Contemporary
Folk Week is a unique program of workshops for anyone who has ever had the desire to play music for other people. Whether you’re a closet songwriter trying out material at local ‘open mike nights’, a performer with some experience interested in making a career in music, a working musician looking for some help in reaching your next goal, or someone who would simply like to feel more confident when pulling that guitar out at parties, we can show you a way to do it better. Our staff of top-notch, experienced professionals, knowledgeable in the various aspects of both the art and business of the contemporary folk world, can help you achieve your goals, and our limited enrollment and small campus encourage frequent and informal interaction between students and staff to create a supportive community of peers with whom you will have much to share, and ensure that you go home energized and empowered to make the most of your music.
This year, the program continues to focus on its core subjects by augmenting our traditional songwriting classes led by top professionals with specialized classes in commercial songwriting, lyric writing and writing melodies. Our performance workshops this year feature several dynamic and unique performing artists, and we’ll also have more classes in guitar for singer/songwriters, vocal technique and music theory, and special sessions on legal matters, the Alexander Technique for relieving stress onstage, making a concept album, going the independent artist route, and more. All classes stress supportive interaction among staff and students, and individual attention to students’ needs. Each day’s schedule will address both artistic and commercial questions and concerns, while also providing time for sharing music on an informal basis, and social activities including open mikes, dances, and concerts. Contemporary Folk Week runs concurrently with our Guitar Week and students may take classes in either program. Of special interest is Guitar Week staffer Steve Baughman’s class in Orkney tuning (CGDGCD) for singer/songwriters. See the description and schedule in the Guitar Week section. Please note that the open mikes are open only to those who have declared themselves to be Contemporary Folk Week students and are taking at least two classes in the Contemporary Folk Week program.
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can view classes here as
well as staff bios. Or go
directly to an individual instructor’s bio by clicking
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