PattyFest 2008 - Workshop Instructors

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2007
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Jammin'
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2006
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Workshops
Miscellaneous

2005
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Onstage 3
Workshops
Jammin

2004
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Miscellaneous

2003
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2002
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Workshops and Instructors

See the complete workshop schedule

Phil Allender ("Traditional Irish tin whistle workshop") 10:45 am

We will discuss session etiquette, and Irish standards, by which players can measure their progress. A typical jig and reel will be used to demonstrate techniques and ornamentation. Students should have their own whistle. They will be required to demonstrate their current skills by playing for the instructor and the other class members. This is NOT a class for beginners.
Phil Allender, of Morgantown, WV, has been playing tin whistle since 1975. He also plays Irish concert flute, bouzouki, and bodhran. He has taken lessons from Jack Coen (flute), Mary Bergin (whistle), Joanie Madden (whistle and flute), Seamus Egan (flute and tenor banjo), Siobhan Kelly (flute) and has traveled with his wife (harpist) to Ireland on numerous annual trips to study the Irish music and culture. He has played in the Irish band Kilronan (4 years), and is currently lead whistle player for Clinton Forgery, in Morgantown. He is also a founder of Percival Hall Pickers (1985-2008) and produced the recording "Percival Hall Pickers," and has provided scholarships for teen-age musicians with proceeds from that recording.

Sue Brown ("Lap Dulcimer Novice - Beginner") 12 pm

The class will begin with a short Appalachian history about the instrument, and include an explanation on the various parts of the instrument, as well as the beginning ways of playing, from basic strumming to basic hand movements on the frets. There will be lap dulcimers on loan from Prickett's Fort for those that want to try the instrument. Participants will learn one or two songs in DAA tuning.
I am a 3rd year student of Patty Looman and have taken workshop sessions taught by Bill Collins and Molly McCormack, as well as a workshop taught by Aaron O'Rouke. This past year I was given the opportunity to teach 5th and 6th grade WV school students the lap dulcimer though a Prickett's Fort program, Teaching History Through The Arts. I do not read music and was delighted to find I could be a musician in my senior years!! I love to have fun as we learn and play together!

Charlie Burton ("Appalachian flat foot dancing: Turn your feet into authentic Appalachian musical instruments!") 1:15 pm

Turn your feet into authentic Appalachian musical instruments! No excuses now-this workshop is about having fun while learning some serious toe (and heel and sole) tapping steps. You should wear comfortable, hard-soled shoes. This workshop will have plenty for beginners, intermediate, and advanced students. After the workshop is over Charlie will be glad to help anyone with more steps or work on what was taught in the workshop.
Charlie was born and raised in southeastern Kentucky, where he learned as a very young boy from his father the traditional Appalachian mountain flatfoot dance. Flatfoot dance has been a big part of his life every since. He loves to be able to pass on all of the steps he has learned.

Mark Crabtree ("Fiddle: Tunes and technique" Intermediate) 2:30 pm

We'll dive right into learning an old time West Virginia fiddle tune or two. The style of playing will be our focus at least as much as the notes themselves.
Mark blames Dwight Diller and Wilson Douglas for his fascination with the older West Virginia fiddle playing styles. The playing of Edden Hammons, Melvin Wine, Wilson Douglas, Burl Hammons, and Lester McCumbers has been his major influence.

John Etherton ("Penny whistle workshop") 9:30 am

Nothing is sweeter than a well-played, haunting aire played on a penny whistle. And playing the penny whistle in a session of lively jigs and hornpipes is a genuine high for the player and the audience. This workshop is for beginners and players with some skills already. Whistles in the key of D will be provided for those who don't have a whistle yet. Otherwise bring your own. The workshop will teach a couple of tunes and ornamentation.
John has been playing the whistle in Morgantown for a goodly time now. He plays gigs with other Irish music lovers in the area. He has taken lessons with Phil Allender and Joanie Madden (at Augusta). He enjoys playing in sessions when he travels in the U.S. and Ireland. Come learn to make melody for your own and others' enjoyment.

