Steve and Ruth Smith

Banjo Workshops

• Clawhammer Banjo from the Ground Up:
  Basic right-hand clawhammer stroke, simple left-hand chords, pulloffs, and hammer-ons, along with simple melody lines to begin to play the old-timey way. BEGINNER SKILL LEVEL [No experience necessary]
   

• Clawhammer Banjo ~ Advanced Beginner:
  This is is for those who have accomplished the basic right-hand clawhammer stroke, simple left-hand chords, pulloffs, and hammer-ons, along with simple melody lines and know at least a few tunes. Developing a solid clawhammer rhythm will be stressed. The three basic clawhammer tunings will be taught and used. Drop-thumb, right-hand rolls will be introduced. ADVANCED BEGINNER SKILL LEVEL [Have a decent grasp of the right-hand clawhammer stroke and comfortable left-hand dexterity.
  
   
• Clawhammer Banjo Tunes in “Open G” Standard Tuning
  “Open G” (or “Standard G” tuning) is one of the most used tunings for playing clawhammer banjo. You’ll learn the three most common tunings including “Open G” and how to get from one to the other tunings easily and quickly. Then, we concentrate on learning chords and melodies that play well in the “Open G Tuning.” You’ll learn to play  tunes such as “Unclouded Day,” “Cotton Eyed Joe,” and “Old Joe Clark” - both melody and chords. NOVICE

• Clawhammer Banjo Repertoire:
  Tunes in Double C/D, Standard G/A, & Old Mountain Modal "Sawmill" tuning. We can work on instrumental and/or vocal versions of tunes depending on students’ preferences and skill levels. INTERMEDIATE SKILL LEVEL [Student needs to have basic clawhammer stroke down, the ability to play a few chords smoothly, and the ability to pick out a simple melody line by ear]
  
   
• Drop Thumb Technique Using Sawmill Tuning
  Take your playing to the next level by learning the old mountain Sawmill tuning and “Drop Thumb” clawhammer technique. In order to play a melody without using tab, Steve will teach the traditional Appalachian tune “Shady Grove” phrase-by-phrase with students watching first and then repeating each phrase. By the end of the class, you will know how to play “Shady Grove” using “Drop Thumb” technique and playing in Sawmill tuning. INTERMEDIATE

   

Ukulele Workshops
 

• Beginning Ukulele:
  Starting with the basic terminology of the ukulele, how to place your left and right hands properly on the uke, moving on to begin forming basic open chords in several keys and how to play them cleanly so that they ring true. Simple right hand ukulele strumming will be taught. You will learn to play the chords and chord progressions for many familiar songs. BEGINNER SKILL LEVEL [No experience necessary]

   

• Ukulele Tunes &Technique: 
  Learn the variety and styles of music that can be played on the ukulele with an assortment of chords, melodies, strums, rolls, and fingerpicking patterns. You’ll learn to use these techniques on many popular songs. Both vocal songs and instrumental tunes will be taught. ADVANCED BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE SKILL LEVELS

   

• The  Aloha Music of Hawaii
  The ukulele is most associated with Hawaii and its Pacific island music. Learn to play the Hawaiian way on ukulele. You’ll learn traditional Hawaiian and “Hapa Haole” (mixing Hawaiian and English lyrics) songs including Israel 'Iz' Kamakawiwo'ole’s “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” Learn the ukulele with Steve, who lived inHawaii and played music professionally there for 15 years.  [ADVANCED BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE]

   

  Early American Folk Songs on Ukulele:
  You'll learn to play and sing well-known American folk songs from the mid-1800’s, such as “Oh, Susanna,” “Hard Times Come Again No More,” “Wayfaring Stranger,” “Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane” and the original accurate Appalachian folk ballad “Tom Dooley.” Learning to play these songs will increase your ability to play ukulele easily in the keys of D and A minor. NOVICE

   

  Playing Clean Uke Chords & Progressions:
  Take that next step in your ukulele by playing chords and progressions in a smooth and clean way. Learn more chords in the three most common ukulele keys that can embellish the songs you currently play and new chords and progressions that will enable you to play new more advanced songs. Also learn the basic fingerstyle ukulele roll. INTERMEDIATE

   

  Fingerpicking the Ukulele
  Fingerpicking on ukulele can be a little daunting if you're only used to strumming chords. This workshop will start you out easy with ukulele fingerpicking the simple way so you'll be up and running in no time. It's easy when you know how - and then practice those patterns regularly. You'll learn picking patterns for 4/4/ and 3/4 timing and also combining strums and finger patterns. Fingerpicking works well for playing arpeggios and melodies. INTERMEDIATE
   

   

  

   

   

  Other Workshops 

  How to Create Effective Concerts: