Want to learn more about your instrument and play it better? Learn some new vocal techniques? Play along or share a song in the Ballad Tree Song Circle? Pick up some tips about storytelling or songwriting? Come to one or more of the great workshops being offered at this year’s folk festival and please feel free to bring your instrument! Workshops are FREE and open to all!
Workshops and song circles will take place in area immediately North and West of the Court Stage, near the intersection of Washington St and Court Ave.
Song Circles (also called the ‘Ballad Tree’ in past years): A tradition here and at other festivals, the Tucson Folk Festival song circle offers musicians an informal setting to present songs in a round robin format (song circle). It could be a tune you just wrote or a song you learned from your grandfather 40 years ago. The gathering welcomes beginners and master players – we encourage all acoustic instrument players, singers, poets, storytellers and listeners to stop by and share in our Song Circle. No signups are required, just come on over with your instruments. All attendees are welcome.
SATURDAY APRIL 6, 2024
WORKSHOP TENTS NEAR COURT STAGE
Address: 200 N Court Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701 (Near Court Ave and Washington St) Google Map
| Tent A | Tent B | ||
| 12 PM | Anni Beach of Jam Pak – “Building a Bluegrass Music Community for all Ages” | Alison Wahl – “Reaching Out To Audiences” | |
| 1 PM | Deb Seymour – “Speed Songwriting” | Paul Domingue – “Mississippi John Hurt, Songs and Stories” | |
| 2 PM | Eric Douglas – “Strategies for Songwriting” | Sarah Evans – “Healing Through Vocal Practice” | |
| 3 PM | Fox and Bones – “DIY Tour Booking” | Dunnóg – “Irish session” | |
| 4 PM | Marty Province – “Dangerous Songs: Peace, Protest, and Politics” | Brett Anthony – “Context and Perspective in Songwriting” |
SONG CIRCLES (BALLAD TREE)
Address: 200 N Court Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701 (Located in the pedestrian street north of JoJo’s Restaurant)
| 1 PM – 2:30 PM | Hosted by Tom Robert | |
| 2:30 PM – 4 PM | Hosted by Sunny Gable |
SUNDAY APRIL 7, 2024
WORKSHOP TENTS “A” AND “B” NEAR COURT STAGE
Address: 200 N Court Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701 (Near Court Ave and Washington St) Google Map
| Tent A | Tent B | ||
| 12 PM | Nico Barberan – “Fusion of Rythms” | Ted Warmbrand – “The Songleader’s Toolkit” | |
| 1 PM | Jamie Anderson – “Two guitar fingerpicking patterns that work for any song” | Wally Lawder – “Secrets of Songwriting” | |
| 2 PM | Ted Warmbrand – “Songs for the very Young” | Mark Gostnell – “Songwriting” | |
| 3 PM | Jake Haber – “Songwriting as a Spiritual Practice” | Andy McCune & Tom Poley – “Banjo” |
SONG CIRCLES (BALLAD TREE)
Address: 200 N Court Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701 (Located in the pedestrian street north of JoJo’s Restaurant)
| 1 PM – 2:30 PM | Hosted by George & Georgia | |
| 2:30 PM – 4 PM | Hosted by Marty Flashman |
Workshop Details
Building a Bluegrass Music Community for all Ages – Saturday, 12:00, Tent A
We will discuss ways to get started and how to maintain a vibrant community of music-makers. I will use our book: Home Grown Bluegrass-Making People Happy with Music.
Reaching Out To Audiences – Saturday, 12:00, Tent B
An exploration of how musicians can reach and build broader audiences. Topics include the importance of community involvement, musicians’ interaction with audiences, visual presentation of performance (e.g., multimedia, lighting), connecting with music education programs in colleges and the public schools, and understanding several aspects of music management.
Mississippi John Hurt, Songs and Stories – Saturday, 1:00, Tent B
Attendees will be invited to share stories and songs by the most influential songster of his era, and in the early sixties after his rediscovery.
Healing Through Vocal Practice – Saturday, 2:00, Tent B
I am inspired and share from the work of Valborg Werbeck-Svardstrom who established the The School of Uncovering the Voice, based on spiritual/science; spirit being the musical sound stream and science our physical bodies. This work harmonizes/synchronizes our speech and song so that if one is speaking or singing, the resonance is that of our perfect Voice, the Creative Power.
The Songleader’s Toolkit – Sunday, 12:00, Tent B
Ted’s been leading group singing for over sixty years years. In Tucson and out.. Drawing on a huge repertoire of familiar folk and contemporary songs, providing folks a chance to sing spontaneously with friends and strangers and place their unique voice into the collective circle of sound.
Secrets of Songwriting – Sunday, 1:00, Tent B
Wally Lawder is a prolific, award-winning songwriter with over 120 original songs in his performing rotation and 6 CDs of original work. Through teaching courses and workshops on songwriting he has had the chance to reflect upon his process and distill down the most critical elements for success and joy in songwriting. In this brief workshop he will use some of his own songs to demonstrate his songwriting secrets!
Songs for the very Young – Sunday, 2:00, Tent A
Ted loves the wonderful treasury of traditional and significant songs we associate with early childhood. Having sung for audiences of all ages his whole life, he wants tp share these special reminders of and with our youth.
Songwriting as a Spiritual Practice – Sunday, 3:00, Tent A
How does our creativity connect us to self, others, and the great mysteries of life? Whether you write songs for a living, or you simply enjoy humming your own tunes and writing down some lyrics here and there, you are engaging in creative acts. This workshop is an opportunity to recognize the spiritual side of musical creativity, and how it can improve our lives in the here and now. Feel free to bring any questions or thoughts you have on spirituality, creativity, and anything in between.