Learn to play traditional and contemporary fiddle tunes for contra and square dances on any acoustic instrument. Have fun during slow-tune and faster jams, instructor presentations, individual and group lessons, discussions, small-ensemble band work, playing for dancers, and dancing. This class is for intermediate and advanced musicians who are already familiar with and play or accompany some contra or square tunes on their instruments. For planning purposes, please register by May 25.

Learn to play authentic Hawaiian-style music on ukulele. Whether you are a complete beginner, have dabbled on the ukulele, or are fairly comfortable on your instrument, add a few new traditional songs to your repertoire and master the Hawaiian sound on your instrument! Learn a bit of ukulele history, master tuning, strumming with confidence, and basic chord shapes. Practice and perform with the Hawaiian Hula class running concurrently.

It’s fun and easy to start playing the autoharp right away with rhythm strums. From there, it only gets more rewarding as you venture into melody playing. Learn everything you need to get started right, including tuning, holding the autoharp comfortably, chord bar layouts, picks, and strum patterns to accompany well-known songs and play with others. Also, discuss the history and personalities associated with the instrument, such as the Carter Family. Beginning levels welcome.

Immerse yourself in this popular, musical genre to fine-tune your playing technique and hone-in on your harmony singing. Soak up rich heritage and tips-and-tricks from your instructors who are Kentucky Bluegrass music masters who have played famed stages like the Grand Ole Opry and the Kennedy Center. Explore alternate tunings and Travis-style fingerpicking on guitar, mandolin, clawhammer banjo, and fiddle and rhythm and backup on the bass. Designed for confident beginners and above.

The ukulele is a fun introduction to lutherie and an excellent first instrument to learn to play. Build a tenor-size uke, in a style based on a Martin ukulele with a dovetail neck. We'll cover wood selection, bending, shaping, and fretting. Your ukulele should be assembled and playable at the end of class, though some finishing may need to be done at home. All levels–including new woodworkers–welcome; some evening hours may be required. $

Continue to develop a hands-on appreciation of the clawhammer style of banjo while playing with a North Carolina native and master of the craft. Learn up close and by ear approaching rhythm, clear tone, and a set of great traditional melodies, note by note. Benefit from the explanation of tunes, listening sessions, and traditional techniques with cultural context. Bring a 5-string banjo; some previous familiarity with the instrument required for this intermediate-level class.

Immerse yourself in Spanish music, dance, and cuisine. Prepare regional delicacies, play Sevillanas on guitar and ukulele (all levels), and "try your hand" at palmas (clapping), castanets, and dancing Sevillanas. Prepare tapas and pintxos, Spanish tortilla (potato omelette), gazpacho, and delicious condiments, including romesco sauce sauce and pickled onions. Sip Manzanilla sherry and sangria while playing music during happy hours and celebrate the end of an amazing week with a paella party!

Learn to play driving rhythms and create sweet melodies on the small-but-mighty mandolin! Explore healthy and approachable techniques to playing melody on a few old-time tunes. Get introduced to a unique, right-hand method for enhancing your mandolin sound. Practice basic chords and strum patterns for backing up both tunes and songs. Even discuss some practical music theory. Most of all, you get to experience the joy of making music!

Build a professional-level, open-back banjo with a goat skin head. Goat skin creates a warmer, plunky sound when playing compared to synthetic. Learn the entire construction process from beginning to end–neck assembly, shaping, fingerboard glue up, peghead profiling, inserting frets, truss rod adjustment, banjo pot construction and more. Return home with a beautiful, heirloom instrument you can enjoy for years to come. All levels welcome. $

Enjoy this intro to Irish traditional music for flute, pennywhistle, and recorder, including repertoire, technique, and ear-training. Footage viewings, history, discussion, and one-on-one time with your instructor included. Designed for beginner to intermediate players with some prior experience with your instrument and the ability to play a few tunes by ear. Beginners interested in joining are encouraged to contact the instructor. Class will be taught by ear.

Let's explore the social music traditions of Southern Appalachia–fiddle and banjo tunes, square dance music, secular and gospel songs, and more. Learn to play by ear, hear chord changes and melodic patterns, create a tight rhythm, and distinguish old-time music from related styles. Intermediate musicians who are comfortable playing at a moderate to fast tempo are welcome. Perfect for violinists transitioning to fiddle or anyone seeking community through jamming.

Flatpick fiddle tune melodies from multiple traditions, including old-time, Celtic, bluegrass, and more, on guitar! Work on mechanics for playing melodies with fluency and for getting the sound you want. Learning flatpicking techniques, expand your repertoire, and explore ways to create musical interludes using just your guitar. Intermediate to advanced students welcome; students should be able to play several chords comfortably and be familiar with at least one strumming pattern.

