Register Here for Leela Grace's Classes!

Leela's Banjo Lessons and Classes, 
Harmony Singing Classes, and Percussive Dance Classes
Portland, Oregon

By-Ear Harmony Singing Class
 

Beginning Clogging Class
 

JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2012 BEGINNING CLAWHAMMER BANJO CLASS

Register and pay securely online via paypal for the 6-week "Beginning Clawhammer Banjo Class" with Leela Grace. The sliding scale enables you to choose the amount that you feel you are able to pay. Please enter the name of the the person who will be attending the class, as well as your preferred e-mail address and phone number. You will receive detailed class information via e-mail before the class begins.

**Note: A 5:00pm section of the class has been added because the 6:00pm class is FULL! Pre-registration has ended, but there is still space in the 5PM class. If you would like to join, call 573-823-5650.

Dates: Wednesdays for 6 weeks, January 25-February 29, 2012
Time: 5:00-5:55pm (6:00pm-6:55pm Class is FULL)
Fee: sliding scale $65-$115
Information: Contact Leela at leelagracemusic@gmail.com  or at 573-823-5650
Note: Class will be limited to 15 participants. Pre-registration required.
Class Description: Always wanted to learn the old time banjo? Now’s your chance to get started! Get that banjo out from under the bed and come on down. We will be learning how to play the old time banjo from scratch! We will start with the basics of how to hold and tune the banjo and then move quickly into mastering the frailing strum and left hand techniques. Utilizing by-ear learning, clear, step-by-step instruction, and time for individual coaching, we’ll have some fun learning how to wrangle this amazing instrument. By the end of the six weeks, you should be comfortable with the frailing strum, adept at basic chord changes, know how to do hammer-ons, slides, and pull-offs, and have several old-time tunes in your repertoire.

 CLAWHAMMER BANJO II CLASS

Register and pay securely online via paypal for the 6-week "Clawhammer Banjo II Class" with Leela Grace. The sliding scale enables you to choose the amount that you feel you are able to pay. Please enter the name of the the person who will be attending the class, as well as your preferred e-mail address and phone number. You will receive detailed class information via e-mail before the class begins.
 

REGISTRATION CLOSED

Clawhammer Banjo II Class at Artichoke Music
 Dates: Wednesdays for 6 weeks TBA
  Time: TBA
 Fee: sliding scale TBA, tentatively $65-$115
 Information: Contact Leela at leelagracemusic@gmail.com or at 573-823-5650
Class Description: This class is designed for banjo players who have completed Leela's Beginning Clawhammer Banjo class or for players who have gotten started on basic clawhammer banjo skills. For this class, we will assume that you know how to tune your banjo, that you are somewhat comfortable with the frailing/clawhammer strum, that you are familiar with slides, pull-offs, and hammer-ons, and that you know at least a few tunes and chords in the G tuning. From there, we will venture further into the wonderful world of the old time banjo! This will still be a class for beginners, not advanced players. The focus will be on expanding your repertoire and continuing to build your basic clawhammer banjo skills. You will be learning a selection of old time tunes in the G tuning, as well as possibly delving into the Modal and Double C tunings. Since this is a by-ear class, a battery-operated recording device of some sort is strongly recommended. It will be an important tool! It is also suggested that your banjo have a 5th string “spikes” in the 7th and 9th frets (or a 5th string capo) installed, and that you bring a banjo strap, electronic tuner, and banjo capo.

 INTERMEDIATE CLAWHAMMER BANJO CLASS

Register and pay securely online via paypal for the 6-week "Intermediate Clawhammer Banjo Class" with Leela Grace. The sliding scale enables you to choose the amount that you feel you are able to pay. Please enter the name of the the person who will be attending the class, as well as your preferred e-mail address and phone number. You will receive detailed class information via e-mail before the class begins.

 

**Note: Pre-registration has ended, but there is still space in the class. If you would like to join, call 573-823-5650.

Intermediate Clawhammer Banjo Class at Artichoke Music
 Dates: Wednesdays for 6 weeks March 23-May 4, 2011
  Time: 7:00 p.m.-7:55 p.m.
 Fee: sliding scale $65-$115
 Information: Contact Leela at leelagracemusic@gmail.com or at 573-823-5650
Class Description: This more challenging class is designed for clawhammer banjo players who have taken Leela's Banjo I and II classes or for slightly more advanced players with existing skills who want to take their old time banjo playing to the next level. For this class, you should know how to tune your banjo and change tunings, be comfortable with the frailing/clawhammer strum at a moderate to fast tempo, be familiar with slides, pull-offs, and hammer-ons and possibly some drop thumbing, and know at least several tunes and chords in the G tuning (and possibly a tune or two in alternate tunings). We will spend a bit of time refining the clawhammer technique and introducing or practicing drop thumbing. Our focus will be on expanding your repertoire and moving your playing to the next level. A selection of old time tunes in the G tuning will be taught, as well as the Modal and Double C tunings. Depending on the interests of the class, we may discuss jam etiquette and the place of the banjo in old time music, how to learn tunes from the fiddler, work on singing with the banjo, and/or focus on other topics. Since this is a by-ear class, a battery-operated recording device of some sort is strongly recommended. It will be an important tool! It is also suggested that your banjo have a 5th string “spikes” in the 7th and 9th frets (or a 5th string capo) installed, and that you bring a banjo strap, electronic tuner, and banjo capo.

MARCH-APRIL 2012 BY-EAR HARMONY SINGING CLASS

Register and pay securely online via paypal for the 6-week "By-Ear Harmony Singing Class" with Leela Grace. The sliding scale enables you to choose the amount that you feel you are able to pay. Please enter the name of the the person who will be attending the class, as well as your preferred e-mail address and phone number. You will receive detailed class information via e-mail before the class begins.

 

REGISTRATION NOT YET OPEN.

Dates: TBA, tentatively starting Wednesday, March 7
Time: TBA
Fee: sliding scale TBA, tentatively $95-$150
Information: Contact Leela at leelagracemusic@gmail.com or at 573-823-5650
Note: Class will be limited to 20 participants. Pre-registration required.
Class Description: With a patient, light-hearted approach, Leela will help you discover the power of voices raised in harmony. Through large and small group singing, we will practice the fundamentals of two-, three-, and four-part harmony using by-ear techniques. This class is all about singing . . . singing together, finding your voice, experiencing the power of voices raised in song together, listening, laughing, and generally having lots of fun. We will learn to understand harmonies and how they work by SINGING many different kinds of songs, from Appalachian old time to contemporary folk to old country. All abilities and experience levels are welcome. Come explore the possibilities!
 

Register and pay securely online via paypal for the 6-week "Beginning Appalachian Clogging Class" with Leela Grace. The sliding scale enables you to choose the amount that you feel you are able to pay. Please enter the name of the the person who will be attending the class, as well as your preferred e-mail address and phone number. You will receive detailed class information via e-mail before the class begins.

Register and pay securely online via paypal for the 6-week "Intermediate Appalachian Clogging/Percussive Dance Class" with Leela Grace. The sliding scale enables you to choose the amount that you feel you are able to pay. Please enter the name of the the person who will be attending the class, as well as your preferred e-mail address and phone number. You will receive detailed class information via e-mail before the class begins.