RICK TOWNEND - TEACHER: INSTRUMENTS, VOCAL HARMONY ETC.
Rick is an experienced tutor and workshop-leader, for beginners, and also for players honing their skills:
Workshops:
Banjo (bluegrass and old-time); Fiddle; Guitar;
Mandolin; Autoharp; Dobro; Bass; Appalachian Dulcimer; Working in a
Band; Harmony Vocals; Performance
Tips.
Rick's workshops are usually multi-level -
advanced players are often interested in revisiting the problems experienced
by people who are just starting out, and it's also good for beginners to
see the kind of things
they
will
be getting to grips with later on. He will usually ask participants for points
they'd like addressed during the workshop, and there will also be some playing
together; he does not usually work by teaching a particular tune unless this
is particularly requested.
One-to-one teaching:
Rick will give a one-to-one advice/tutorial session of 1-2 hours, depending
on personal need.
He does not usually give regular weekly lessons - everybody learns at a
different pace. a 'one-off master-class' is often more helpful to get
over some specific hurdle or hurdles.
Manuals:
'A Way in to Bluegrass Banjo' - a guide for beginners and lots
of hot tips for players
'Bluegrass Your Fiddle' - a series of articles written originally for British
Bluegrass News
'Jazz chords - some basic help' - a series of articles written originally for the Tun.Wells Bluegrass Club Newsletter
All available from Rick Townend, St Julians, Sevenoaks,
Kent TN15 0RX - £5 each
CDs:
Rick has recorded a series of multimedia CDs with Homeplace Records, entitled 'Just the Tune', with the aim
of helping beginners to learn tunes and start playing. Each CD contains eleven
tunes,
played at medium pace, and with the first time through at least keeping to
the basic tune and introducing variations and decorations only later; track
1 of each CD can be used in a windows-based PC to print out music and tablature
of the simple tune for banjo, guitar, mandolin, dobro, tenor banjo and Appalachian
dulcimer (fiddlers can use the standard music notation). There is also an introductory
section about playing each instrument in bluegrass and old-timey styles. More
details at www.homeplace.org.uk
Rick's band Grassroots have also recorded a CD 'All Traditional' with Homeplace - arrangements of twelve traditional bluegrass/old-time songs; like 'Just the Tune' these CDs can be used in a windows-based PC to print out vocal harmony arrangements. see www.homeplace.org.uk
Workshops coming up:
27.5.13 - Autoharp, at St Julians Old-Time Music Day, St Julians Club, Sevenoaks, TN15 0RX - call 01732 458261 or 07570 994681 to book a place (£8, or £6 conc.)
Contact Rick at: St Julians, Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 0RX
Tel: 01732 458261 / 07570 994681
Email: rick.town end@gmail.com [NB please remove the space in this email address
before using - it is only there to try and prevent 'spam']