4-week Classes:
Hammered Dulcimer
Thursdays in February (2/2-2/23)
"Bowing 747": Intermediate Fiddle
mid-February, through mid-March
more info forthcoming

6-week Classes:
Most 6-week Fall Classes
will begin the first full week of March (5-9)
Mountain Dulcimer classes will begin April 10

6-week Classes are $110
4-week classes are $80
Register with Mail-in form:

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

FOUR-WEEK CLASSES

• Hammered Dulcimer

with Bill Spence, Thursday, 6:00 - 7:15 pm
February 2, 9, 16, 23 [Registration deadline: Jan. 27]
The goal of this class is to teach students basic principles that will continue to apply as their playing advances, giving them the tools to build their own musical repertoire and style. After the basics of tuning and finding your way around the logic of the instrument, we'll be using a visual approach emphasizing playing "by ear", leading with the left hand, some fun hammering exercises, and playing with dynamics. For more info, contact Bill at 518-765-4979 or

• "Bowing 747": Intermediate Fiddle
with George Wilson, Tuesday, 6:00 - 7:15 pm
February 21, 28 and March 6, 13
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

SIX-WEEK CLASSES

• Beginning Piano Accordion
with Peggy Minore, Tuesday, 6:00 - 7:15 pm
March 6, 13, 20, 27 and April 3, 10
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, 7:30 - 8:45 pm
March 8, 15, 22, 29 and April 5, 12

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

• Beginning Fiddle
with Mike Otis, Thursday, 6:00 - 7:15 pm
March 8, 15, 22, 29 and April 5, 12

This course will focus on the basics of playing, including bowing and fingering techniques. You will learn Old-Time and Celtic fiddle tunes by a combination of written notes and learning by ear. The course will also cover practice tips, and the care and feeding of your instrument. For more information, contact Mike at 518-872-0864.

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

• Beginning Guitar
with Roger Mock, Wednesday, 5:45 - 7:00 pm
March 7, 14, 21, 28 and April 4, 11

If you’re just starting from square one with the guitar or if you need to freshen up on the basics and give it another go, give this class a try. You'll learn a few good chords enabling you to play in 3 or 4 keys, learn how to move more fluidly between chords, master essential strums and apply all this to song accompaniment. We'll work a little on melody playing as well. For information, call Roger at 518-861-5782 or

• Mandolin I
w/ Mike Otis, Thursday 7:30 - 8:45 pm
March 8, 15, 22, 29 and April 5, 12
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.

• Mountain Dulcimer Building & Playing
w/ Lori Keddell, Monday 4:00-5:30 pm
April 9, 16, 23, 30 and May 7, 14.
For ages 8 & older. Build your own dulcimer and learn to play.
Cardboard dulcimer kit: $42
For more info on the kit, visit: www.backyardmusic.com
Register by Mar. 26. Limit 10 participants.
Lori: 518-762-7516 or

• Beginning Mountain Dulcimer
with Susan Trump, Tuesday, 6:00 - 7:15 pm
April 10, 17, 24 and May 1, 8, 15

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 7:30 - 8:45 pm
April 10, 17, 24 and May 1, 8, 15

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:

• Hands-On Music Theory
with George Ward, Wednesday, 7:30 - 8:45 pm
March 7, 14, 21, 28 and April 4, 11
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:

• Irish Pennywhistle Repertoire
with George Ward, Wednesday, 6:00 - 7:15 pm
March 7, 14, 21, 28 and April 4, 11
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

• Ukulele
with Ron Gordon, Thursday, 6:00 - 7:15 pm
March 8, 15, 22, 29 and April 5, 12

Begin your uke career! Ron's class at Old Songs will get you started down the path to heavenly strumming.We will learn chords (of course),right hand strumming techniques, some chord melody, jazzy,blues, etc. voicings and some finger picking....depending on our progress. This will all be learned through some classic songs,so singing is definitely part of the program. Handouts provided and recorders recommended. BTW, we'll also delve into some uke history and ukeology along with my personal favorite....uke collecting! For more info, contact Ron at 518-372-4172 or