Darlene Fox (Lap dulcimer: "A 'D' is a 'D' is a 'D'." Advanced beginning - intermediate) 9:30 am

Did you know a person tuned DAA and a person tuned DAD can sit beside each other and play the same song? This class will tell you how. So come tuned either way, whatever is most comfortable. It will be a fun and easy repertoire.
Darlene has been playing lap dulcimer for many years and plays with the heritage group "Dulcimer Dames" and teaches at festivals, fairs, etc. She has also played hammered dulcimer for several years under the apprenticeship of Patty Looman. She hopes to carry on the old-time music traditions, and to do her part to keep it going for many years and to make sure it's passed on to future generations.

Paul Gartner ("Clawhammer banjo workshop: Beginning - intermediate") 10:45 am

This workshop will teach some out-of-the-way tunes, and perhaps a song to sing with banjo.
Paul Gartner plays guitar and banjo in the old-time duo, Born Old. He is a two-time Ohio State clawhammer banjo champion, and has taken the blue ribbon at Glenville. He has taught banjo at Augusta and at Allegheny Echoes Workshops. His banjo style emphasizes melody without sacrificing drive.

Lynn Grimm ("A little harmony, a little theory, and a lot of fun! Beginning - intermediate hammered dulcimer") 10:45 am

The class will find chords on the hammered dulcimer, learn possible harmonies and try these with a new tune.
Lynn Grimm, of Oakland, MD, has been playing the hammered dulcimer since her husband built her one in the late 1990s. She's taken classes from Jody Marshall, Karen Ashbrook, Tina Gugeler, Cliff Moses, Bill Spence, R.P. Hale, and most importantly, Patty Looman. She enjoys teaching and playing music with other people.

Dave Harbst ("Very basic old-time mandolin") 9:30 am

Dave will teach very simple techniques - nothing fancy! He will attempt to take a simple major scale and show how a simple tune can be constructed from it, starting with single notes and working toward increased notation and tremelo. If time permits, he will demonstrate some very basic major open chord formations and try to get the class to participate in some strumming of the chords.
Dave was born near Pittsburgh, PA and has lived in Uniontown, PA since 1969. He became interested in old-time music in 1984 when his father, who, upon retirement, developed a renewed interest in it. Dave began learning to play in 1985, learning tunes from his father. He has been influenced by his father's music and a lot of great friends he's met at the Tuesday evening jam sessions at Percival Hall at West Virginia University.

Bob Kozul ("Beginning harmonica workshop") 12 pm

Bob will teach the rudiments of playing the harmonica so that you will be able to play a basic tune. Sheet music will be provided for the songs. Please bring a harmonica in the key of C, which can be purchased in most music stores for a small sum.
When Bob was about 12 or 13 and walked back and forth from home to school, he had his harmonica with him at all times and taught himself how to play. He had purchased his first 5 cent harmonica. Then for periods of time his instruments rested in drawers until he remembered that they were there, and didn't play them for three to five years at a time. Now Bob is playing with Wha-ke-we-NN? from Fairmont, and is loving every minute of it.

John Lozier and Ruth Heavener ("Folk harp: Beginner and Intermediate") 1:15 pm

We will bring extra harps, or bring your own. The focus is on learning to play with both hands. Musical material includes simple tunes as well as Latin and calypso rhythms. Ruth and John are members of the board of Harping for Harmony Foundation, formed in 1995 "to promote harmony and community, locally and globally, through harp music."

Joannie Moses ("Spoons workshop") 2:30 pm

Bring your favorite cutlery and teach them how to keep a beat. The level for this workshop is "E" for "everybody. Spoons can accompany any genre music that has rhythm and keep you entertained while dinner is cooking. Come join the fun.
Joannie Moses learned how to play spoons in an odd moment at a friend's house in the 1970's but didn't start playing regularly till she started attending the Roanoke VA Old Time Jams some dozen years ago. Here she has been blessed with the opportunity to show people from all over the world how to literally hold the music in their hands and make it their own.

