Blues Week Zoom Lessons Schedule from 16th May to 12th June

This is just a reminder for Rick Franklin’s workshop this Sunday 16^th May at 3pm UK time.  Also, I’m announcing the dates for the lessons to follow. 

Here is the schedule:

Sunday 16^th May, 3pm UK Time
Rick Franklin – Beginners Guide to the Roots of Taj Mahal
Rick’s lesson will focus on the ballad and history of Lee Shelton (aka Stagger Lee, aka Stack’O Lee) and William ‘Billy’ Lyons. In 1895 in a North St. Louis saloon during the course of an argument, Billy snatched Lee’s Stetson hat from his head, whereupon Lee first struck and then shot him. Billy died of his wound shortly thereafter, and Lee was sentenced to a twenty-five-year prison term. Rick will examine the Taj Mahal version and versions by John Cephas, John Hurt, and Doc Watson. Also, he will demonstrate his version and open the floor for versions by the students if they are interested.

Sunday 23^rd May, 3pm UK Time
Mark Wenner – Harmonica Melody (rather than licks) over a 12 bar blues
A lick is a mini melody, three or five notes. Every instrument has delightful little licks that we discover quickly as we begin to explore it. Once we master the instrument, we learn to make it do what we hear in our heads rather than let its innate licks simply repeat themselves over and over. When that happens, then we are playing melodies. We are playing music. For all levels.

Saturday 29^th May, 3pm UK Time
Will Wilde – Harmonica 10 Minutes with Will Wilde
What are you working on? Is there anything with regards to the harmonica you need help with? Will’s workshop will attempt to answer these questions by giving you practical advice and tips to advance your playing.  Each student will decide what to cover and the lesson will be tailored individually.  Everyone will be allowed 10 minutes maximum (one to one).  Depending on how many people turn up, the time may vary since we only have 45 minutes. For all levels.

Saturday 5^th June, 5pm UK Time
Kenny Sultan – The Guitar Style of Lightnin’ Hopkins 
In this class Kenny will be covering blues in the style of Lightnin’ Hopkins. He will focus on signature riffs and techniques used to create the Lightnin’ Hopkins sound. The emphasis will be playing in the “style” of Lightnin’, not copying him. This will allow for greater individual creativity and for students to find their own sound. The lesson will be assuming that you have some prior experience and is for the intermediate player.

Saturday 12^th June, 3pm UK Time
Blues Week Forum
As agreed upon on the 18^th April, let’s meet up for 30 minutes and talk about the lessons. The more feedback we have, the better we can prepare. Also, I’d like to know your thoughts on whether or not we should have a break for the summer and resume in the autumn.  

If you are not able to make one or two of the lessons, no worries, we will record it. The recordings will then be uploaded to the Online Access page of our website featuring Mandolin, Fingerpicking and Slide Guitar and Harmonica for all levels.