“The Beautiful Music All Around Us,” with Stephen Wade-This program of The Beautiful Music All Around Us combines live music, projected images, and spoken narrative that traces Stephen Wade’s journey into musical traditions across the American South. Wade’s remarkable research that culminated recently in his book, The Beautiful Music All Around … Continue reading →
Ballads Workshop, with Dan Keding-Ballads are the big songs of the folk music world – their history is big, their size is big and their impact on an audience and on the artist is big. Ballads are story songs. In this workshop we’ll listen … Continue reading →
Banjo Styles Workshop, with Stephen Wade-2013 Grammy nominee Stephen Wade plays in a variety of banjo styles largely learned from personal contact with older generation Southern musicians. Last fall he released Banjo Diary: Lessons from Tradition (Smithsonian Folkways), an innovative celebration of those encounters. He … Continue reading →
Beginning Tin Whistle Workshop, with Dean Karres-Come for a low stress introduction to the tin whistle (penny whistle). This workshop is for the complete novice. You will be shown correct hand and finger position; a simple scale; and, we will work through one or more very simple melodies. A … Continue reading →
Cigar Box Banjo Workshop, with Tony Taylor-Interested in building your own cigar box guitar/banjo? Join Ascendent Instruments owner Tony Taylor as he shows off his varied collection of home-made instruments and gets you thinking about how to get the most out of the pieces and parts … Continue reading →
Creative Art of the Drum Circle Workshop-Join storyteller and drummer Oba William King for a spirited drum circle workshop! This interactive workshop is for all ages. Bring your drum. Some loaners may be available. Generously sponsored by the Sousa Archives and Center for American Music. Saturday, November … Continue reading →
Dance Try-Its-Yes, you CAN have it all! Spend a delightful hour-and-a-half learning three different dance traditions. Irish (with Daniel Flora) English and Scandinavian (with Jon and Sue Hanson) International Folk Dance (with the Illini Folk Dance Society) Saturday, … Continue reading →
Day of the Dead Workshop, with Los Condenados Huastecos-In the Mexican Huasteca and Sierra Gorda regions, it is custom for huapango huasteco and huapango arribeño ensembles to perform the vinuete at vigils for patron saints and funeral wakes. In commemoration of el día de los muertos, this performance and … Continue reading →
Fiddling from Far to Near, with Kate Fritz-Join Kate Fritz for an exploration of the western fiddle music diaspora. How did the migration of people: Irish, Scottish, West African, French, Caribbean, and Roma, affect the sounds of distinctive regional North American fiddle styles we hear today? What … Continue reading →
Fingerpicking in Open D, with David Berchtold-Join David Berchtold for a workshop on basic to intermediate techniques for playing folk and blues in open D tuning. David will cover finger picking, basic chord shapes, and moveable chord shapes. He’ll cover one or two of songs based … Continue reading →
Harmonica Workshop With Doug and Dave-It’s easy to begin to learn to play harmonica! Doug Schroer and Dave Witzany will lead the group using key of C diatonic 10 hole harmonicas to help you learn about the instrument and to begin playing melodies and blues. If you have a … Continue reading →
Make & Take Instruments, with the Viper-Join The Viper and His Famous Orchestra for an interactive build-a-band workshop. The ultimate “green” musical experience, you’ll learn how to make fully-functioning instruments out of recycled & repurposed household materials (boxes, jugs, superballs, etc.). Practice playing along with others … Continue reading →
Prairie Dogs Performance and Beatles Play-Along-Calling musicians of all levels!! The Prairie Dogs invite you to BRING YOUR INSTRUMENT and play and sing along to all your Beatles favorites, including, but not limited to, the Rubber Soul album. Then, sit back and listen to a … Continue reading →
Reading an Audience Workshop, with Dan Keding-This workshop is an in-depth look at the relationship between the teller, his/her material and the audience. We will take a look at the way we relate to our audience and how to understand our own stories in a way … Continue reading →
Rhythm Bones Workshop-Bones? Bones! Interested in a percussion instrument you can take anywhere? Come join the guys from Bones Jugs N Harmony for a workshop on all things bones. Why bones? Because they are the best! Bone with your right hand, your left … Continue reading →
Slack Key Guitar Workshop with Alfonso Valdes-Hawaiian slack key refers to a wide range of fingerstyle guitar music in which some of the guitar strings are tuned down (“slack”). Although there is no standard tuning, some common slack key tunings like open-G are also used in … Continue reading →
Swing Dance Lesson with Paul Kwiat-Learn swing from everyone’s favorite dancing physics professor, Paul Kwiat! Then stick around for the swing dance, with music provided by the Champaign Central High School Jazz Ensemble. Friday, November 1st, 6:00pm-6:45pm (dance 7:00pm-8:00pm) Landmark Hotel Ballroom Wristband
Ukulele Jugband-Join Del Rey for a jugless, all ukulele, hokum-blues shindig, with playing and singing parts for all levels of player. Music from a 1920s Memphis street corner, orchestrated for all-ukuleles all the time! Saturday, November 2nd, 3:15pm-4:15pm Independent Media … Continue reading →
Washboard Workshop with Dave Madden-Participants of this workshop will be introduced to basic washboard techniques needed in playing with other musicians. Various styles will be discussed and demonstrated. Participants are encouraged to bring their own washboards and thimbles. A few washboards will be available … Continue reading →
Yoga for Musicians-Does your neck or back ache after playing? Are your fingers, wrists and shoulders sore? Do you often lose your breath while you’re singing? Don’t worry! Yoga can help! In this workshop we’ll learn some simple techniques and stretches that … Continue reading →