Cindy O'Brien ("Singing in Rounds") 12 pm

One of the beauties in singing is hearing your voice among many. With rounds you sing a simple tune and find yourself comfortably singing harmony with others! We will sing a few well-know rounds and teach some that may be new to you. If you can sing "Row, row, row your boat" and (more importantly) listen to others, come sing with us!
Cindy O'Brien sings informally with friends and neighbors and with a group that is working to build community sings. Her most appreciative and participatory audience is her class of Pre-K children at Mountainview Elementary School.

Lynette Swiger ("Old-Time Repertoire" Beginning - intermediate) 9:30 am

This class will look at some traditional West Virginia tunes. The history and background attached to each piece, if known, will also be discussed and shared. At least one modal, a tune style originally found only in West Virginia and Kentucky, will be presented.
Lynette has worked with Patty Looman for the past fifteen years and attempts to pass on Patty's traditional WV style of playing. Lynette began playing the hammered dulcimer by listening to Russell Fluharty and Worley Gardner and attempting to duplicate their playing.

Doug Van Gundy ("Old-time fiddle tunes" Intermediate) 1:15 pm

Doug will focus on the tunes and techniques of Central West Virginia fiddling, with an emphasis on bowing, drones and drive.
Doug has been performing and teaching West Virginia fiddle music for ten years. He is a regular fixture at the Augusta Heritage Workshops and has taught at workshops throughout the U.S. and Canada. His great musical love is the fiddle music of central West Virginia, including that of his mentor, Mose Coffman, as well as the music of the Hammons Family, Lee Triplett, and French Carpenter.

Josh Wanstreet ("Old-time guitar accompaniment" Beginning -intermediate) 10:45 am

Students in this class will learn how to play a strong back-up support for old-time fiddle tunes. Emphasis for the workshop will be on listening for chord changes, strumming techniques and bass-runs. Students should have knowledge of basic chords. Recording devices are welcomed as this class will be taught by ear. After covering some of the rudiments of old-time guitar accompaniment students will get the opportunity to play with a fiddler!
Josh Wanstreet, from Westover, WV, has thirteen years of experience backing up old-time fiddle music on guitar. He performs weekly with his neighbor and local Morgantown master fiddler Elmer Rich. Josh also plays fiddle and mandolin.

Greg and Tish Westman ("Introduction to the Bowed Psaltery" Beginning Workshop 1) 12 pm

Tish will teach the simple music basics and how to apply them to the Bowed Psaltery. You also do not have to be able to read music. You will learn to play a couple tunes before we are done.
If you are beyond Beginner come anyway. She will teach you the harmony part to what the class is playing. You won't be bored.

("What do you use the other side for?" Intermediate Workshop 2) 1:15 pm

We will work on technique and tunes using sharps and flats. Also more about: glissando, tremolo and staccato on the Bowed Psaltery.
Tish and Greg Westman of Beckley, WV are the Resident Woodworkers at Tamarack, where they make Bowed Psalteries, Mountain Dulcimers and other instruments. They have taught at Spring Dulcimer Week in Elkins, WV, Dulcimer Days at Roscoe Village in Coshocton, OH, Fort New Salem Dulcimer Festival in Salem, WV, Dulcimer and Autoharp Festival in Mount Dora, FL, and many others. Tish won the 2007 Mid-eastern Regional Mountain Dulcimer Championship held in Ohio. They are part of a Psaltery Group called "Psaltrio" along with Jackie Williams and now have CDs and books available. They will have instruments available to borrow for the workshops. www.westmaninstruments.com

Jan Woodward ("Autoharp: Playing with others or alone" Beginning - intermediate) 2:30 pm

Jan is from Fairmont and a lifelong musician and singer. She started playing old-time music in 1985. She studied autoharp with John Hollandsworth, Becky Blackley and Bryan Bowers at Augusta Heritage Center, and has played here and in Ireland with numerous combinations of instruments. She is a member of "Clinton Forgery String Quartet" and plays often in duo with her friend Nancy Utt. In addition, Jan also plays harp and various percussion instruments.

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