Alaska Folk Festival

2026 Workshop Schedule

Workshops

Last Update: Apr 6, 12:07pm

Saturday Workshops

	Main Stage
Sat. 10 - 11:30AM	Stagecraft Workshop for Musicians Lucy Peckham, Bennet Hilsgen, Mike Sakarias Learn how to use the stage equipment, mics, monitors, to your best advantage as a performer.

	Hammond Room	Hickel Room	Egan Room	Sheffield Ballroom	Cultural Center (JACC)
10:30 to 11:50	Fiddle Tunes & Talk Joe Thrift Learn a tune and talk fiddle maintenance with violin maker and Guest Dance Band artist Joe Thrift	Sharing Songs with Others Burl Sheldon You'll learn a road-tested skill for getting others quickly ''on the same page'' when sharing songs or tunes. We'll also work on skills that improve the musicality of group performances.	Elementary Music Theory 101 Rick Bidlack Introduction to fundamentals of music theory. Definition of the major scale and chords derived therefrom. Nomenclature of intervals. Rudiments of tonality and functional harmony. For great musicians who've been wondering what it all means.	Clawhammer Banjo for Songwriters Sam Armstrong-Zickefoose and Willi Carlisle Sam Armstrong-Zickefoose and Willi Carlisle will present unique possibilities for banjo songsters to expand their repertoire and writing skill with chord progressions, writing techniques, rhythmic ideas.	Family Concert Shona Osterhout Bring your kids and their wiggles!
Noon to 1:20	Fiddle Tone and Technique for Backup Beth Chrisman Alaskan festival-favorite Beth Chrisman shares advice from decades on the road and as one of Texas' most revered honky-tonk fiddlers.	Clogging Annie Bartholomew Learn some basic steps for dancing to string band music	Old Time Guitar Riley Baugus Learn Appalachian Old Time guitar techniques from Guest Dance Band guitarist Riley Baugus	Introduction to English Country Dance Odette Edgar Enjoy the beautiful live music of English Country Dancing while you learn the basic figures and enjoy some classic dances.	Intro to Square Dance Calling Connor Maguire - AFF51 Guest Caller Want to call dances but don't know the first thing? Come learn the first thing! We will take an introductory look at some of the fundamentals for calling square dances. Come ready to dance!
1:30 to 2:50	Sing and Play at the Same Time Avery Hill This workshop will break down the layers of both playing and singing, and guide you through exercises to integrate them together efficiently and meaningfully. All strumming instruments welcome.	Rasmuson Artist grant opportunities Sheryl Saturnino Oliva General info session of Rasmuson Foundation's Individual Artist Award (IAA) program, with special focus on Fellowship award open to individual mid-career/mature artists (applications accepted from Mar. 10-May 5).	Appalachian Singing Riley Baugus Dance Band Guest Artist will share traditional Appalachian ballad singing techniques and stories	Couple Dance John Laskey Mostly waltzing to beautiful live music by Full Circle. Some swing etc. Non didactic experience with long time dancers. I'll be available for more detailed instruction if you ask.	Square Dance Workshop Willi Carlisle, Sam Armstrong-Zickefoose, Beth Chrisman Guest artist Willi Carlisle and his band will lead a traditional southern square dance, taught on the spot, and answer your burning questions! Expect to move, but no experience required. Callers, musicians, and dancers welcome!
3:00 to 4:20	Intermediate/Advanced Harmonica Grant Dermody Tone Production and Improvisation	Songwriting Elise Leavy Writing with a prompt, how to get unstuck, cowriting, how to start and finish a song... a little bit of talking, a lot of songwriting	Instrument Swap 3-5:30 Come One Come All! Are your instruments gathering dust or making too little noise? Hoping to find something real nice? Meet, greet, and trade instruments with your fellow festivalgoers! 3-5:30 pm.	Playing for Dances Connor Maguire - AFF51 Guest Caller Come learn some of the tips and tricks about playing square dances successfully. All instruments and all skill levels are welcome!	Zimbabwean Marimbas Jesse Larson, Betsy Sims Come try your hand at these super fun instruments. You'll be playing a whole song by the end of the workshop. Limited to 20 participants and geared towards those who haven't played before.

Sunday Workshops

	Hammond Room	Hickel Room	Egan Room	Sheffield Ballroom
10:30 to 11:50	Ukulele Lesson and Jam Session Juneau Jambuster's team: Sherri, Reid, Craig, and Hal. The Juneau Jambuster's is back! Join our annual ukulele workshop for beginning and intermediate levels. Whether you're picking up a ukulele for the first time or returning to build on last year's skills, there's a spot in the circle for you!		Round Peak Banjo Riley Baugus Learn Appalachian Clawhammer banjo and Round Peak styles from banjo maker and Guest Dance Band artist Riley Baugus	Talking Blues: A Provocation Willi Carlisle Designed to inspire songwriters to begin writing in the talking blues tradition. He will share a few favorites, both obscure and new, and play a few original numbers, breaking down techniques and styles common to the genre.
Noon to 1:20	Learn a Waltz (or two, or three) Ken Waldman Ken Waldman has composed almost two dozen waltzes, and is planning an all-waltz CD. He recently led a well-received waltz workshop in Pennsylvania. Talkeetna Waltz, Fairbanks Cabin Waltz--Ken has waltzes that musicians have enjoyed playing.	Old-time fiddling - Bowing is fun! Judy Lungren	Crooked Tunes from my year of travel John Hatton and friends Newly collected fiddle tunes from my travels in the lower 48. Bring your instrument and your recording device.	Dances of Universal Peace Leah LaBar Mark Kjerstad Simple joyful dances from diverse spiritual traditions. Song and movements are taught. Participation is encouraged.. All are welcome. No experience needed.
1:30 to 2:50	Fiddle Chords and Seconding John Palmes Stop thinking! Teach your muscle memory to play chords and chord patterns same way as you learned to play melodies. How to feel the chord changes, find the chords, play along with a tune and practice with recordings.		Level Up Your Lyrics Game Marian Call A workshop for songwriters with concrete exercises to come up with song concepts and edit and elevate lyrics
3:00 to 4:20			That Shanty Sing You Need To Go To The Strongbacks Shanty Choir Weigh anchor and hoist the sails! We'll share the stories of our favorite sea shanties, teach how we find harmonies, and sing as many tunes together as we can fit in the hold. No singing or sailing experience required!	YOUTH JAM Ellie Sharman, Greg Burger Opportunity for young musicians (aged 10+) who play fiddle, guitar, banjo, mandolin, & bass. Tunes will include Cripple Creek, Old Joe Clark, Angeline the Baker and other standards. A chance to meet other young players and jam!