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Traditional Folk Music

UVMC offers lessons, classes, and workshops in traditional styles on a variety of instruments.

Our mission is to connect the local music community with the best traditional musicians for performances and workshops, bring people together for music-making events, and offer lessons at all ability levels with highly skilled faculty members.

Accordion and fiddle player at Upper Valley Music Center
Fiddle player at Upper Valley Music Center
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Events

guitar and cello

Relax Your Ears

Sunday, January 23,
3:00 pm to 4:30 pm EST
$20 adults; under 18 free
First Congregational Church of Lebanon

Tristan Bellerive and Ben Kulp come together to perform cello/guitar duets composed by Joel Styzens.

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Classes

Kids Beginner Ukulele

Spring 2022: February 22-May 17
Tuesdays 5:30-6:30 pm
UVMC Bach Room

Nils Fredland will teach the ukulele basics -- holding the instrument, tuning, strumming, and learning chords and basic music theory.

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Adults playing ukulele

Adult Beginner Ukulele

Spring 2022: February 22-May 17
Tuesdays 6:45-7:45 pm
UVMC Bach Room

Learn the ukulele basics...holding the instrument, tuning, strumming, and building your knowledge of chords and basic music theory.

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Traditional Ensembles: Répertoire de Quebec

Spring 2022: February 3-May 5
Thursdays 6:30-8 pm
Upper Valley Music Center Elgar Room

Learn instrumental tunes of Quebec.

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English Country Dance Music Sessions

Sundays 7-8:30 pm
Second and Fourth Sundays

UVMC English Country Dance Instrumental Music sessions provide a friendly, flexible and spontaneous small ensemble setting for beginning, intermediate to experienced players of a variety of traditional instruments.

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Fiddle students listening to a new tune.

Beginning Fiddle

Tuesdays 7:15-8:15 pm*
Part 1 Fall 2021: October 19-January 11
Part 2 Spring: February 1-May 3
UVMC Elgar Room

Beginning adults start with the very basics: how to hold the fiddle and bow with clean, relaxed technique that fits your body, how to “hear” and remember a tune.

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Guitar student working with UVMC faculty

Beginning Guitar Parts 1 & 2

Tuesdays 6-7 pm
Fall 2021: September 14-January 18
Spring 2022: February 1-May 31
UVMC Elgar Room

Develop your skills to confidently play through complete songs and get comfortable playing music with others.

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Multiple instruments jamming outdoors

Slow Jams

Alternating Fridays, 5:30-6:30 pm
In Person 2022: January 21, Feb 25, March 18, April 22, May 20
Online 2022: February 4, more dates TBA

Play along to your favorite fiddle tunes at a gentle tempo.

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Guitar student working with UVMC faculty Tristan Bellerive

Intermediate Group Guitar

Spring 2022: January 31-June 6
Fall 2021: September 13-January 17
Mondays 6-7 pm
UVMC Elgar Room

Group guitar class for intermediate players who want to strengthen improvisation skills, fretboard knowledge and more.

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Folk Music Faculty

Tristan Bellerive

Tristan Bellerive

Guitar Amy Cann

Amy Cann

Fiddle, violin, contra/English country dance

Carol Compton

English Country Dance Ensemble Jeremiah McLane

Jeremiah McLane

Accordion, piano Ben Van Vliet

Ben Van Vliet

Violin, fiddle

Questions?

If you’d like to learn more about our traditional folk music offerings, visit our FAQ page or contact us with your questions.