workshop Schedule 2025
workshops!
From beginning mandolin to advanced fiddle, from songwriting to vocal harmony,
and everything in-between, there’s a workshop for everyone.
We offer two basic types of workshops: Hands-on (bring your instruments, voices, or feet!)
and Lecture/Demonstration/Q&A (bring your curiosity!). Please check descriptions.
We thank ArtistWorks and Ear Trumpet Labs for supporting our adult education programs!
Thursday February 20 – Intensives (separate registration required) and Two-chord jam
Two-Chord Jam
Tom Petersen & Cliff Perry
Yes, you "2" can play! The workshop to embolden beginners kicks off the festival teaching all songs with only two chords. Taught in slow-jam fashion by veteran educators. Go from zero to hitting the Hyatt's halls in one friendly lesson. Experienced players also welcome to join the fun and set a warm, welcoming example.
Workshop Type: Hands-on
Skill Level: Open to all
9am-12pm
JAMz1
9am-4pm
JAMz2
9am-12pm
JAMz1
9am-4pm
JAMz2
friday February 21
Old-Time Banjo Styles
Bruce Molsky, Jason Romero and Chris Coole
Old-time banjo is as broad as the sky - with over 80 tunings and countless right hand techniques from clawhammer to fingerpicking and beyond, there are more ways to play each song or tune than you can count. In this workshop, we’ll compare, contrast, discuss, play and jam, showing off some of the beautiful versatility of the old-time banjo.
Workshop Type: Lec/Dem/Q&A
Open to all
Introduction to Ear Training
Tony Watt (Associate Professor at Berklee/IBMA Mentor of the Year)
Have you marveled at those musicians who can just pick up a tune on the fly, and play a melody-based solo seemingly instantaneously? Have you ever wanted to be able to find the melody of a song so you could incorporate it into your solos or sing it cleanly? This workshop is open to all levels but is geared towards those who have trouble finding either the melody or chords on their instrument.
Workshop Type: Hands-on
Skill Level: Open to all
Circle Sorcery: Hula Hoop Magic for Beginners
Arlene Smith
Looking for something fun to do on the dance floor? Learn how to hula hoop! This class will cover techniques for basic waist hooping, and a collection of simple but snazzy tricks that we will combine into a short routine. All hoops are provided by the instructor. Please wear clothes that are comfortable to move in, and get ready to have lots of fun!
Workshop Type: Hands-on
Skill Level: Open to all
Vintage Instrument Museum
Open to all
Vintage Instrument Museum
Open to all
9:00am-12:00pm
JAMz1
9:00am-4:00pm
JAMz2
9:00am-12:00pm
JAMz1
9:00am-4:00pm
JAMz2
9:00am-4:00pm
JAMz2
How to be More Dynamic as a Duo
Miles and Teo Quale (Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band)
We’ll discuss/explore ways to fill space creatively and how to build off each other’s ideas as a duo.
Workshop Type: Lec/Dem/Q&A
Skill Level: Intermediate-Advanced
Bowing Master Class
Luke Price (Tony Furtado Trio)
Bowing is fun! And it’s the key to playing well. We’ll discuss some bowing ideas, and listen to each other play. Luke will offer friendly critiques on your bowing, and suggest ways to improve, exercises to take home, and alternative methods. You’ll learn from other players’ critiques, and we’ll try some ideas all together. Bring your bow and your questions!
Workshop Type: Hands-on
Skill Level: Open to all, but geared toward intermediate-advanced.
Nuts and Bolts of Songwriting
Aaron Burdett & Graham Sharp (Steep Canyon Rangers)
How do we get from a concept to a complete work? How does a person take a cool lick or an interesting phrase and turn it into to a four-minute song? Every songwriter is different, of course, but we’ll talk about our process and how that works for us individually and collaboratively.
Workshop Type: Lec/Dem/Q&A
Open to all
Getting Carter Style to Groove
Roger Ferguson
Learn to embellish basic Carter style guitar playing by applying different layers.
Workshop Type: Hands-on
Skill Level: Open to all
Music for String Trio
Michael Gray (Pearl Django) with Julian Smedley & James Hinkley
Playing and arranging tunes for string trio from fiddle tunes to jazz standards. All fiddlers and cellists welcome!
Workshop Type: Hands-on
Skill Level: Intermediate-Advanced
More Banjo!
