Previous Schedules
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View the 2018 YTS Schedule.
View the 2017 YTS Schedule. View the 2016 YTS Schedule. View the 2015 YTS Schedule. View the 2014 YTS Schedule. View the 2013 YTS Schedule. |
View the 2018 Workshop Descriptions.
View the 2017 Workshop Descriptions. View the 2016 Workshop Descriptions. View the 2015 Workshop Descriptions. View the 2014 Workshop Descriptions. View the 2013 Workshop Descriptions. |
Brian Miller's Workshops:
Learning a Song From the Archives: Learning a song from an archival recording or manuscript and making it your own can be a challenging but rewarding process. In this workshop Brian will share tips on finding material, deciphering lo-fi recordings, working with printed texts and transcriptions and combining and altering versions to create satisfying and special songs worth singing.
Irish Influence in the "Woods" Song Tradition: In the mid-1800s, a distinct tradition of singing developed in the pine woods of New England, Atlantic Canada and the Great Lakes. Men supplemented summer work on farms and sailing ships with winters in logging camps where they sang to pass the evening hours in the bunkhouses. The rich repertoires possessed by the many immigrant Irishmen in the early camps had a defining influence on this evolving musical style. Over time, those born into tight-knit logging communities in the east carried songs westward as the industry cut its way toward the edge of the prairie. Songs imported from Ireland persisted alongside new songs that told of life in the north woods. Brian Miller explains the historical context of the north woods song tradition and delves into the fascinating lives of some of the singers from that era, illustrating the talk with songs from the archives.
Michael C. Dean: Singer, Saloon-Keeper, Lumberjack: Mike Dean was an Irish-American singer, songster-publisher, saloon-keeper and lumberjack from northern New York who lived most his life in Minnesota. Dean was a source singer for both Franz Rickaby and Robert Winslow Gordon and Dean's own Flying Cloud songster has long been viewed as one of the most important and representative collections of songs prevalent in the north woods logging era. Brian has researched Dean's life for a decade and has uncovered forgotten wax cylinder recordings, hand-written letters, unpublished song transcriptions and fascinating insights into Dean's life and music.
Irish Influence in the "Woods" Song Tradition: In the mid-1800s, a distinct tradition of singing developed in the pine woods of New England, Atlantic Canada and the Great Lakes. Men supplemented summer work on farms and sailing ships with winters in logging camps where they sang to pass the evening hours in the bunkhouses. The rich repertoires possessed by the many immigrant Irishmen in the early camps had a defining influence on this evolving musical style. Over time, those born into tight-knit logging communities in the east carried songs westward as the industry cut its way toward the edge of the prairie. Songs imported from Ireland persisted alongside new songs that told of life in the north woods. Brian Miller explains the historical context of the north woods song tradition and delves into the fascinating lives of some of the singers from that era, illustrating the talk with songs from the archives.
Michael C. Dean: Singer, Saloon-Keeper, Lumberjack: Mike Dean was an Irish-American singer, songster-publisher, saloon-keeper and lumberjack from northern New York who lived most his life in Minnesota. Dean was a source singer for both Franz Rickaby and Robert Winslow Gordon and Dean's own Flying Cloud songster has long been viewed as one of the most important and representative collections of songs prevalent in the north woods logging era. Brian has researched Dean's life for a decade and has uncovered forgotten wax cylinder recordings, hand-written letters, unpublished song transcriptions and fascinating insights into Dean's life and music.
Susan Pepper's Workshops:
Appalachian and Old-Time Hymns: “I love the rawness of these simple and very singable hymns and look forward to sharing them in a secular but communal space.” This workshop will delve into intimate songs of worship that have been used in people’s living rooms and on mountaintops for centuries. Susan will share and teach a few gems she learned in North Carolina drawing mostly from the Primitive Baptist and Camp Meeting song traditions as well as African-American Spirituals.
