Bing Futch - Creating Arrangements By Ear
Take a tune (that you know in your head) and make an arrangement in no time! Bing will show you how to go from "thinking" a tune to "playing" a tune. From picking out a melody, to adding chords, to embellishments, this is a fun and useful class to take.
Bing Futch - Chromatic Dulcimer
Is the chromatic dulcimer the future of dulcimer playing in America? Only time will tell. For many players, though, the chromatic dulcimer is here RIGHT NOW. Bing is one of the masters of chromatic dulcimer, and he's going to get you started out right. Forget what you know about diatonic dulcimer, and have some fun with the chromatic. (Folkcraft will be glad to loan you a chromatic dulcimer if you don't have one for the class.)
Bing Futch - Songs Of Lead Belly
You'll have a blast learning songs from the repertoire of the great Huddie William "Lead Belly" Ledbetter. Bing has promised us new songs for this class, so even if you've taken the course before, you'll get new material for your repertoire.
Bing Futch - Blues Workshop
This is one of Bing's most popular classes, but for IDF2012, there's a new twist. Not only do you get to learn new tunes, and new techniques, but you get to use (for free) one of Folkcraft's new resonator dulcimers. Don't worry, though - everything you learn in this class will translate to a standard dulcimer!
Stephen Seifert - Learn Like Grandpa Did
Learn how to learn in a style similar to what folks did in the old days. Steve will teach you step-by-step how to "read hands" like some people read sheet music. You'll cover two to three tunes a day. Expect a bunch of encouraging and empowering tips.
Stephen Seifert - How To Be The Musician You Dream Of Being
From Steve: "I want to do more than teach you how to reproduce what I or someone else created. What I really want to do is show you how you can thrill both you and your listener with an approach to playing music that's all about passionate creation and not about lifeless recitation. I want to give you the truth about how your favorite musicians do what they do. Expect to get a lot of playing in while we walk through a series of simple but powerful concepts that work for any genre. My goal is to surprise you with what you're really capable of. In the process, we'll cover technique (strumming, scales, chords), arranging, improvisation, and more. I believe good musicians care less about WHAT they're playing and a whole lot more about the act of playing itself. The point isn't to play MUSIC. The point is to PLAY. Think I sound nuts? Take this class and find out how you can be nuts, too. I'm going to show you EXACTLY how to do it."
Stephen Seifert - On-The-Spot Multiple Parts For Group Playing
Learn how to EASILY and QUICKLY come up with melody, harmony, and backup in three octaves as you sight read a simple melody from tablature. You'll learn shortcuts and more! Plan on working with two to three tunes a day.
Stephen Seifert - Chord College
How to use chords in backup, arranging, and improvisation. Do you have to memorize tons of chords, and then figure out how to use them? No! Steve's system makes the task easier, quicker, and more fun. The goal is to know where and how to play all major and minor chords available on the mountain dulcimer. He'll show you exactly how to use these chord shapes to come up with intros, riffs, and endings to augment your arrangements and performances.
Butch Ross - Jam With Butch
Who is the greatest dulcimer player of all time? There are plenty of people out there that would answer "Butch Ross", so when Butch volunteered to lead a jam session at IDF2012, we jumped at the opportunity. You'll have a blast with Butch as he leads this session through a variety of tunes, from old time dulcimer standards (Butch might well know MORE dulcimer songs about squirrels than anyone on the planet) all the way through time to the modern day.
Butch Ross - Ukulele For Dulcimer Players
For IDF2012, Butch is leading two classes in "The Roots Of Rock And Roll". The classes stand alone, so you can choose to take either class, or both.
This class (Rhythm) will focus on (surprisingly enough) rhythm. The strums, the beats, and the patterns that make a rock tune sound like a rock tune. From basic beat emphasis to subtleties only Butch can clarify, this class is going to change the way you play your entire repertoire, from O'Carolan to the latest pop wonder.
Butch Ross - The Roots Of Rock And Roll (Rhythm)
For IDF2012, Butch is leading two classes in "The Roots Of Rock And Roll". The classes stand alone, so you can choose to take either class, or both.
This class (Rhythm) will focus on (surprisingly enough) rhythm. The strums, the beats, and the patterns that make a rock tune sound like a rock tune. From basic beat emphasis to subtletles only Butch can clarify, this class is going to change the way you play your entire repertoire, from O'Carolan to the latest pop wonder.
Butch Ross - The Roots Of Rock And Roll (Chords)
For IDF2012, Butch is leading two classes in "The Roots Of Rock And Roll". The classes stand alone, so you can choose to take either class, or both.
The chords of rock and roll are deceptively simple. Major chords, seventh chords, and not much else, right? If you think this is true, then let Butch show you some more. Many of the greatest rock and roll artists were real musicians BEFORE they went into rock music. Power chords are great, but Butch will lead you in an exploration of harmonies that really will "rock you".
Butch Ross - Showoff!
End your day by learning how to make unusual, offbeat and fun sounds on the dulcimer. In short, stuff that sounds cool! Learn string bending, natural and artificial harmonics, two-hand tapping, slapping, hammer-ons, pull-offs and using the dulcimer as a drum.
Tull Glazener - Dulcimer Ensemble
There is something magic that happens when a group of dulcimer players gets together to share some music. The principle of "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts" definitely applies. You'll spend this session working on a number of multi-part arrangements, pulled from a variety of genres. Bring a capo.
Tull Glazener - Chord Embellishment
This class will focus on ways to "dress up" some of your existing arrangements by using some chord substitution techniques. You'll learn a number of new tunes that demonstrate these techniques in the process.