Tony Furtado
We will explore alternate tunings and picking techniques as well as styles not usually associated with bluegrass banjo like trad Irish and blues.
Workshop Type: Hands-on
Skill Level: Intermediate-Advanced
Introduction to Flatpicking
Joe Suskind (Never Come Down)
Learn the basics of bluegrass backup rhythm, g-runs, and begin to explore alternate picking. How to get in a jam and what’s expected. Learn simple scale exercises and how to go between rhythm and lead playing. Let’s get pickin!
Workshop Type: Hands-on
Skill Level: Beginner
From Bluegrass Masters to Italian String Virtuosi
Beppe Gambetta with Mike Guggino & Barrett Smith (Steep Canyon Rangers)
We will be demonstrating and talking about bluegrass and Italian musical traditions and how we’ve blended them together, but also keep them separate.
Workshop Type: Lec/Dem/Q&A
Open to all
Swedish Tunes
Amy Hakanson (Varelse)
Students will learn some traditional melodies from Sweden, along with an overview of Swedish tune form, playing technique, and ornamentation. Taught on fiddle/nyckelharpa, all instruments welcome! Music will be taught by ear.
Workshop Type: Hands-on
Skill Level: Open to all
Bluegrass Phrases and How to Use Them (For fiddlers and mandolinists)
Chad Manning (Dale Adkins/Jim Faddis)
In this workshop, we’ll explore classic bluegrass phrases strung together into longer, cohesive lines across the common bluegrass keys. We'll practice playing these licks repeatedly within the context of a song. I’ll guide you on breaking these licks down, harvesting musical ideas from them, and using them as a flexible framework. Whether you’re stringing phrases together or reshaping them to fit the moment, this class will help you expand your bluegrass vocabulary and enhance your adaptability on the fly.
Workshop Type: Hands-on
Skill Level: Intermediate
friday February 21 (continued)
Flatpick Guitar
Ian Ly (Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band)
Flatpicking technique, practice methods, Q&A. Open to all but leans toward intermediate to advanced
Workshop Type: Lec/Dem/Q&A
Skill Level: Open to all
Pick Fiddling
Kaden Hurst (Never Come Down)
Even when playing mandolin, we call them fiddle tunes for a reason. The ways tunes are performed, phrased, and embellished all have their roots in the physicality of fiddling. This workshop is all about how we can emulate those qualities in our mandolin playing to get more in the groove, more grounded in our improvisation, and more in touch with our instruments.
Workshop Type: Hands-on
Skill Level: Intermediate
Old-Time Rhthym Guitar
Pharis Romero (Pharis & Jason Romero)
We’ll be revelling in the powerful magic that is rhythm and old-time guitar, looking especially at where to seat the strums and notes and how to make a tune drive or sway. We’ll also explore a couple strumming patterns that can diversify tunes and bring you out of the boom-chuck rut. If we have time we’ll mess around with some bass runs. Please bring all your questions and old-time guitar joy. Basic chord knowledge needed, but all levels will get something out of this workshop.
Workshop Type: Hands-on
Skill Level: Open to all
Learn a Scottish Tune
The Langan Band
The Langan Band will teach a Scottish tune! Bring your voices and instruments.
Workshop Type: Hands-on
Skill Level: Open to all
Swing Jam Session
Jim Char (Pearl Django)
A workshop/jam on selections from the Great American Songbook and Hot Club Jazz. All instruments are welcome!
Workshop Type: Hands-on
Skill Level: Intermediate
Beginning Mandolin
Ricky Gene Powell
Music is not hard, it’s supposed to be easy! Learn the mandolin basics: 3 chords, a scale, a song and a tune, in minutes! Bring a mandolin & note-taking device. Written materials provided. Recording of workshop encouraged.
Workshop Type: Hands-on
Skill Level: Beginner
Introduction to the Dobro
Bob Evoniuk
By addressing the essential fundamentals of playing the Dobro, Bob will focus on the versatility of this unique instrument with an emphasis on “finding the melody” and developing one’s own style of playing. Discussion will also include the importance of each player finding a comfort zone with their gear – picks, bars, capos, strings, etc., Care and feeding of your Dobro and where to find educational resources will be discussed as well.
