachian Flatfoot Dancing: Learn the art of accompanying Southern fiddle music with your feet! We'll start with the basic rhythm foundation steps, and learn accent steps as we go, with an emphasis on dancing with good musicianship. Flatfooting is an excellent way to improve your rhythm as a dancer and/or musician. You'll be learning to let your entire body "hear" the music. It's also an excellent work-out, as you'll be so entrenched in the music, you won't even realize you're working up a sweat! This class is physical, so be cautious if you suffer from back, hip, knee, ankle issues. Comfortable work-out clothing, a full water bottle, a smooth open wood surface at least 3x3 feet, and low-heeled leather-soled shoes appropriate for dancing are recommended. This class is suitable for all levels, we'll start with basics and build up, with more advanced steps towards the latter half of class. Please feel free to contact me in advance with any questions at charmaineslaven@gmail.com
FIDDLE:
12:00 noon PDT A visit with Alice - Alice Gerrard - fiddle tunes, stories and songs
2:00 pm PDT Fiddle - Eddie Bond
4:00 pm PDT Fiddle - Gabrielle Macrae - Gabrielle will teach an intermediate Old Time fiddle workshop with an emphasis on bowing technique. She will teach one or two tunes and touch on different techniques and tips in the context of the tunes.
BANJO:
12:00 noon PDT Introduction to Hilltopper style two-finger banjo picking. - Ivy Sheppard - Ivy will explain and demonstrate the Creede Birchfield “gallop lick” and the more nuanced alternating thumb and index lead two-finger style of Bill Birchfield. Students will learn a classic Roan Mountain Hilltopper tune in both styles.
**recordings will be provided of Bill and Creede before the workshop.
2:00 pm PDT Clawhammer Banjo - Barry Southern - Barry will teach an intermediate clawhammer banjo workshop. He’ll teach a tune, and talk about tips and techniques for making your playing smooth and rhythmic.
SINGING:
4:00 pm PDT Cajun Singing - David Greely - We’ll learn to sing a simple standard Cajun two-step, two verses, in Cajun French dialect, with tips on dialect traits to listen for in all Cajun songs. If there’s time, we’ll learn a waltz.
Sun. Sept. 27
DANCE:
11:00 am PDT - Cloggerobics - Evie Ladin
Cloggerobics - Kicking off your Sunday with an old-time skill building dance workout.
FIDDLE:
12:00 noon PDT Fiddle - Earl White
2:00 pm PDT Cajun Fiddle - David Greely- We’ll learn a standard Cajun two-step with emphasis on distinctive rhythms and ornaments in Cajun music, then a Cajun waltz as well.
4:00 pm PDT Fiddle - Jake Blount
BANJO:
12:00 noon PDT Banjo - Jake Blount
2:00 pm PDT Two-finger style picking - Joseph Decosimo - intermediate level and above
SINGING:
4:00 pm PDT Duet Singing - Jody Stecher & Kate Brislin - Demo-style workshop, with plenty of time for questions and answers.