Apple Mountain Music - Albuquerque, NM Celtic Harp and Folk Musical Instrument Store

"Please support your local music store - use it or lose it!"

Celtic Slow Session: Exploring the World of Celtic Music - Harlow Pinsonm Instructor. Learn to play Celtic music in a small group or "session". Berklee trained fiddler Harlow Pinson will lead this group for advanced beginners and above. Emphasis will be on learning commonly played session tunes by ear as an ensemble. We will play reels, jigs, hornpipes, and waltzes. We need Fiddles, Violas, Cellos, Guitars, Mandolins, Pennywhistles (D), Flutes, Recorders, Uillean Pipes (D), Harps, Hammered Dulcimers, Concertina, Button Accordians, Bazoukis, Bodhrans, and Bones. Tunes will mainly be played in the key of D, and your instrument should be capable of playing in that key. You should be able to play at least a few tunes already on your instrument, and have mastered the basics of playing it. A portable recorder is recommended for learning new tunes. Required Text: English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish Tunes with CD by Robin Williamson. Available through Apple Mountain Music.

Super Slow Irish Session - Gary Papenhagen, Instructor. This Six-week Slow Irish Prep Course is a formalized group practice session designed to nurture and expose the entry level musician to Irish Session music and etiquette. We will focus on learning 4 tunes well enough to take them to any session while getting familiar with as many other tunes as the group pleases. We play slow enough that everyone in the group can tag along. We will spend 15 minutes of each meeting on ear training. This will amount to learning a snippet of some tune or another, by ear. This will only be an exercise. You will NOT be expected to remember the phrase we work on, only to practice during those 15 minutes, the ability to find on your instrument, the notes you hear being played. Calisthenics for the musically inclined. We will have fun! Call Apple Mountain Music at 505-237-2048 to register.
Friday evenings January 13,2012 - February 24, 2012 7:00pm - 8:30pm *We will not meet Friday January 27.

Play Your Autoharp! - Gary Libman, Instructor. Gary Libman, of the Placitas Mountain Band, invites you to join him in a fun and informative workshop designed to not only get you started playing your autoharp but introduce you to some advanced techniques as well. In this two hour workshop, you will learn basic autoharp maintenance, some basic and more advanced rhythm and strumming techniques and even a few songs! If you don't have an autoharp but want to learn, you may use one of ours! (Supplies are limited so reserve in advance.) Note: please make sure your autoharp is in tune when you arrive to save class time for learning! Fee includes workshop and instruction book! Call Apple Mountain Music at 505-237-2048 to register.
~~Saturday Morning January 14, 2012~~ Rescheduled for Saturday, February 11, 2012 9:00am - 11:00am Fee: $35 (includes book)

Singers Saturdays! - Cathleen Wilder, Instructor. Let's sing again! By popular demand, Cathleen will host another series of Singers Saturdays - a seriously fun skill-building and performance class for singers of all levels and styles - from beginners to experienced performers. This will be a six-week class held on Saturday afternoons at 4pm beginning October22nd. Classes include:

- A thorough technique workout: Exercises for improving breath control, range, projection, agility and vocal health
- Ear-training, rhythm and movement to enhance core music-learning skills
- Singing songs & harmonizing together
- Opportunities for those who wish to perform (and feedback if you want it)
- A chance to meet great people in a fun, supportive environment
Voice teacher Cathleen Wilder offers a rare combination of laser-like diagnostic abilities, powerful insights, accelerated skill-building methods and FUN! All levels of singers will benefit from this great class! Drop-ins are welcome! Please call Apple Mountain Music at 505-237-2048 to register.
Saturday Afternoons, January 14th - February 18th, 2012 4:00pm - 6:00pm Fee:$90 or $20 for Drop-ins

Randal Bays and Davey Mathias - In Concert - Apple Mountain Music is very pleased to announce that we will be hosting the acclaimed Irish Fiddler, Randal Bays along with DADGAD guitar player Davey Mathias, In Concert! Randal Bays is an American musician whose mastery of the intricate art of Irish fiddle playing has earned him an international reputation among fans of Irish music. He’s an exciting and dynamic performer whose music grows out of a deep respect for the ancient wellsprings of the Irish tradition, bringing the music alive in the here and now with every performance. In recent years Randal has toured and recorded with many of the finest Irish musicians, including James Keane and Daithi Sproule (in the band FINGAL), James Kelly, John Williams, Martin Hayes, Tony McManus, Aine Meenaghan, and Roger Landes. Bays has performed all over the U.S., Europe and Canada. Davey Mathias has played guitar since the age of 9 and has studied a wide variety of traditional styles. He honed his DADGAD guitar accompaniment, learning from Dathi Sproule and Paul Brady, with a nice mix of his own thoughtful style. He brings an authentic and respectful sound that complements Irish traditional music beautifully and has performed with other Irish music masters such as Liz Knowles, Patty Furlong and Asheville’s Half Nine. Davey comes from a musical family in South Carolina, where he teaches guitar and banjo, and plays with the group Corner House. This concert will be held at Apple Mountain Music, 10301 Comanche Rd. NE in Albuquerque. Please reserve your tickets in advance for this performance as space is limited! Call Apple Mountain Music at 505-237-2048. Click here to download the poster.
Friday Evening January 27, 2012 8:00pm Tickets: $18 SOLD OUT