Workshop Type: Hands-on
Skill Level: Beginner
Vocal Awareness
Crystal Lariza (Never Come Down)
Get out of your head and into your body! Explore the strength and dynamics of your voice through creative vocal play! Focusing on simple techniques that can be applied for individual or harmony singing- this workshop is for anyone searching for more awareness and presence in their voice.
Workshop Type: Hands-on
Skill Level: Open to all
Swing /Jazz Improvisation for the Bluegrass Guitar Player
Tim Lerch (Pearl Django)
Using Tim’s arpeggio up - scale down method, learn to improvise more confidently on swing tunes featuring common jazz chord progressions.
Workshop Type: Hands-on
Skill Level: Intermediate-Advanced
10:00am-2:00pm
JAMz3
10:00am-2:00pm
JAMz3
10:00am-2:00pm
JAMz3
10:00am-2:00pm
JAMz3
Ragology from A to G: #2 Turnaround Central
Darol Anger
American fiddling encompasses many tunes called Rags. Originated by African-American composers in the 1890s, a Rag’s common musical feature is the Turnaround, a short chord sequence that usually takes up 2 or 4 bars at the end of a section. There are 2 main turnaround patterns. They both use a chord sequence which moves through the cycle of 4ths, also known as Dominant motion. We’ll look at those two chord patterns and spell them out with some melodies, using Beaumont Rag as our template. Knowing something about arpeggios and chords is a must for this workshop, and being able to read notes will help but is not necessary. Handouts will be distributed.
Workshop Type: Hands-on
Skill Level: Intermediate-Advanced
Fretboard Journal Vintage Instrument Tasting
Mike Marshall, Jacob Jolliff, Michael Daves, Avril Smith
Mike, Jake, Michael and Avril will be playing as many vintage guitars and mandolins as they can squeeze into one workshop. Hosted by Mark Demaray.
Workshop Type: Lec/Dem/Q&A
Open to all
Fretboard Journal Vintage Instrument Tasting
Mike Marshall, Jacob Jolliff, Michael Daves, Avril Smith
Mike, Jake, Michael and Avril will be playing as many vintage guitars and mandolins as they can squeeze into one workshop. Hosted by Mark Demaray.
Workshop Type: Lec/Dem/Q&A
Open to all
Saturday February 22
The Melting Pot of American Roots Music
American Patchwork Quartet
In this interactive workshop, participants will explore the “melting pot” of immigrant cultures that lead to the creation of distinctly American musical styles. Through lessons utilizing polyrhythms, call and response, and critical listening students will learn to differentiate and understand quintessential American music styles and how those styles continue to evolve through the music of APQ.
Workshop Type: Lec/Dem/Q&A/Clapping/Call & Response
Open to all
Polishing Your Act: A Live Performance Master Class
Vicki Green
Several acts will be chosen in class to perform a song and receive on-the-spot coaching. Bring your instruments and song, or come to observe.
Workshop Type: Hands-on
Skill Level: Open to all
Absolute Accordions!
David Lange (Pearl Django), Nova Devonie (Buckaroosters), Blake Miller (Jourdan Thibodeaux Trio) and Nicholas Williams (Genticorum)
Come listen to us squeeze funny-looking boxes, in our own gypsy-jazz, country-swing, Cajun and Québécois ways!
Workshop Type: Lec/Dem/Q&A
Open to all
Adventures in Rhythm and Language: Fiddle and Drumming Traditions
Boom Chick Trio
Around the world, many musical cultures with complex drumming patterns use language to describe their rhythms, instead of writing it down. In this workshop we’ll learn to sing rhythms from West Africa, the Middle East, India, Brazil, and more, then apply these ideas to our own music.
Workshop Type: Lec/Dem/Q&A
Open to all
What's That Bakersfield Sound?
The Buckaroosters
Join the Buckaroosters in a revue of songs and stories of country music legend Buck Owens and his Buckaroos. We’ll have old photos, video clips and each player will talk about their instruments and their role in the band and country music of that era when Surf met Country! Maybe even a sing-along!
Workshop Type: Lec/Dem/Q&A
Open to all
Far-Flung Fiddles!
Alasdair Fraser, Bruce Molsky, Darol Anger, Jourdan Thibodeaux and Pascal Gemme
Five frabjous fiddlers from far-flung places will discuss and demonstrate fiddling in a fascinating multi-faceted fashion!
