2025 Workshops

Come "waulk the wool" with the Celtic Singers of NM and learn the songs sung while processing the wool into waterproof and colorful cloth. The rhythms of "A Thousand Curses on Love" will be fun to learn as our singers lead you through the ancient songs and actions. These Scottish folk songs will come alive in our workshop!

Participants will learn basic vocal techniques of Spanish bolero singers including breath and diaphragm control, rhythm, singing legato and rubato style. It’s all hands on so we’ll all learn at least one classic bolero and all get a chance to sing. Previous singing experience recommended. We’ll also touch on accompaniment. I will post the songs we learn at Aaroncombs@facebook.com

Rakish (Fiddler Maura Shawn Scanlin and Guitarist Conor Hearn) will offer a 50-minute workshop, during which participants will learn a celtic fiddle tune, and discuss chordal and arrangement options for the tune. Rakish will answer questions pertaining to arranging music as a band, and anything else that might be of interest to the participants! All instruments are welcome.

Muni Kulasinghe has played violin for more than 40 years and has taught it for 20. As a player of multiple styles, he has an eclectic approach to teaching, with a focus on solid basic playing technique and extended bow and left hand techniques. In this workshop, he’ll focus on aforementioned techniques and perhaps touch on ways to approach improvisation if there’s interest.

Acoustic Blues Pioneer CATFISH KEITH will present a hands-on guitar workshop. Catfish will teach both fingerpicking and slide guitar styles on acoustic and resophonic guitars.

Students will learn songs in standard tuning on acoustic guitar, and one in Open D or G on resophonic guitar. You will learn to play steady bass rhythms with your thumb while picking melodies and harmonies with your fingers. String snapping, thumb damping, alternating bass, advanced harp harmonics, and the basics of slide techniques will be taught.

Bring your steel string, acoustic guitar and/or a round neck resophonic guitar.

This is not for beginners, it is intermediate to advanced level. But, if you can play basic chords and know some songs, you will find value in this workshop. Alright!

Join Dom Flemons, acclaimed songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, actor, music scholar, historian, and record collector, for a journey through his Smithsonian Folkways album Black Cowboys. The result of tireless research and work, this album pays tribute to the music, culture, and the complex history of the golden era of the Wild West. In this single volume of music, the first of its kind, Flemons explores and re-analyzes this important part of our American identity. The songs and poems featured on the album take the listener on an illuminating journey from the trails to the rails of the Old West. In this workshop, Dom will take us on a deep dive into a few of these songs. While sharing stories about the songs themselves and his research we will learn about Dom's process as a scholar and artist.

Steve Cormier did ranch, and farm work for nine years toured the US and Canada singing cowboy songs and telling stories. He holds a Ph.D. in American Studies with a dissertation on New Mexico ranching. Steve will start with a round robin sing, so bring an instrument and a working cowboy song! Steve has a new album: Steve Cormier - Wichita, Albuquerque, and Silver City.

Interested in getting into Celtic music on your mandolin or bringing your playing to the next level? In this workshop, Louis Scuderi of [Mandology] (https://www.mandology.net/) will cover traditional rhythms, including jigs, reels, slip jigs, and more, different options for ornamentation, and even learn some new tunes!

Join Jason McInnes for a one-of-a-kind workshop to introduce you to playing one of the greatest instruments of all time: the harmonica! Whether you’re a beginning musician or someone who’s been playing other instruments for a while, the accessibility of the harmonica means it’s ready to meet you where you are at. The Harmonica Orchestra is for everyone! In this workshop you’ll get acquainted with the basic techniques for playing and learn a few songs. In addition, you’ll receive study materials and complimentary video links to Jason’s Harmonica Orchestra curriculum to continue your studies after the festival. Bring a harmonica in the key of C. A limited number of harmonicas will be provided at no cost.

In this hands-on workshop, Glenn will teach bodhrán, the traditional Irish frame drum. He will cover the basics of the instrument, the different playing styles, playing in sessions, basic rhythms patterns to Celtic music, and developing your own playing styles. Bring your own bodhrán, or we’ll provide practice loaner bodhráns at no charge.

The New Mexico Peace Choir, founded in 2015, is a community choir dedicated to inspiring social change through singing. The members memorize their music so that they are free to engage their bodies and interact visually with their conductor, one another, and the audience. You are invited to join a contingent of the Peace Choir in learning several simple songs that lend themselves to harmony and improvisation, all without using any printed material. The choir's Artistic Director, David Poole, and other members of the group will introduce the songs using call-and-response and imitative techniques.

Also known as the Appalachian Dulcimer, this instrument is one of the easiest to get started on! We’ll learn some basics and have you playing some traditional songs in no time! You’ll also see different types of dulcimers and hear some non-traditional ways of playing. Some loaner mountain dulcimers will be available for participants. Irma Reeder is a Winfield finalist and co-founded the New Mexico Dulcimer Association.

Western European colonists brought the hammered dulcimer to America beginning in the early 1700s where it was used for social dance music in New England and MI, and traditional old-time string band music in WV, VA and NC. With a prior history in Ireland, it has become popular for Celtic music following reintroduction during the 1970s folk revival. Come see how to play yourself, loaner hammered dulcimers provided! Scott Reeder co-founded the New Mexico Dulcimer Association.

The penny whistle is a terrific introduction to playing Celtic wind instruments. An introductory instrument is inexpensive and you can quickly learn a few tunes to play for yourself or in session. Join us to learn to play a few tunes. Have lots of fun. Bring your penny whistle in the key of D. A limited number of D whistles will be provided at no cost.

Sherilyn will teach the Schottishe this year. This is one of the most popular dances and is danced in all the Scandinavian countries and in most folk dance groups. We will be learning some Schottishe tunes and how to make them have the lift needed for the dancers to dance their best, and the fiddle to sound the best.

Warm up your voices, grab your instruments and gather around, friends! It’s the Gather-All! An all-ages, family-friendly music jam hosted by Jason McInnes, a devotee of community music-making. We’ll sing and play classic folk songs like Lightly Row and Old Joe Clark as well as more contemporary favorites like Katy Perry’s Roar and Wilco’s California Stars. No prior experience, or instrument, is necessary. Bring your voice and grab your guitars, fiddles, whistles, banjos, shakers, trumpets or anything else, if you have one, and we’ll sing and play as we share music and community.