Oyster Ridge Music Festival Workshops

Song Writing Workshop with Grammy Winning Songwriters Terri Hendrix & Lloyd Maines

“LIFE’S A SONG” WORKSHOPS – TERRI HENDRIX W/LLOYD MAINES
Terri Hendrix and Lloyd Maines offer music workshops as part of a residency program that includes concerts. These workshops are geared towards the beginner to the experienced musician looking to take their playing and/or business to another level. Their personal approach provides the opportunity that’s beneficial to creativity and growth as a musician.

THE PART THAT’S ART: FREEFORM CREATIVITY WITH RESULTS
Students gain a unique and fully rounded perspective on the art of song craft, gleaned from Terri’s “free form” approach to writing and Lloyd’s emphasis on song structure.

• With an emphasis on keeping the experience fun, entertaining, and inspirational, both discuss getting unstuck lyrically, alternate tunings, technique, performance and the creative process of songwriting as well.
• Meet other songwriters who share your interests in non-competitive group settings
• How to use melodic tricks, edit, lyrics, chord progressions and melody to finish songs and simple exercises and tricks to open the mind and enhance creativity

 

 The Robin Kessinger Flatpick Guitar Workshop:

Robin Kessinger is a rare musician in that he is as renowned for his teaching skills as he is for his accomplishments as a performer.With a style all his own Robin helps improve Flat pickers from novice to advanced. He spends individual time with students and in the past has brought the more promising students right on stage with him for an impromptu jam session that has the crowd on their feet. Robin teaches both in private and in workshop settings. He has the patience, communication skills and enthusiasm necessary to inspire the interest of a novice and the repertoire and technique to challenge an accomplished musician.Appropriate for all skill levels, attendees will need to have their own acoustic guitar and flatpicks. An electronic tuner and capo are recommended. Tape recorders and video cameras will be allowed and are encouraged for future review and study. Workshop size is limited so register early.

 

FLATPICKING GUITAR I (Robin Kessinger)
In this class for intermediates, we’ll cover the basics of flatpicking with some easy tunes. We’ll learn how to use chords, make new chords, find the melody out of a chord, and learn how to make runs from one chord to the next. Students should have knowledge of basic chords and be able to change chords smoothly.

FLATPICKING GUITAR II (Robin Kessinger)
In this class for intermediate to advanced players, we’ll learn how to play harmony, and fancy rhythms using both familiar, and obscure melodies from Appalachian, celtic, ragtime and bluegrass styles and maybe a blues or two. Handouts (tablature/chord sheets) will be made available for most of the tunes. We will also cover a lot of material the old fashioned way – by ear. Students will watch, listen, and learn, just like Robin did when his dad and uncle taught him some of the Appalachian tunes that he plays. Students can look forward to learning new tunes, different ways to play these tunes, learning harmonies and playing ‘out of a chord.’ Some of the arrangements will sound like a guitar orchestra when we all play

 

Basic Cajun Fiddling Techniques with Steve Rees  Steve is a lifetime fiddle player and member of the wildly popular Cajun Dance Band L'Angelus. Steve will teach and demonstrate the styles and techniques that make up cajun fiddling, as well as providing some history behind how the styles developed, etc. The class will be about 45 mins long.

 Cajun Cooking with Paige and Katie Rees

 The Rees clan has determined to make Cajun cooking a staple in the west. Last year it was Chicken Gumbo and this year they are doing the traditional favorite, Jambalaya. We are thinking that if the stars line up in the heavens we might be able to demonstrate the preperation right in the park, cook it on site and give away samples as long as they last. One more reason that Oyster Ridge is the "Best little fest in the Rocky Mtn. west" !
 Cajun Dance Workshop with Paige, Katie and Steve Rees.  Cajun two step, Jig and Waltz steps are among the many moves that you will need to have down before you can fully take advantage of the music of the authentic cajun dance band, L'Angelus. This workshop is a gift from L'Angelus to you. They will present from the stage on Saturday morning, free to all who wish to attend, all the instruction you need to send you whirling like a "Cocodrie". Join us at the" Fais do do" for the best of "Bon temps".

American Clogging with the Stairwell Sisters   American Clogging developed from the collision of English, Irish, Scottish, African and Native American cultures in the mountains in the Southeastern
US. Danced to the fiddle & banjo of Old-Time music, clogging is the percussive dance tradition that lights the fire under the music. In this
workshop, you will learn many of the basic steps that enable you to dance freestyle to stringband music, as well as while square dancing. It's a rhythmic good time!

For Workshop Times Visit the Schedule Page                      Registration Form