Workshop Type: Lec/Dem/Q&A
Open to all
Global Guitars!
Beppe Gambetta, Douglas Lora, Tom Landa, Yann Falquet and Yasmin Williams
Get your passport stamped! A glorious gathering of gifted guitarists, discussing, demonstrating, playing and singing original compositions and songs sung in Italian, Spanish and French.
Workshop Type: Lec/Dem/Q&A
Open to all
Arranging Fiddle Tunes for a String Quartet
The Fretless
Come explore some of the arranging techniques used by The Fretless. Build your bag of tricks for string accompaniment and modern fiddle techniques.
Workshop Type: Lec/Dem/Q&A
Open to all
Ways to Take Your Banjo Playing to the Next Level
Cory Walker (East Nash Grass)
We will delve into a variety of topics from single string to Scruggs style, how to meld styles together cohesively, improving your improvisation among others.
Workshop Type: Hands-on
Skill Level: Advanced
Ask Vickie BASSically Anything!
Vickie Vaughn
Vickie has been playing the standup bass for twenty years and could answer some of your most burning bass questions. She will have a bass with her to demonstrate anything if need be. There is no bass question too large or small.
Workshop Type: Lec/Dem/Q&A
Open to all
Improve Your Bass Groove
Max Heineman (Lonesome Ace Stringband)
Simple techniques and approaches that make your playing both more grounded and solid but also more interesting. Becoming a bass player that great pickers seek out for jams and bands is very attainable. A focus on timing and dynamics will set you on the path.
Workshop Type: Hands-on
Skill Level: Beginner-Intermediate
Introduction to Bluesy Banjo
Dale Adkins
Get your blues on! Be sure to be unhappy when you arrive. Nothing will cheer you up like the happy sounds of a banjo workshop, even a bluesy one! We will work through what makes a song “happy” or “bluesy,” and then apply those concepts to adjust your backup rolls and soloing towards a bluesy sound. Let's get bluesy!
Workshop Type: Hands-on
Skill Level: Open to all
Bluegrass Rhythm Guitar
Don Share
Learn to play basic bluegrass rhythm guitar out of the G, C, and D shapes. We'll focus on rhythm technique, bass runs, and bluegrass rhythm "punctuation."
Workshop Type: Hands-on
Skill Level: Beginner-Intermediate
Collaborative Arranging
Never Come Down
At its best, arranging a song is full of questions: What happens next? What contrasts with that? What instruments would blend nicely there? How do we make the room feel bigger? How do we make it feel smaller? How is a hypothetical listener supposed to be feeling right now? We'll give you a peek at how we arrived at some of our favorite arrangements, and give you tools for making some of your own.
Workshop Type: Lec/Dem/Q&A
Open to all
Dynamic Duo
Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley
We'll discuss and demo techniques for singing and playing that lend themselves to performing in a duo.
Workshop Type: Lec/Dem/Q&A
Skill Level: Open to all
Bluegrass Trio Harmony
Michael Daves
In this workshop we’ll start by looking at the underpinnings of trio harmony from an ear training point of view and do some group exercises to help participants experience the various ways vocal parts can fit together. Then we’ll learn a classic trio (Stanley Brothers or Bill Monroe) and sing it together in various configurations. Harmony singing experience is not required but participants should be comfortable “carrying a tune” and learning melodies by ear.
Workshop Type: Hands-on
Skill Level: Open to all
Introduction to Celtic Cello
Natalie Haas (Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas)
Explore how to adapt fiddle melodies to the cello, from bowing and ornamentation to how to make those tricky tunes that spend a lot of time on the E-string work in a more comfortable way!
Workshop Type: Hands-on
Skill Level: Intermediate-Advanced
What She Said: Songwriting in Three Acts
Celia Woodsmith (Della Mae), Madeleine Roger (The Fretless), Kristen Grainger (True North)
Learn about the art of song craft. In this informal and interactive session, the artists will share their experiences and approach to songwriting, including inspiration, collaboration, composing and arranging, with specific examples performed live, “in the round.”
Workshop Type: Lec/Dem/Q&A
Open to all
Good Enough Guitar Workshop
James Kee (East Nash Grass)
This workshop features the basics of learning to play Bluegrass guitar with emphasis on learning melody, developing a good ear, and the essentials of how to be able to play well with any type of musician.
