6-week Fall Classes will begin
the second week of March (8-12)

Classes are $110
Register with Mail-in form:

HTML Registration form
or
Call Old Songs, 518-765-2815 Tues.-Fri., 10am-5pm

• Learn Easy Quebecois Tunes

with Steve Fry, Monday, 6:00 - 7:15 pm
March 8, 15, 22, 29 & April 5, 12
Relatively easy and wonderful tunes from the Province of Québéc will be patiently slow-taught by ear. A CD with large-print sheet music for all taught tunes (and a large body of other tunes, as well as resource information) will be provided. Suitable for many instruments, but participants should have some playing experience on their instruments. Info, contact Steve: 518-674-8646 or

• Beginning Piano Accordion
with Peggy Minore, Tuesday, 6:00 - 7:15 pm
March 9, 16, 23, 30 and April 6,13
Basic beginning technique, theory and note reading for both hands. It’s easier than you think. If you have any questions regarding your instrument or ability, contact Peggy: 518-439-1060 or

• Clawhammer Banjo
with Dave Kiphuth, Thursday, 7:15 - 8:30 pm
March 11, 18, 25 and April 1, 15, 22 (no class April 8)

Have fun learning banjo the old time way with David Kiphuth. We will cover all aspects of Appalachian-style, from basic frailing through advanced drop-thumb clawhammer. Learn the subtleties of Round Peak North Carolina banjo, so loved by fiddlers! We will be learning through repetition and tablature, with simple and more advanced versions of tunes. It is highly recommended that you bring recording devices, either audio or video to class so that you can "take the tune home." For more info, contact Dave at 518-587-4735 or

• Intermediate Northern Fiddle
with George Wilson, Thursday, 6:00 - 7:15 pm
March 11, 18, 25 and April 1, 8, 15

This class will be geared toward intermediate fiddle players that
would like to improve their sound & learn some new tunes. There'll be
a lot of emphasis on bowing - for better tone, rhythm, & expression.
We'll mostly focus on the northern styles- French Canadian, Cape
Breton, Shetland, Scottish, Irish, all of which blend into the New
England style. If you like sheet music you can use it, but we'll do a
lot by ear. For more info, call George at 518-283-4957 or

Getting in Tune with Your Melody Players -- Both Mentally and Instrumentally. Learn methods for accompanying tunes in different keys; popular chord progressions, and accompaniment for the Irish tune set structure (including how to listen for key changes during a set of tunes). Information on different players’ styles, sessiun etiquette for accompanists, and techniques for “building” a set of tunes will be included. Members of Curragh will join the program throughout in order to provide opportunities to work with melody players and hear their perspective on accompaniment. Course will be taught on 6-string guitar tuned in Dropped D, with use of a flat pick. Some knowledge of chord shapes up the neck will be helpful but not necessary. Note: this class will focus on the accompaniment of dance tunes and will not cover song accompaniment. For beginning/intermediate players. For more information, contact Eric at 518-756-8273 or

• Intermediate Open-Tuned Guitar
with Roger Mock, Wednesday, 5:45 - 7:00 pm
March 10, 17, 24, 31 and April 7, 14

Different tunings can open up your playing in fresh and exciting ways. We’ll be exploring both melodic arrangements of tunes and chordal accompaniment of songs and tunes in Open G, Open C and DADGAD tunings. For those who know guitar basics and want to explore the richness of sound that open tunings can provide. Contact Roger for info: 518-861-5782 or

An introduction to mandolin playing, covering both picking and chord techniques, with a repertoire based on traditional fiddle tunes. Instrument care and selection will also be discussed. For more information, contact Mike at 518-872-0864.

• Mandolin II
w/ Mike Otis, Thursday 8:30 - 10:00 pm
March 11, 18, 25 and April 1, 8, 15
A further exploration of the mandolin, expanding upon the technique and repertoire covered in the beginning class. For more information, contact Mike at 518-872-0864.

• Hands-On Music Theory
with George Ward, Wednesday, 7:15 - 8:00 pm
March 10, 17, 24, 31 and April 7, 14
Learning by ear, choosing the right chords to play, using any system of music notation (or inventing your own), all these things and more benefit from a working knowledge of basic music theory. With your instrument in hand (whatever it is), this class will explore scales, intervals, chords and chording, some basics of music notation, key signatures, the cycle of fifths...and probably more. Any instrument - from a pennywhistle or a ten-hole harmonica to a guitar, fiddle, banjo, bass or keyboard is appropriate. And we'll play a few tunes as well. Call George for more information: (518) 399 - 0315 or Email:

• Beginning Mountain Dulcimer
with Susan Trump, Tuesday, 6:00 pm
March 9, 16, 23, 30 and April 6,13

We'll explore DAD tuning, work on strum directions and left hand fingering. We'll learn some fiddle tunes, and other repertoire that works well on dulcimer. Contact Susan for info. Phone: 518/ 357-4018   Email:

• Intermediate Mountain Dulcimer
with Susan Trump, Tuesday 7:15 - 8:30 pm
March 9, 16, 23, 30 and April 6,13

The focus is on repertoire building using a variety of styles, including
fiddle tunes, songs, Celtic melodies, waltzes, while learning appropriate picking, or finger picking techniques and fingerings.. Contact Susan for more info: Phone: 518/357-4018   Email:

• Irish Pennywhistle Repertoire
with George Ward, Wednesday, 6 pm
March 10, 17, 24, 31 and April 7, 14
All you’ll need is a key of D pennywhistle - available at the first class - and some basic knowledge (if you can play a two-octave scale, you’ll be fine). The goals of the class are to give each member a solid collection of new tunes to play and to practise on - from simple to challenging - and to develop everyone’s ability to learn by ear.You won’t need to be able to read music, but all tunes will be available as written music. Tape recorders are strongly encouraged. Questions? Call George at 518/399-0315 or Email