Neighborly Music

String Band Class

Class Description

If you would like to build your old-time music repertoire while meeting and playing with others, then this class is for you. We meet for eight class sessions and learn six old-time tunes and songs. We offer group instruction on fiddle, clawhammer banjo, or guitar (basses, ukulele, and mandolin players may join the fiddle or guitar sections with advance approval). We start each lesson in a large group, and the instructors play the tune we will work on that evening. Then, we slow it down and all sing the melody together to learn it by ear. We separate into different classrooms for group lessons on each instrument. Finally, we come back together and play the tune as a group. At the fourth meeting, we review the first three tunes and focus on harmony singing. For the final class meeting, we will meet early for a big community dinner and will play all the tunes we have learned during the session. 

In addition to class meetings, enrolled students will have access to source recordings, demonstration videos, guitar chord charts, and banjo tabs for each tune we teach.

You can also take the class Self-Paced Online, with access to the same tunes and virtual classroom resources without attending the weekly instrument lessons. Scroll down for all the details.

Who We Are

Maggie Lind, Patrick Lind, and Sophie Enloe, who also play together as Cookhouse, have offered the Portland String Band Class to old-time instrumentalists since 2007. We have been playing together for over two decades, and we love sharing our favorite music, offering insights on playing in a band, and helping you build the skills to play at jams. Hundreds of people have found community and friendship, and we’ve learned many great tunes along the way.

You can hear us play together on our new Cookhouse album, Lately Tuned.

When & Where

Tuesdays 7:00 – 8:30 pm

September 22 – November 17 (no meeting November 10)
The final class on November 17 begins at 6:30 pm for our potluck dinner and jam.

IN PERSON: Pacific Crest Community School 116 NE 29th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97232.

SELF-PACED ONLINE: Participate on your own schedule from anywhere. Self-paced students can also join us in person for the Week 4 harmony workshop and jam and the Week 8 final potluck and jam.

Experience Required

Previous experience on your instrument is required. Bass, ukulele, and mandolin players are welcome. Fiddle and banjo players should be able to play several tunes in G/A and D/C tunings.

Learning by ear is an important part of this class. You don’t need to be skilled at it already; we’ll develop this skill together throughout the session.

Guitarists should have a capo, know the open-position chords A, C, D, E, F, and G, and be able to play the bass-note/after-strum, or “boom chuck,” technique.

Self-Paced Online Class

The self-paced online option gives you access to all of our virtual classroom resources so you can learn the tunes on your own schedule. Resources include source recordings, videos of our string band arrangements played at both slow and regular tempos, banjo tabs, guitar chord charts, and demonstration videos of the tunes played fast and slow on each instrument.

Instead of attending the weekly in-person classes, you’ll work through the material independently online. You can also join us in person for Week 4, which includes a harmony workshop and class jam session, and Week 8, our final class potluck and jam session.

Past sessions are also available for self-paced study. Contact Maggie for details.

Pricing

We have a Tiered Pricing and Generosity Policy. Please read the details and use the Sliding Scale Fee Guidance Flowchart and income-based assessment tools to find the pricing tier that best fits your financial situation. We have partial scholarships available. Contact Maggie to learn more.

IN-PERSON CLASS PRICING

TIER 1 + SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT – $320 or more (I am financially comfortable, and I want to support the scholarship fund)
TIER 1 – $300 (I am financially comfortable)
TIER 2 – $260 (I am financially stable)
TIER 3 – $180 (I need subsidized tuition to afford class)
TIER 4 – $80 (I cannot attend without a scholarship)

SELF-PACED ONLINE PRICING

TIER 1 – $160 (I am financially comfortable)
TIER 2 – $120 (I am financially stable)
TIERS 3 & 4 – $80 (I need subsidized tuition)

Registration

After you complete the online registration form, you may pay in one of these ways:

• Venmo (preferred): @maggiebanjo
• PayPal: maggiebanjo @ gmail.com
• Bring cash or check to the first class meeting
• Check payable to Neighborly Music mailed to 4416 NE 20th Ave, Portland, OR 97211

Testimonials

“Briefly wanted to tell you how highly valued and appreciated you are.  The three of you work so hard to prepare and maintain the class and videos. I am always grateful for the quality of instruction delivered with kindness, good humor, and enthusiasm. I look forward to each and every class and love to practice my music at home… It makes us happy to be a small part of this community of music makers.”

D. C.

“I love String Band Class!  I really like the energy of the class in general and what each of you guys bring to it.  Our community is greatly enhanced by the contributions of the three of you… I also think the tune you guys worked out for last night sounded better than the source tune!”

T. K.

“String Band Class has opened an entire new world for me… not only musically and with square dancing, but socially (jams, festivals, workshops, etc.) as well. And for that, I’m forever grateful to you.”

D. R.

Covid/Illness Policy

We ask that you be vaccinated and up to date on your boosters to attend class. Please do not come to class if you are sick or experiencing any cold, flu, or COVID symptoms.