Workshop Type: Hands-on
Skill Level: Beginner-Intermediate
Foundations of Bluegrass Fiddle Style:
the Classic Playing of Chubby Wise
Mary Simpkin-Maass
In this workshop we’ll deconstruct a timeless Chubby Wise fiddle break, highlighting and practicing the elements (like syncopation and blue notes) that give it that classic bluegrass sound and feel.
Workshop Type: Hands-on
Skill Level: Beginner-Intermediate
Improvising 101
Maddie Denton (East Nash Grass)
Improvising can be a scary thing, but it doesn't have to be! In this workshop, we'll discuss how to build a solo, starting with some basic theory and scales that are helpful blueprints for navigating chord changes. Bring your instrument and any questions you have!
Workshop Type: Hands-on
Skill Level: Open to all
SATURday February 22 (CONTINUED)
Simplifying Choro Mandolin
Ricky Gene Powell
We will unravel the sounds of choro and learn a simple choro composition. Basic understanding of major & minor chords is helpful but not required.
Workshop Type: Hands-on
Skill Level: Open to all
Learn an Old-Time Fiddle Tune!
Emilie Rose (Two Runner)
Learn a tune with chords, lyrics, and harmony in the old-time fiddle and song style. All instruments welcome.
Workshop Type: Hands-on
Skill Level: Open to all
Mandolin Theory
Harry Clark (East Nash Grass)
Join Harry Clark for a discussion and Q&A about mandolin theory.
Workshop Type: Lec/Dem/Q&A
Open to all
Play A Fiddle Tune…We’ll Reimagine It!
Joe Craven
Bring a fiddle tune to share with the class and we’ll put it through the Global Rhythmic Harmonic Blender!
Workshop Type: Hands-on
Skill Level: Intermediate-Advanced
10:00am-2:00pm
JAMz3
10:00am-2:00pm
JAMz3
10:00am-2:00pm
JAMz3
10:00am-2:00pm
JAMz3
Beyond Beginner Bluegrass Jam: Advance Your Jam Skills
Linda Leavitt
For advanced-beginners and intermediate players who have experience with bluegrass jamming and want to improve their jam skills. We’ll review the Nashville Numbering System, work on intros, outros, taking breaks, singing and listening. Participants should know the I, IV, V & vi of major keys and how to play in time. Bring one song you know by heart to call in the jam. Traditional acoustic bluegrass instruments only.
Workshop Type: Hands-on
Skill Level: Advanced Beginner-Intermediate
Choro Roda!
Mike Marshall & Choro Famoso
An open Choro Jam! Bring your instruments!
Open to all
Get Rhythm!
Joe Craven, Brian Rice (Choro Famoso), Robin Layne (Locarno)
What is rhythm? How does it work? What is the mystical “groove” musicians talk about, and where can I get some? Body percussion is a great place to start and just in time! Bring your body parts! Ritmo es todo!
Workshop Type: Hands-on
Skill Level: Open to all
Swedish Polska Dance Workshop
Amy Hakanson & Collin Stackhouse (Varelse)
If you’ve ever wondered what to do while you’re listening to Väsen (or any other Swedish folk music), this workshop holds the answer! Amy Hakanson and Collin Stackhouse will teach a polska, the partner dance which is central to Swedish folk tradition. No partner necessary!
Workshop Type: Hands (and feet!)-on
Skill Level: Open to all
Never-Too-Late Adult Academy
Cliff Perry and Emmett Pritchard
All day program for beginning musicians. Separate registration required. Skyvue is on the 23rd floor in the Cascade Tower.
Never-Too-Late Adult Academy
Cliff Perry and Emmett Pritchard
All day program for beginning musicians. Separate registration required. Skyvue is on the 23rd floor in the Cascade Tower.
Never-Too-Late Adult Academy
Cliff Perry and Emmett Pritchard
All day program for beginning musicians. Separate registration required. Skyvue is on the 23rd floor in the Cascade Tower.
Never-Too-Late Adult Academy
Cliff Perry and Emmett Pritchard
All day program for beginning musicians. Separate registration required. Skyvue is on the 23rd floor in the Cascade Tower.
Wintergrass is a production of Acoustic Sound, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization. EIN: 91-2103544
all photos copyright Maria Camillo