Songs from the Source: Hazel, Pearl and Zora: In this workshop, Susan will give background about how she found and befriended several mountain singers in North Carolina including Hazel Rhymer, Pearl Hicks and Zora Walker. Susan will share stories from the singers’ lives—and we will sing several songs she learned from their family traditions. This workshop will explore the value of learning songs directly from another person and how to go about doing it.
Ballads and Folks Songs from Beech Mountain, North Carolina: Susan spent time learning ballads, dulcimer and fretless banjo from descendants of this long-standing music community that has inspired song collectors since the 1940s. Learn about a few special folks from this area while singing their songs. Emphasis will be on singing unaccompanied ballads and songs as well as using folklore to add meaning to our singing practice.
Songs from the Source: Hazel, Pearl and Zora: In this workshop, Susan will give background about how she found and befriended several mountain singers in North Carolina including Hazel Rhymer, Pearl Hicks and Zora Walker. Susan will share stories from the singers’ lives—and we will sing several songs she learned from their family traditions. This workshop will explore the value of learning songs directly from another person and how to go about doing it.
Ballads and Folks Songs from Beech Mountain, North Carolina: Susan spent time learning ballads, dulcimer and fretless banjo from descendants of this long-standing music community that has inspired song collectors since the 1940s. Learn about a few special folks from this area while singing their songs. Emphasis will be on singing unaccompanied ballads and songs as well as using folklore to add meaning to our singing practice.
Martha Burns' Workshops:
Old-Time Songs: Did you think southern old-time music was all fiddle tunes and dance music? Not so! In the 1920s and thirties, Uncle Dave Macon, Charlie Poole, Samantha Bumgartner, the Carter Family, Blind Alfred Reed, and countless others recorded everything from Child ballads like “Barbara Allen” to songs of social criticism, like “How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?” The old-time repertory includes a lot of very funny songs, songs with great choruses, and sentimental songs to melt the heart. This is a participatory workshop, so bring a song or learn a new one. Instruments optional.
Cowboy Songs: True cowboys were singers. “Singing was company to us,” a retired trail hand once explained, “just as it was to the cattle.” In this workshop, Martha will share some of her favorites from the great body of songs that came out of the cowboy era – roughly 1865 to 1930. These are occupational songs, pre-dating the pop tunes of Hollywood’s singing cowboys. Some chronicle the hardships of a months-long trail drive. Others extol the beauty of the Plains. You’ll hear how the songs came into being – a surprising number started as poetry sent to newspapers like the Miles City (Montana) Stock Growers’ Journal – and learn where you can find them.
Sing Along With the Carter Family: The Carter Family – Sara, Maybelle, and A.P – stand out among the pioneers of old-time music both for their expansive repertoire and for their trademark three-part harmonies. First recorded in 1927, their influence on the folk music revival has persisted into our own times. We’ll listen to two classic recordings, break down the harmonies, and sing along with the famous trio. This is a workshop in harmony singing, close listening, and learning by ear. Fun is guaranteed.
Cowboy Songs: True cowboys were singers. “Singing was company to us,” a retired trail hand once explained, “just as it was to the cattle.” In this workshop, Martha will share some of her favorites from the great body of songs that came out of the cowboy era – roughly 1865 to 1930. These are occupational songs, pre-dating the pop tunes of Hollywood’s singing cowboys. Some chronicle the hardships of a months-long trail drive. Others extol the beauty of the Plains. You’ll hear how the songs came into being – a surprising number started as poetry sent to newspapers like the Miles City (Montana) Stock Growers’ Journal – and learn where you can find them.
Sing Along With the Carter Family: The Carter Family – Sara, Maybelle, and A.P – stand out among the pioneers of old-time music both for their expansive repertoire and for their trademark three-part harmonies. First recorded in 1927, their influence on the folk music revival has persisted into our own times. We’ll listen to two classic recordings, break down the harmonies, and sing along with the famous trio. This is a workshop in harmony singing, close listening, and learning by ear. Fun is guaranteed.