2012 Workshops at the Mountain Laurel Autoharp Gathering
We have some great performers and workshop leaders this year who will bring exciting and varied topics to the Gathering! Have fun exploring the descriptions below, which are loosely ordered from beginner to more advanced, with some “all level” workshops at the end. In addition to these more formal workshops, all six featured performers will be doing "Hand to Hand" hours where you can get to know them more personally and ask questions about their playing techniques or their musical journeys.
“Boot Camp for Beginners” – Cathy Britell – beg
Come for an introduction to playing the autoharp. This 3-hour workshop, held on Wednesday afternoon, is for new players and for those who play a little and might want to brush up on the basics. Mary will cover many topics to get you started playing our great instrument. Come with any questions. Hope to see you there!
“Beyond Boot Camp – Staying on Track” – Karen Daniels – beg and up
These workshops are 9 a.m. sessions beginning Thursday, and are student-directed with handouts included. They are designed to help participants receive answers to questions they may have regarding whatever they may not have understood in other workshops. Of the many, many workshops that Karen has prepared and taught, she brings many of the quality handouts, so that, depending upon the direction of the questions and which direction the students choose to go, the sessions wind up being mini-workshops exploring any one of a number of topics. Come join us in the mornings and learn – FOR ALL LEVELS. Questions from beginners ANY TIME especially welcome. We are there for YOU!
“Kids’ Workshops – Get Started Off Right!” – Vicki Lehman
An introduction to the autoharp for children. Loaner 'harps will be available, including smaller ones for younger children. Adult beginners (and observers) also are welcome, but the tunes will be nursery rhymes and familiar children's songs.
“Beyond Dum Ditty” – Les Gustafson-Zook – beg; keys of C & F
Bored with the dum-ditty and ready to move on? We’ll explore a variety of rhythm accompaniments for beginners and start you on the path to melody playing.
“Asian Songs on the Autoharp” – Ray Choi – beg and up, Chromatic
Learn some famous Asian songs like “Arirang” and “Sakura” and realize how beautiful they can sound on the autoharp. It’s an instrument for all cultures!
“Rhythm Chops and Other Autoharp Tricks” – Bill Bryant – beg and up, key of G
Using the autoharp for rhythm when jamming with others and singing. We will use the song “Amazing Grace” in the key of G. As time permits, I will demonstrate techniques I have learned over the past 49 years of playing the autoharp.
“Mix It Up with Mixolydian Tunes” – Drew Smith – adv beg and up, keys of D and A (chromatic or 2-key or 3-key diatonic)
Yes, you CAN do mixolydian tunes! We’ll need one extra chord (which you will have) beyond the I, IV, and V chords. This added chord makes all the difference by giving you a new sound for your music. There are many kinds of music that require this extra chord! And the formula I’ll give you is SO VERY SIMPLE! Let’s MIX it up!
“The Many Faces of the Pinch” – Lucille Reilly – adv beg and up, key of F, chromatic and diatonicIn this workshop a simple (and hopefully familiar) tune will help us explore how and where the pinch can be played in order to expand its versatility. We will create various textures by which to orchestrate the melody and magnify the autoharp’s sound with clarity. Eradicating pick noise will also be addressed. Please bring three fingerpicks and one thumb pick, even if you play bare-fingered (a hard surface covering the finger pads is essential). Lucille will show you how to put the picks on securely so that you will barely know they are there.
“Everybody Polka!” – Les Gustafson-Zook – int, keys of C & D
Introducing several well-loved polkas (Heel Toe and John Ryan’s), we’ll explore techniques of damping, soloing and tricks for improving your picking accuracy.
“Picks, Licks, and Ear-Catching Tricks” – June Maugery – int (but all are welcome) – chromatic or diatonic
Learn some things to do that will add variety to your sound! Flatpicking, percussive sounds, damping, “finger clogging,”, rolls and pulls, open chord “scoops,” arrangement ideas, playing way left by the pins or way on the other side of the bars! These will not replace, but add to what you’re already doing! Please bring a Kelly Speed Pick (available from Pete Daigle’s booth if you don’t have one).
“The Autoharp and Country Music” – Cathy Barton – int
Cathy and Dave have made five trips to Europe playing on the country music circuit, and she used the autoharp extensively to accompany older country songs from the ‘40s and ‘50s to some more modern songs from the likes of Don Williams and Dolly Parton. Learn to play some of these and how you can make your autoharp style complement country!
“Autoharp Tremolo Technique” – Ray Choi – int/adv; G, D; chromatic or diatonic
If you’ve heard Ray play, you’ve been mesmerized by what he does with his tremolo, mostly in the upper register. He’ll de-mystify it, and maybe you’ll end up with it in your bag of tricks!
“Down at the Chord Bar” – Bonnie Phipps – int/adv; C, G, D
Enhancing your accompaniments. Learn to use thumb techniques, stops, chunks, cross picking, and pinches to produce melodic accompaniment patterns and interesting rhythms. Focus will also be on creating dynamics and on using the range of the autoharp's strings effectively.
(recording welcome)
“Songwriting 101” – Kathy Wieland – all levels – no instrument required
Where do songs come from? Where do you find a melody? How important are the rhymes? Add color to your lyrics. We’ll do some writing exercises as well. After all, this is a song WRITING class!
“Lesser-Known Carter Family Songs” – Cathy Barton – all levels
Everybody knows a few “standard” Carter songs. But there are so many that are off the beaten path! Cathy is well known for her large repertoire of Carter Family songs, and she’ll bring some of her favorites to you.
“Jamming Songs: Some Rights and Wrongs” – June Maugery – all levels; keys C, G, D, A
If you’re a singer, what works best with a jamming group? How do you keep both singers and non-singers engaged in a jam? What makes a good jamming song, after all, and what types of songs might be “jamkillers?” We’ll work with some accessible but not over-done songs.
“Kidstock” – Bonnie Phipps – all levels; C, G, D
A festival of songs to sing with children. If you like to sing with kids, or you are a kid, or you act like a kid, this workshop is for you! Not only will you learn some fun children's songs, but you will also learn some strumming techniques to go along with them. The songs will be geared to pre-K through 2nd grade. (recording welcome)
“The Autoharpist’s Toolbox” – Tom Fladmark – all levels
The tools and techniques that every autoharp owner should have to keep their instrument looking good, sounding good, and working well.
Performer Will Smith will be doing two workshops, descriptions TBA.
2