Drawing from Celtic and French Quebecois musical roots, get help fine-tuning your playing techniques and polish your skills. Topics covered include playing jigs, reels, and waltzes, with both finger and bow ornamentations and improv techniques. Class will be taught primarily by ear. Intermediate to advanced levels welcome; students should be comfortable with their instrument and able to play ten or more tunes, in basic major and minor keys, well at or near tempo.

Come sing traditional songs, play instruments, jam, and try a few dance steps and games. Explore cultural history and archives, as well as go on short field trips. Instruments available to borrow include mountain dulcimer, banjo, mandolin, guitar, washtub bass, autoharp, fiddle, limberjacks, and more. Students are invited to set their own agenda and goals while also enjoying lots of group time. Part of the magic of this class is group chemistry and many joyful surprises! All levels welcome.

Join Jean Ritchie's nieces for an intimate gathering as they share traditional, sacred, and family-favorite songs, stories, and Appalachian dulcimer playing style of Kentucky's "singing family of the Cumberlands." Learn Ritchie family songs that tell of true and lost love, jealousy, grief, death, and perhaps even the supernatural. Hear humorous family tales that also weave in some of the history of the Folk School and Hindman and Pine Mountain Settlement Schools. All levels welcome.

WEEKEND + WEEK. This class continues through October 31. Build your very own 000 style parlor guitar with Sitka spruce top, Honduran mahogany body, and herringbone purfling. Learn all the skills to build a great sounding instrument. Class will cover complete construction, top tuning, scalloped bracing, neck shaping, installing and dressing frets, guitar set-up, and inlay. No woodworking experience is needed; all levels welcome. $

Want to play your mandolin better and have a great time doing it? With expert instruction, build on the fundamentals you already know and fine-tune your hands and ears to play the mandolin with more ease. Build right- and left-hand techniques that allow you to play with good sound and no tension. Learn two- and three-finger chords and strumming techniques that will get you playing tunes with other folks very quickly. Designed for confident beginners and intermediate-level mandolin players.

Ready to jam? This class is for intermediate pickers and players of guitar, three-finger style banjo, mandolin, acoustic bass, fiddle, and other bluegrass instruments who want to learn to play well in a group. Work on rhythm, basic solos, singing, back-up, etiquette, and stage presence (i.e. jokes and stories) as we plan songs and develop them for performance. Students should be able to play ten or more tunes up to tempo.

Learn favorite Southern fiddle and stringband tunes at slow and faster tempos. All stringed instrumentalists are welcome to join our all-star band. Have fun playing tunes from West Virginia, North Carolina, Mississippi, and everywhere in-between. Jam all week long while learning tips on old-time style, rhythm, and chord back-up. Repertoire will be taught quickly by ear. Intermediate students and above welcome; come join our group of merry music makers!

Join Steve "Professor Hambone" Hickman on a musical adventure to explore the myriad ways to make music using your own body and nothing else. Cover the rich history and cultural components of traditional hambone. Also, learn many of your instructor’s unique innovations created through decades of hambone performance, including the "Butterfly," "Washing Machine," faceplaying, and nose playing too! Laughter and good times are sure to accompany this creative journey of sound.

Western North Carolina is home to many amazing singers whose legacies have created a folk song cannon that is unique to this region. Enjoy this “campfire” song class where we delve into the music of North Carolina luminaries such as Ola Belle Reed, Doc Watson, Sheila Kay Adams, and Frank Proffit. Enjoy some mountain carols and holiday hymns for the season. Develop your passion and confidence for singing and Appalachian music in a nurturing environment.

Enjoy a wonderful holiday-themed week of early country harmony singing. Explore the brother (and sister!) duets of the ’30s, ’40s, and ’50s; close sibling harmonies known as “blood harmony” made famous by groups like the Louvin Brothers. Learn a handful of new songs by ear, how to make your own harmony lines, and how to accompany songs in authentic style on your instrument if you play one. All levels welcome; playing an instrument not required.

Immerse yourself in Irish fiddling as we travel together in our minds from Brasstown, NC to County Clare, Ireland. Build your Irish tune repertoire by ear and with sheet music. Study bowing and ornamentation techniques and you'll be playing with an authentic Irish sound in no time! Intermediate levels welcome; must be comfortable playing in basic major and minor keys and have a repertoire of ten to twenty Irish traditional tunes played well.

Build your very own D-18 style, dreadnought guitar with Sitka spruce top and Honduran mahogany. Learn all skills needed to build a great sounding instrument. Class will cover complete construction–top tuning, scalloped bracing, neck shaping, installing and dressing frets, guitar set-up, and inlay. No previous woodworking experience required. All levels welcome. $