Learn to play old time banjo!

You will be in a workshop setting similar to what you might find at an old-time music festival. Our goal is to inspire you to get out to a few festivals and start playing with others!

What is Old-Time music?
Old-Time music is the genre name given by recordings companies to early string band music in North America, which was heavily recorded during the 1920s and 30s. These recordings offer a window into a time before our current homogenized and commercial culture – a culture which it ironically helped to create. The developments of this music are in some ways vague and mysterious, but they are certainly ridden with loads of cultural cross-contamination, and the tunes and traditions are still going strong almost one hundred years since their fifteen seconds of recorded fame. You’ll find people playing “old-time music” in every corner of the country, and it has kept up quite a community of gatherings and festivals. These events offer workshops, performances, and ample opportunity for tunes and dance!

Note: this is not three-finger banjo, which is a technique a lot of popular performers use.

Prerequisites

You must want to learn to play old time music with a group of like-minded people.

Registration Includes

Instruction, music, inspiration.

Skill Level

Any level of prior experience can find joy in this class.

Best for Ages…

18 and older.

You should bring…

A banjo (we will have a limited number of extra banjos available – please contact info@duluthfolkschool.com to let us know if you need one)

Feedback from previous Intro to Banjo classes…

“I liked the progress that we all made during the week — we played a song together!”

“The group setting is very helpful to me. I enjoyed learning from the instructor and also being carried by the group. Excellent format.”