Music workshops, classes, and lessons with Ryan Thomson

Ryan with high school age banjo student at Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire.

Ryan teaches private and group lessons to children and adults in his surrounding community and at fiddle schools and music camps nationally. A demonstration video DVD of his classroom teaching is available on request. Instruction includes: fiddle, 5 string and tenor banjo, celtic flute, penny whistle, piano, accordian, mandolin, music making for the disabled; music theory; playing in a folk or contra dance band, and workshops in traditional music for conventionally trained string teachers. He authors and publishes a wide selection of instructional books, DVDs, and CDs. Ryan also calls traditional folk dances such as contras and squares, and teaches clogging and cajun dance steps. His teaching credits include:

• University of New Hampshire, Div. of Cont. Ed. - Fiddle Classes, 1979-1982.
• University of New Hampshire "Mini Courses," Traditional Fiddling, 1984-1986.
• Hampton School for Life Long Learning, Folk Fiddling, 1985.
• University of New Hampshire, Psychology of Music, Intro Psychology, 1979,80.
• North Shore Community College, MA, Fiddle, Folk Ensemble, 1986-1987.
• Oyster River H.S., Durham, NH Gifted Students Program, Folk Fiddling, 1987-1988.
• Newbury Music Workshop, Violin, Banjo, Mandolin, Accordion 1987-1994.
• Newburyport Adult Education, MA, fiddle, Pennywhistle, 1995.
• North Eastern Music and Dance Festival, Sandy Hook, CT, Music Theory for Folk Musicians, Fiddling for Beginners, Cajun Accordion, 1991-1997.
• Berklee College of Music, Guest Lecturer "early country music", 1994-1996.
• Philadelphia Folk Song Society, Spring & Fall Flings, Fiddling Workshop, 1996, 2000.
• Ocean Conservatory, Newburyport, MA, Fiddle, Banjo, Accordion, 1995-1996.
• New England Folk Festival, Fiddle for Beginners, Banjo, Left handed fiddling, 1986-2005.
• Phillips Exeter Academy, NH, Banjo, Fiddle, Mandolin, Accordion, 1988-2007.
• Berwick Academy, Maine, Fiddle Styles Workshop, 1996.
• SAMW - Summer Acoustic Music Week, Guitar, Dance Teacher/Caller, 1997.
• Fiddleheads Stringband Camp, fiddle, music theory, clogging, celtic flute/whistle, piano accompaniment for fiddle tunes, dance caller, 1998 -2007.
• Main Street School, Country dancing, fiddle and accordion workshop, 1999
• Feile Iorras ternational Folk Festival, Ireland, American Fiddle Styles, 2000.
• River Tree Arts Center, Kennebunk, Maine, Fiddle Styles Workshop, 2000.
• Antrim Celtic Celebration, Beginning Pennywhistle Workshop, 2001
• American String Teachers Association, NSOA, Fiddling Workshop, 2002
• Mainewoods Dance Camp, Resident Musician, Fiddle and Banjo instruction, 2002
• Kittery Adult Ed., Maine, 8 wk courses: Fiddling, Contra Dance Band, Folk Music, 2000 - 2007
• Festival of American Fiddle Tunes: Fiddle Tutor, slow jam leader, 2003
• Manchester Community Music School, fiddle, banjo, 2004
• Spud Blossom Special, Family Music Camp, fiddle, piano, music theory, 2004
• Oyster River High School Art Fest, Durham, NH, Pennywhistle, Bones, 2005
• Stratham Middle School, Stratham, NH, clogging, bones, folk instruments, 2005
• Brookline School District, music/dance of New Hampshire, 1 week residency, 2006
• Star Island Conference on the Arts, introduction to Folk Instruments, 2006
  
  

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