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13 Results

  • Clawhammer Banjo (Seward)

    Learn to play five string banjo in the traditional clawhammer style. You will learn the basic downstroke “bum-ditty” pattern and how to enhance the music with hammer-ons, pull-offs and slides. You will learn simple old time tunes as well as practice licks. Julie will show you the basic chord structures, ways to practice switching chords and various resources for continued learning. Taught in a fun and accessible manner this course is designed for people with little or no banjo experience. Please bring a banjo (preferably open-back), a tuner and capo. Students can also bring a recording device or use their phone to record the lesson. Your instructor, Julie Jao, has been playing Clawhammer Banjo for over 25 years. Her passion for the instrument is contagious, and she’s eager to share the joy of playing with everyone!
  • Allan Henderson (flickr) (CC BY 2.0)

    Clawhammer Banjo (Summer)

    Learn to play the banjo in a fun and supportive class designed for adults. Old time Clawhammer Banjo is played by hitting down on the strings with the back of the fingernail usually followed by a strum of all the strings and a pluck on the fifth with the thumb. This class will introduce the basic bum-ditty stroke, hammer ons, pull offs and slides. No experience necessary. Bring your banjo and let’s make music!
  • Clawhammer Banjo 2 (Seward)

    This class is for students who have a pretty good grasp on the basic bum-ditty and ditty-ditty patterns, know hammer-ons and pull-offs at least in theory and are working on the drop thumb. We will learn new songs especially ones that are popular in local jams. We will play in various tunings G, A, D, and C. Each session ends with 30 minutes of playing songs that we know. This helps develop speed and is just plain fun. Please bring a banjo, a tuner and a capo. Your instructor, Julie Jao, has been playing Clawhammer Banjo for over 25 years. Her passion for the instrument is contagious, and she’s eager to share the joy of playing with everyone!
  • Waitlist
    Marco Verch (flickr) (CC BY 2.0)

    Guitar 1 (Ella Baker)

    Join Colin Monette, guitarist/performer/singer/songwriter/instructor, for Guitar 1. Where he will walk you through the basics of a 12 Bar Blues, a Blues Bass Line, I-IV-V chord progression and use of the Pentatonic/Blues Scale. You'll learn a few chord shapes, and simple scale patterns that will hopefully motivate and inspire your musical journey.
  • Starting Soon
    DSC_2736 (flickr) (CC BY 2.0)

    Guitar 2 (Ella Baker)

    Please join Colin Monette and we’ll continue learning the basic building blocks of music theory as applied to the guitar. We’ll learn triads, chord theory, and common chord progressions, so you can learn many songs and even make up your own.
  • How Do I Get That Sound? Recording Workshop at Minnehaha Recording Company (Roosevelt)

    The Recording Workshop at Minnehaha Recording Company is a welcoming and inclusive class designed for attendees of all backgrounds and experience levels. It focuses on a software and gear-agnostic approach, making it suitable for anyone interested in record and mixing. The workshop's personalized approach involves gathering information from participants to tailor the class to their specific needs, covering topics like microphone placement, recording space optimization, decision-making in the recording process, and assistance with equipment and software recommendations. Attendees also have the opportunity to bring their own music tracks for discussion and troubleshooting, creating an intimate, interactive, and collaborative learning environment. No discounts. This class meets at Minnehaha Recording Company:4501 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis MN 55406 Additional Information: Attendees do not have to have any specific background or experience. We may be demonstrating things in Pro Tools, but this is meant to be software (and gear) agnostic. We are not teaching a specific software at this time. We intend for this to be as beneficial to attendees as possible. Because of this, we’ll gather some info about you once you’ve signed up. Once we have this info from all participants, we can decide what might be best to focus on as class- specific styles of music, instruments, microphone placement, preamps/compression/EQ, mixing, working with artists, etc. Attendees will have the option to bring in a track of their own music or something they might have recorded to talk through the process and any challenges they may be having with it. Our goal is to keep this intimate, interactive, and collaborative. Instead of memorizing a list of high-end equipment or large format console signal flow like most audio schools teach, we want to discuss and refine things like: Basic microphone placement Making the most of your recording space Context in recording and mixing Mindful decision making and tone-seeking How do I get that sound? Is this tonal or arrangement decision actually helping the song? Assistance with any general equipment/software recommendations.
  • Starting Soon
    20150510_184205-0 (flickr) (CC BY 2.0)

    Improv 1 (Ella Baker)

    Improv is a great way to make new friends, improve your public speaking skills, try something that scares you or just have fun. In this course you will learn the tools that improvisers use to make up comedy on the spot with Becky Hauser, an accomplished comedic improviser, director and instructor with over 14 years of experience. She's best known for her work with HUGE Theater, The Brave New Workshop and Strike Theater among others. If you've been thinking about giving improv a try, this class is for you!
  • Marco Verch (flickr) (CC BY 2.0)

    Musical Theatre Workshop (Southwest)

    Sing, dance, act and connect with fellow artists. Strengthen your personal voice and choreography to new-age and classic shows. All levels welcome.
  • Waitlist
    BuddyL (flickr) (CC BY 2.0)

    Stand-Up Comedy (Northeast)

    Always wanted to try stand-up comedy but were too nervous to take the stage? Maybe you’ve braved an open mic or two but failed to get the laughs you were hoping for and want to refine your act? This low-pressure, beginners’ course is for the stand-up comedy curious who want to test the waters and workshop material in a supportive group environment, learn the basics of joke writing, and practice performance skills under the guidance of a veteran stand-up comedian.
  • Starting Soon
    Alison Clayton (flickr) (CC BY 2.0)

    Uke & More Thursday Jam (Seward)

    Bring your uke, banjo, guitar, harmonica or voice and gather to share songs and tunes. Practice your skills, share music and get helpful tips in a casual atmosphere.
  • Waitlist
    Otis Luxton (flickr) (CC BY 2.0)

    Ukulele 1 (Seward)

    With just three simple chords you can learn to accompany hundreds of songs and create endless entertainment for you and your friends. Bring your ukulele.
  • YOO HEE AHN (flickr) (CC BY 2.0)

    Ukulele 2 (Seward)

    Love playing the Ukulele? Looking for something a little more advanced than an introductory course, or looking to brush up on a foundation that's already there? Ukulele 2 will offer a space to practice and grow your ukulele playing skills with other musicians, in addition to having a lot of fun! Bring your Ukulele.
  • Otis Luxton (flickr) (CC BY 2.0)

    Ukulele 2 (Washburn)

    Love playing the Ukulele? Looking for something a little more advanced than an introductory course, or looking to brush up on a foundation that's already there? Ukulele 2 will offer a space to practice and grow your ukulele playing skills with other musicians, in addition to having a lot of fun! Dean Johnson brings over fifty years of ukulele and harmonica experience to the classroom. He has taught for Minneapolis Community Education for over a decade and also serves as a Special Studies Instructor for the Chautauqua Institution in New York. Please bring your ukulele.