Workshops
Beginning Old Time Fiddle
A workshop for beginners or intermediate fiddlers. By the end of the workshop, you'll be jamming and learning how to play along by ear with some new tunes. We'll practice some basic tricks for getting that old time sound. Recording devices are encouraged. Other acoustic instruments are welcome to add their sound to the jam.
Terri Lukacko, old time fiddler and internet geek, has been obsessed with fiddling and field recording since 2001. Commuting between Albany, NY and Hobart, Tasmania, she's collected tunes and instruments along the way, dabbling on the banjo, uke, and upright bass. She's helped to organize the Fiddlers' Tour and miscellaneous old time jam sessions locally. In Tasmania, she joined in with the Hobart Old Time Stringband, the Heritage Fiddles, and a monthly Tassie Tune Sessions. Terri has lead workshops on Appalachian-style jamming, alternate fiddle tunings, and slow jams at the Cygnet Folk Festival in Tassie and the Yarra Junction Fiddler's Reunion near Melbourne. She is known for her enthusiasm in collecting and sharing old tunes, be they American or Australian.
Fingerpicking guitar
GB Balding
Gerry will demonstrate some of the open tuning techniques of great fingerpickers like Mississippi John Hurt, Blind Blake, Doc Watson, Blind Willie Mctell etc. You can then try playing some tunes yourself so bring your guitar and tuner if you have one.
Introduction to Mandolin
Fred Pribac
Fred is offering to teach an introductory mandolin workshop for beginners who are new to the mandolin. In his workshop he will introduce the participants to diverse styles of play (classic, country and blues), give brief introduction to the history of the mandolin and discuss the role of the mandolin in contemporary music. He will also teach participants how to avoid common problems and how to self-teach to continue to develop expertise.
MID-LEVEL UKULELE WORKSHOP
Chris vonderBorch will run what he would like to define as a “Mid-Level Ukulele Workshop” at the Koonya Acoustic Roots Festival. The aim is to examine in some detail one or two picking and strumming techniques that are one step above the basics. The method which underpins this technique, which of course is only one of many, will be described with the aid of an explicit hand-out. A tune/song with a Tasmanian flavour, lyrics by Chris, will then be demonstrated, using the method described.
Ukes for this workshop would best be in the “C” tuneing, and we will be playing in “C”. The song is titled “The Crays are on the Run”, based on the former fishing industry which worked out of Fortescue Bay. The actual tune is the well-known shearing song, “Another Fall of Rain”.
WOMEN’S SONG CIRCLE
The Women’s Song Circle, hosted by Cate Foley Burke, is a workshop for women who enjoy singing or would just like to participate by listening.
At the recent Cygnet Folk Festival, during the Women’s Song Circle, women introduced each other to songs and taught choruses to the group. Some had written their own songs while other women felt more at ease suggesting a well known song that we would all join her singing. There was even a three year old sitting on her mothers’ lap that created a song for us to sing along with! Men are also welcome as listeners at the circle.
Bring along your voice and any musical instrument you may like to play.