Davey Mathias - Irish Guitar Accompaniment Workshop – All levels (2 hours) This workshop will cover chord choices, tune types, rhythm, session playing and more. The focus is on DADGAD tuning but concepts should be helpful to those using other tunings as well. Call Apple Mountain Music at 505-237-2048 to register.
Saturday January 28, 2012 9:00am - 11:00am Fee: $30

Randal Bays - Irish Fiddle Workshop – Intermediate to Advanced (2 hours) For those who've been trying to unravel the “Ravelled Hank of Yarn” that is Irish fiddling.. or trying to find their way down “The Crooked Road” of Irish traditional music. We'll learn a tune or two and delve into the mysteries of bowing, ornamentation and traditional style. We'll also talk about session playing and repertoire building. Call Apple Mountain Music at 505-237-2048 to register.
Saturday January 28, 2012 11:00am - 1:00pm Fee: $30

Introduction to Folk Harp - Irma Reeder, Instructor. Come and be captivated by this wonderful instrument! In this class, you will enjoy learning to play songs of various styles. Previous musical experience is not required as basic music theory will be covered. It is not necessary for students to own a harp. A variety of harps will be available on the premises during class time. Students will have an opportunity to play a number of harps to experience the difference in size and tone. Required Text: Teach Yourself to Play the Folk Harp, by Sylvia Woods, available for purchase at Apple Mountain Music at first class meeting. Come early to arrange for an instrument and to purchase text.

Beginning Folk Harp - Alana Woods, Instructor. This class is for students who already know some basic music theory or have played other instruments (ie: piano) and can read music. You can easily move into learning to play this beautiful instrument. Tuning, harp care, and technique will be taught ensuring that the best sound can be played for greatest enjoyment. There will be some improvisation, simple written music, plus in the final classes students will play three versions of a simple piece in unison, which is an amazing sound and a lot of fun! If you do not own your own harp, wish to rent one (if available) or don't wish to bring yours, a variety of harps will be available to play at the store, giving you the opportunity to explore different sizes and woods. Required Text: Teach Yourself to Play the Folk Harp, Sylvia Woods, available for purchase at Apple Mountain Music. Please come early to first class to purchase book and arrange for a harp.

Mountain Dulcimer: Beginning - Irma Reeder, Instructor. This instrument is widely used in the American old-time music tradition, as well as Celtic and other styles. Its origins are traced back to the early 1800's from the Scots-Irish in the southern Appalachian Mountains. In this class you will learn to play both chords and melodies in the DAD tuning. While some music theory will be covered, you don't need any previous musical experience to be successful! It is not necessary to own a dulcimer as instruments will be available during classes. If you own one, please bring it! Required Text: First Lessons Dulcimer by Joyce Ochs, available for purchase at Apple Mountain Music.

New Mexico Festival of Harps - The Canterbury Harp Ensemble in Albuquerque is hosting the first New Mexico Festival of Harps©. The vision is that lots of harpers and harpists will have a wonderful time playing beautiful music together. Participation is open to all harp players (lever and pedal) in New Mexico and beyond who are able and willing to travel to the rehearsal and performance here in Albuquerque. There will be one concert on June 2, 2012 at St. Michael and All Angels Church in Albuquerque, with a dress rehearsal that morning. Conducting will be David Felberg, the conductor of the New Mexico Philharmonic. There will also be a rehearsal on Friday, June 1st. Exact rehearsal times will be known at a later date. We hope that many of you will be as excited about this as we are and will be anxious to join so that planning can continue. We are asking people to sign up by Feb 15th.
For more information and a registration packet and repertoire list, please e-mail Mary Weaver at NMFestHarps@comcast.net.

Note: Please register early as workshops with insufficient enrollment will be cancelled. If this happens, we will be sure to promptly notify you by phone or email. Please make sure to leave a reliable phone and/or email address when registering and check your voice mail or email the day before the workshop is scheduled to take place. If your workshop is cancelled due to insufficient enrollment, inclement weather, instructor illness, or any other reason, you will have the option of a full refund or funds being applied toward another workshop.