LESSONS

BLUEGRASS INSTRUMENTS

Banjo, Mandolin, Bass, Guitar, Fiddle

For those interested in learning to play acoustic music, the Famous Old Time Music Company teaching staff offers lessons on all the Bluegrass instruments.
Lessons are available at both the Cincinnati studio and the Wapakoneta store.  In Cincinnati, call 513-607-1874; in Wapak, 419-568-1220.

Meet two of Kitty's students, Eddie, a budding guitarist, and Chelsea, a budding fiddler.

Effective Summer, 2011: Attention Northern Kentucky folks interested in taking lessons! 
Kitty is now teaching fiddle, mandolin, beginning bluegrass banjo, and beginning guitar in northern Kentucky at the

Northern Kentucky School of Music
Immanuel Methodist Church
2551 Dixie Hwy in Lakeside Park, KY, 41017,
859-341-5330
 

Vernon McIntyre has played professionally since 1960.  He teaches banjo, guitar, mandolin, and even some bass at Famous Old Time Music Company.  Vernon is well respected on the festival circuit for his driving guitar rhythm with his band, Appalachian Grass.  He knows the lead-in runs that need to be there and can put them in with the best of them.  Although he has not performed publicly on banjo for many years, the reputation he built during his banjo career still speaks for itself.  A little known fact about Vernon is that his first instrument was actually mandolin and he played mandolin for James Monroe’s band.  Vernon knows the Bill Monroe/Paul Williams style inside out.  He also has the teaching experience to know how to slow down, break it into understandable pieces, and convey the music to his students.

Vernon teaches BLUEGRASS BANJO and BLUEGRASS RHYTHM GUITAR at Famous Old Time Music CINCINNATI (513-607-1874) and WAPAKONETA (419-568-1220).

Kitty McIntyre, Vernon’s wife and fiddler with the Appalachian Grass, was classically trained as a child.  Her interest in bluegrass blossomed with the encouragement of her banjo and bass playing brother, Andy.  She has made a good name for herself as a bluegrass fiddler and has two fiddle projects recorded.  Kitty also teaches mandolin at Famous Old Time Music Company.  She says, “I started playing mandolin because I got bored riding to shows in a car, and you can’t practice a fiddle in a car; you hit the roof with the bow.”  Her mandolin style is derived from the fiddle tunes she has transferred to mandolin; it is a very different style than Vernon’s.  Kitty also covers most of the upright bass teaching.  She has played fiddle, mandolin, and bass on several of the Appalachian Grass recordings.  

Kitty teaches FIDDLE, MANDOLIN, UPRIGHT BASS, BEGINNING BLUEGRASS BANJO, and BEGINNING GUITAR at Famous Old Time Music CINCINNATI (513-607-1874) and WAPAKONETA (419-568-1220).

FOLK INSTRUMENTS

Autoharp, Hammered Dulcimer, Mountain Dulcimer

Private lessons for these folk instruments are available at the Wapakoneta location only: For more information or to set up lessons, call the Wapakoneta store (419-568-1220) or email, click here.

Just a word about these instruments ... Many folks that have always wanted to play an instrument and saw one of these at an historical event are fascinated that so many folks can just sit and play together.  You can join in the fun whether you read music or can't read a note.  Do consider a music outlet.  It's great fun with great folks.

Shari Wolf and Joyce Harrison lead monthly Dul-Ci Jams at Wapakoneta.  This jam draws folk musicians from five area dulcimer and folk music clubs.  Check out our schedule and plan on joining us in 2012.  Click here.

Joyce has been playing the hammered dulcimer for close to twenty years.  She has taught all levels of instruction from the new player to the most accomplished at many Ohio festivals including the Buckeye Dulcimer Festival, Harmony Harvest, Southern Ohio, Old Time Gospel Music Retreat, Dulcimers in the Cornfield (here at FOTMC) and numerous workshops for the Dayton Dulcimer Club.

She is a member of several performing groups including Country Strings (an old time string band), Ones Sent (a Gospel music quartet), and Dul-C-Daze (hammered dulcimer & guitar duo with Shari Wolf.)

Locally, here at FOTMC, Joyce along with Shari Wolf organized the DULCIMERS IN THE CORNFIELD Festival in April and worked as emcee for the monthly live show, The Appalachian Opry. 

At the Wapakoneta store, Joyce has taught new players, past beginners, and intermediate level players on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. 
 

Autoharp:  Mary-Jo Ward, Instructor

Mary-Jo has been playing the autoharp for close to ten years.  She has developed her own distinctive style.  She can really drive a fast fiddle tune or bring out the beauty of a waltz or air.  She has also enjoys singing with the autoharp. 

She has taught beginners at the Buckeye Dulcimer Festival, Dayton Dulcimer Club and at several Dayton area locations.

Mary-Jo has competed at the nationally-recognized Mountain Laurel Autoharp Festival and looks forward to that yearly challenge.

Her warm and engaging style will have you enjoying your autoharp in no time.

Shari enjoys bringing all her music background and school teaching experience to working with fledgling mountain dulcimer students.  She has worked with beginners through intermediate players in developing technique, learning and expanding repertoire, and (her real love) learning all types of ways to play with others. 

Shari has taught mountain dulcimer at festivals all over the midwest working with beginners and backup playing techniques.  Currently, her energies are focused on organizing the Buckeye Dulcimer Festival in March, FOTMC's own Dulcimers in the Cornfield Festival in late April, The Old Time Gospel Music Retreat in October, along with Joyce Harrison leading the monthly Dul-Ci Jams at FOTMC, and serving as president of the Dayton Dulcimer Society.

If you've always wanted to play an instrument, you might want to give the mountain dulcimer a whirl.  Shari gives lessons on a weekly or bi-weekly schedule.