Whole Music, LLC

Meadow Party 2025 workshops

Listed alphabetically below - students select their own workshops when registering:

instrumental

• All About The Bow: The bow is the essence of rhythm, groove, and tone, so understanding how to pull character from it is essential for fiddlers looking to up their game! We’ll kick things off with basic bow techniques and exercises before learning how to incorporate different shuffles, or bowing patterns, into familiar songs. Shuffles not only give songs texture and character, but they’re also helpful when working on speed and articulation. Let’s shred! It’s strongly recommended to know how to play Angeline the Baker, Salt Spring, and Gold Rush. We’ll get through as many as we can. Open to intermediate and advanced fiddle; taught by Mei Lin Heirendt.

• Essential Bluegrass Fiddle Licks: The foundation of bluegrass fiddling is built on “licks,” or short phrases that can be applied to tunes and songs. The memorization of licks helps expand repertoire, build improvisation skills, and introduce new finger patterns that enhance creativity and familiarity on the instrument. This workshop will include a selection of short beginner licks that start slow and progressively build. Don’t worry if you feel like some of the licks are too hard! The goal is for you to walk away with some new ideas and be inspired to come up with your own variations. Open to all strings; taught by Mei Lin Heirendt.

• Improvisation, Level I: This workshop is open to all instruments including fiddles and rhythm players. We’ll start with vocal and rhythmic exercises before moving to melodic methods on our instruments. Teacher Sam is masterful at making the intimidating subject of soloing and improvisation approachable to students of all ages. Students should have an understanding of C, G, and D major scales to get the most out of the concepts taught in this class. Open to all instruments; taught by Sam Devine.

• Improvisation, Level II: This workshop is open to all instruments including fiddles and rhythm players. Before joining this course, students should have taken Level I in years past or have prior experience soloing on their instrument. We will take our understanding of improvisation to a more technical level and dive into intermediate music theory and its application together. Students should have a working understanding of all major scales to join this workshop. Open to all intermediate and advanced instruments; taught by Sam Devine.

• Old Time Fiddle Candy: Learn the old time song Candy (Dave Rawlings) together by ear through call and response echos. This workshop will move at a slower pace to accommodate beginning and intermediate fiddle players. We’ll learn the instrumental melody as well as the song lyrics and open string drone notes for simplified chords. Students should already have basic understanding of fundamentals and know a few tunes to get the most out of this workshop. Open to all strings; taught by Emilie Rose.

• Scandinavian Fiddle Tune: Learn the Scandinavian fiddle tune The Dragonship (Väsen) together by ear through call and response echos. This workshop is aimed at intermediate and advanced string players who understand the fundamentals of phrasing and key signatures and can play moderate tunes up to speed comfortably. We’ll go over melody and chords and, if time allows, add harmony parts. Open to intermediate and advanced strings; taught by Emilie Rose.

song, stories + movement

• Dancing With Ourselves: This beginner body percussion workshop will utilize simple movements like snaps, claps, slaps, and stomps to teach rhythm combinations using the universal instrument of the human body. We’ll warm up with counting and listening games and then build increasingly complex solo and ensemble grooves atop traditional old time songs as we keep the beat together. No prior experience is necessary - two left feet are okay here. Open to everyone; taught by Amie Ferrier.

• Folk Songs Of The Sea: More sea shanties with Miss Heather! A beloved favorite, this workshop is back with a new series of songs from the depths of the stormy sea, including bawdy and haunting tales to suit your inner sailor. This vocal workshop welcomes all ages and ability levels - no prior experience required. Open to everyone; taught by Heather Grove.

• How To Sing Harmonies: Learn to add harmony parts to a song and hold your own part while listening to others. We'll explore rhythm techniques and basic music theory to better understand ensemble singing. Students will develop a better ability to hear and find vocal parts, as well as grasp the fundamental underlying rhythm structures of our songs. Open to everyone; taught by Heather Grove.

• Songwriter’s Toolkit: Students will examine a few basic musical structures and themes as a guide for working step-by-step through the composition process. We’ll ask ourselves what defines a song, and then write some ourselves. Simple! Open to everyone; taught by Sam Devine.

• Storytelling For Everyone: Do you have a great true tale to share for our dinnertime story slam at the Meadow Party? Hone and prepare your original story on the theme of ‘School Days’ with our Master of Ceremonies, Eli, or simply tap into your inner storyteller as you consider what makes our own stories worth telling - and why we love to listen to them. Open to everyone; taught by Eli Ferrier.

visual art

• Watercolor Basics - Your First Painting: Let’s explore and learn how our paints and water interact together. We’ll go over a few basic concepts of colors and color mixing and then practice the application of some fun introductory techniques in our artwork. Students need not have any background in art - this supportive beginner class will guide you through your first painting. All supplies will be provided. Open to everyone; taught by Jan Fenwick.

• Watercolor - Plein Air Session: More exploratory fun with paints. We’ll learn how natural light and shadow can give our paintings depth, and then identify good subject material as we paint in the plein air (“open air,” or outdoor) style in our beautiful location. Students need not have any background in art, nor is level I a requirement to take level II. All supplies will be provided. Open to everyone; taught by Jan Fenwick.