Tull Glazener - Arranging For Mountain Dulcimer
This class will focus on how to turn standard notation, in any key, into dulcimer-friendly tab. No previous ability to read music is required. We will be working primarily with DAD tuning, but some other tunings may be explored. Please bring a pencil with a good eraser!
Tull Glazener - Jam With Tull
How much fun would you have spending an hour just "making music" with the inimitable Tull Glazener? Probably a WHOLE LOT of fun. "Jam With Tull" may well be one of the highlights of your IDF2012 experience. Imagine an intimate setting, with half a dozen of your best friends, making sweet music under the guidance of one of the most versatile dulcimer players in history. Now, quit imagining the experience, and sign up for "Jam With Tull".
Tull Glazener - Repertoire For Mountain Dulcimer
You'll learn as many tunes as Tull has time to teach you. Songs will be pulled from a wide variety of genres, such as classical, waltzes and airs, old-time/fiddle tunes, hymns and gospel tunes, Tin Pan Alley, and more. Bring a capo.
Dave Haas - Celtic Connection
Expand your repertoire with Celtic melodies pieces arranged for the mountain dulcimer. Wonderful Celtic melodies such as "Danny Boy", "Skye Boat Song", "Annie Laurie", "Si Beeg Si Moor" and others will be explored. Many arpeggio skills will be used. Bring your four leaf clover and a smile!
Dave Haas - Hooked On The Classics
Expand your repertoire with wonderful classical pieces arranged for the mountain dulcimer. Bach's "Minuet In G", "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring", and other popular classical music will be explored. Strumming, arpeggio, and fingerpicking skills will be utilized. Come ready to be hooked!
Dave Haas - Jam With Dave
Here's a rare opportunity to sit in on a small jam with one of the IDF2012 "Dream Team" of artist/instructors. Dave will lead the jam, offer suggestions and guidance, and ensure that you're having a great time. This is your chance to relax and enjoy the personality and wit that only Dave can bring to an informal dulcimer jam.
Dave Haas - Beautiful Melodies
In this course, you will improve your playing of slow melodies by picking the melody notes within the chord structure of the song. Dave will teach you left and right hand techniques, as well as finger exercises to facilitate smooth playing. Your musical expressiveness will increase as you learn how to improve your sensitivity and incorporate dynamics into your playing.
Dave Haas - Just Fiddlin' Around
Improve your playing of fiddle tunes and faster songs. Learn left and right hand techniques to facilitate smooth playing. We'll add variation by moving the melody to the bass and octave regions. Improve backup chord positions, and add a "chop" to backup. Bring a capo and a smile!
Sue Carpenter - Fingerpicking For Beginners
The focus will be on right hand technique and basic fingerpicking patterns. Sue will employ a step-by-step approach using simple exercises to get you started. You'll learn a few easy tunes that will make your dulcimer sound oh-so-sweet. (It will help if you have some experience with D,G, and A chords before taking this class.)
Sue Carpenter - Jam With Sue
Sue Carpenter is one of those dulcimer players that can do pretty much anything. She can play any style of music imaginable, which is what will make this jam so special. Don't miss out on the rare chance to be a part of a jam led by one of the all-time dulcimer heroes, Sue Carpenter.
Sue Carpenter - Syncopated Fingerpicking
Put some bounce into your fingerpicking by using an alternating bass picking pattern and then really spice it up by picking the melody off beat (syncopated). You'll learn several tunes using both the on beat and off beat patterns. This is a challenging workshop for the right hand, but we'll take things step-by-step.
Sue Carpenter - Major Beauty, Minor Melodies
Discover the beauty of the minor keys by learning several tunes in the keys of D minor, E minor, A minor, and B minor. Along with the repertoire, learn about playing minor scales with and without a capo. Bring a capo.
Sue Carpenter - Fingerpicking, Harp Style
Sue will start out with some exercises that will develop your fingerpicking techniques, and enhance your musical dynamics. Then, you'll apply those techniques in tunes arranged for playing "harp style" with melody notes played across the strings/embedded in chord arpeggios. This course is for somewhat more advanced players, but is open to intermediate and above.
Lois Hornbostel - Old-Time Music From North Carolina And Virginia
With this exciting class, Lois will help you build your repertoire and skills with a variety of fiddle tunes not commonly heard on mountain dulcimers. You'll get tips on: "sounding authentic"; playing in the keys of G, A, and D; and playing with other musicians. There are LOTS of songs in this class! Bring a capo.
Lois Hornbostel - Jam With Lois
"Jam With Lois" is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have a relaxing, small-group jam session with one of the mountain dulcimer's greatest artists. Performer, teacher, historian, and now, JAM LEADER. Wouldn't it be neat to tell your grandkids: 1) I played one-on-one basketball with Michael Jordan; 2) I had a discourse on the "big bang" with Stephen Hawking; and 3) I sat in on a small dulcimer jam led by Lois Hornbostel.
Take this jam - you'll learn new tunes, and new ways of doing a few of your old favorites!
Introduction to the Applachian Dulcimer With Lois, Bing and Steve
Here's your opportunity to learn the Appalachian dulcimer from three of the greatest dulcimer teachers of all time. In this extended class with Lois Hornbostel, Bing Futch, and Steve Seifert, you'll learn the basics (things like how to hold your dulcimer, how to tune your dulcimer, and how to use a pick). You'll learn a bit of history (the origins of the dulcimer and the evolution of the instrument). You'll learn technique (how to use your left hand and how to strum). Best of all, you'll learn songs (from simple folk tunes to something a bit more challenging).
Plan on a fun, worthwhile weekend that will teach you the fundamentals of dulcimer playing.
No musical experience is necessary, but you will need to have a dulcimer that has a 6 1/2 fret. If you're not sure, call or email Folkcraft - we'll make sure your instrument is "ready for class" before the festival begins.
