MOO Music Gathering
November 4-6, 2022
We have a great slate of Featured Performers and workshops lined-up, with the inimitable Karen Mueller and Mark Dvorak bringing their special brands of musical magic to the Gathering.
Karen Mueller is one of the top autoharp and mountain dulcimer players performing today. Her exciting and innovative performing style, featuring Appalachian, Celtic and contemporary music, has been applauded by critics and audiences from LA to Boston. Bluegrass Unlimited magazine has said "Karen Mueller's touch, timing and taste make her a true virtuoso. Her talent and clarity...deserve a wide audience." Karen is a multi-instrumentalist who teaches autoharp, dulcimer, mandolin, ukulele and guitar.
Ukulele Fingerpicking 10:15-11:45 AM CDT
Step up from strumming and start fingerpicking with accompaniment patterns in 3/4, 4/4, and 6/8 time, to use in songs like “Hallelujah,” "Heart and Soul," “Oh Holy Night,” and more. There will also be an introduction to chord/melody solo fingerstyle picking. Any type of soprano, concert or tenor uke will work.
Playing Together: Dulcimer & Autoharp 2:45-4:14 PM CDT
These two instruments sound great together, and we'll explore ways to make the most of their strengths for both melody playing and accompaniment. This includes strumming patterns and chording as well as melody arrangements for both instruments, using DAD dulcimer tuning for the keys of D, G and E minor. A capo will be helpful for dulcimer players. Karen recommends capos made by Ron Ewing (http://www.ronewingdulcimers.com/), and will bring a few available for sale.
Mark Dvorak is a modern day troubadour who has never stopped performing, writing and recording. He has been called “a folk singer’s folk singer” with “an encyclopedic knowledge of traditional songs.” His original songs are described as “wondrous” and “profound”. His concerts are a mix of the familiar and the new, traditional folk and standards from the American songbook. He plays authentic country blues guitar and picks great old-time banjo. Mark enjoys involving his audiences in sing-along songs, just like The Weavers used to do, and mixes in his own well-crafted and infectious originals.
The Guitar According to Mark 8:30-10:00 AM CDT
Folk artist Mark Dvorak will share his insight and approach to creating simple arrangements on the guitar. The session will include some fretting hand, and picking hand, exercises, using a flat pick or fingers to create a bass line and begin bringing out the natural voice of the six-string guitar. From blues to bluegrass to folk, participants will come away with news ideas and a fresh approach to their playing
Surviving a Folk Jam 1:00-2:30 PM CDT
A good folk jam recognizes common musical voices and common material. It functions more like a tribal ceremony and less like a corporate staff meeting. It is not a church service, but good ones have something in common with church. It is not a performance, but good ones are exciting to listen to and witness.
Mark Dvorak has led thousands of folk jams and sing-alongs in his career as a performing artist and instructor. In this session Dvorak will introduce the concept, “the democracy of chaos,” and involve participants in making exciting music together.
Awareness, listening, dynamics, rhythm and harmony are all part of the mix. Bring your instruments, have a couple of good songs in mind and be ready to join in.
REGISTRATION
You can sign up for one, two, three, or all four performer workshops, in addition to some great participant-led workshop sessions!
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