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HomeClasses and Workshops

PFS CLASSES & WORKSHOPS

 

PFS is working to provide classes and workshops in the areas of singing, songwriting, and playing musical instruments. This web page is a list of upcoming classes and workshops along with descriptions, dates and times, costs, and registrations information.
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Ukulele Jams by Avery Hill

Description: 
This mixed-level jam is best suited for ʻukulele players who are already comfortable playing in the Key of C and are looking to expand their musical repertoire. We play songs that pull from a variety of genres, songwriters, and musical traditions, especially those you won't hear at other ʻukulele jams. For example, we’ve got everything from folk favorites from The Carter Family to an ʻukulele adaption of “The Wind Cries Mary”, by Jimi Hendrix. We’ll play “Bring Me Little Water Sylvie”, by early 20th century songwriter Leadbelly, and then “Closer to Fine” by late 20th century rockers The Indigo Girls. 

Songbooks provided. If youʻd like to download / print the Songbook ahead of time, join Avery's newsletter at: www.averyhill.studio/contact. Use the same link to contact Avery with any other questions or concerns.

Fee:We gratefully accept donations of any amount, but recommend $10 as a benchmark. Please plan to bring cash or check for the donation box, or you can pay ahead of time here

Avery Hill has been teaching music since 2013, and is a staple instructor of the Portland (OR) ‘ukulele community. Over the years, she has run her own studio of ʻukulele classes and workshops, and is a regular instructor at the Menucha Ukulele Band Camp. More recently, she has maintained a YouTube channel for ʻukulele tutorials and has begun teaching songwriting, including at the Songwriter Soireé Retreat. Whatever the classroom, Avery strives to educate everyone’s inner musician, to elevate their self-knowledge and confidence, and to enchant them with insight, presence, and a handful of good jokes. Learn more at www.averyhill.studio.


When:  Third Saturday of each month starting April 20 (May 18, June 15)
10:00 AM to 11:30 AM each date.

Where:  Southminster Presbyterian Church
12250 SW Denney Road
Beaverton, OR 97008


Teaching and sharing music with others is my livelihood – your financial support is deeply appreciated. There are several ways to donate:

  • Bring cash or check to the jam and put it in the donation jar.
  • Pay ahead of time with a credit/debit card ($5, $10, or $20)
  • Pay directly via Venmo @averyhillstudio *OR* PayPal averyhill.studio@gmail.com.
  • Any amount at any frequency is gratefully accepted. THANK YOU!
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Ukulele Classes by Avery Hill

Have you recently treated yourself to a new ‘ukulele, or received one as a gift? Or have you had one in the closet you are ready to finally dust off? Or perhaps the pandemic has kept you from your ‘ukulele too long, and you are ready to dive back into playing?


These classes meet live, in person, in Beaverton OR. 
Each class will build from week to week, so it's important folks sign up for the full 6-week session.



Ukulele for Beginners: 

 

Description: This 6-week class will cover / review all the basics you need to know for early success in your ‘ukulele playing.

When: Thursday evenings, May 2, 9, 16, 30, June 6, 13 at 5:30 PM to 6:15 PM

Where:   Southminster Presbyterian Church
12250 SW Denney Road
Beaverton, OR 97008

For more information and to register visit: https://averyhill.studio/product/ukulele-for-beginners-west/



Blues for Ukulele: Basics & Beyond: 


Description: Blues for ʻUkulele: Basics & Beyond is a mixed-level ukulele class for players of various learning styles and experience. Using popular and accessible songs, we’ll expand our repertoire of musical skills and technique in the process.


When: Thursday evenings, May 2, 9, 16, 30, June 6, 13 at 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM

Where:   Southminster Presbyterian Church
12250 SW Denney Road
Beaverton, OR 97008


For more information and to register visit: https://averyhill.studio/product/blues-for-ukulele-basics-beyond/

 

Avery Hill has been teaching music since 2013, and is a staple instructor of the Portland (OR) ‘ukulele community. Over the years, she has run her own studio of ʻukulele classes and workshops, and is a regular instructor at the Menucha Ukulele Band Camp. More recently, she has maintained a YouTube channel for ʻukulele tutorials and has begun teaching songwriting, including at the Songwriter Soireé Retreat. Whatever the classroom, Avery strives to educate everyone’s inner musician, to elevate their self-knowledge and confidence, and to enchant them with insight, presence, and a handful of good jokes. Learn more at www.averyhill.studio.


 
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Songwriting Classes by Avery Hill

Have you recently treated yourself to a new ‘ukulele, or received one as a gift? Or have you had one in the closet you are ready to finally dust off? Or perhaps the pandemic has kept you from your ‘ukulele too long, and you are ready to dive back into playing?


These classes meet live, in person, in Beaverton OR. 
Each class will build from week to week, so it's important folks sign up for the full 6-week session.



Intro to Songwriting: 

 

Description: This 6-week class will cover / review all the basics you need to know for early success in your ‘ukulele playing.

When: Thursday evenings, May 2, 9, 16, 30, June 6, 13 at 7:40 PM to 8:45 PM

Where:   Southminster Presbyterian Church
12250 SW Denney Road
Beaverton, OR 97008

For more information and to register visit: https://averyhill.studio/product/songwriting-intro/

Avery Hill has been teaching music since 2013, and is a staple instructor of the Portland (OR) ‘ukulele community. Over the years, she has run her own studio of ʻukulele classes and workshops, and is a regular instructor at the Menucha Ukulele Band Camp. More recently, she has maintained a YouTube channel for ʻukulele tutorials and has begun teaching songwriting, including at the Songwriter Soireé Retreat. Whatever the classroom, Avery strives to educate everyone’s inner musician, to elevate their self-knowledge and confidence, and to enchant them with insight, presence, and a handful of good jokes. Learn more at www.averyhill.studio.


 
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Songwriting Workshops by Ken Gaines

Description: I
n-depth songwriting sessions. Each session is 3 hours. 



April 21 - Session 4: "The Power of Contrast" What would light be without shades of darkness or the dark without the light? This workshop makes participants aware of and learn how to build power and contrast into both individual songs and an entire body of work, and provides ways to present those songs in performance. Session is 2.5 to 3 hrs long. Attendees must bring their instruments, paper, and something to write with.


When: 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM each date.

Where:  Southminster Presbyterian Church
12250 SW Denney Road
Beaverton, OR 97008


Instructor: Ken Gaines - Texas Music Awards Singer Songwriter of the Year (2005), Touring performer, Producer, and Teacher.

Fee: The fee for each workshop is $45.00 plus a $1.92 processing fee to cover bank charges. A total of $46.92.

Registration: Please register in advance as we need at least 4 participants to hold this workshop.


Click to Register for April 21 Session 4


 




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Beginner's Celtic Harp Workshop by Lisa Lynne - Harps Provided

Description: Learn to Play the Celtic Harp! Harps are fun and easy to play. No musical experience needed to play beautiful sounds on the provided traditional Celtic harps. A ninety-minute hands-on interactive workshop using Celtic harps (provided). A fun interactive musical experience.

When: Saturday, June 15, 2024, 1:00 PM until 2:30 PM

Where:  Southminster Presbyterian Church
12250 SW Denney Road
Beaverton, OR 97008


Instructor: Lisa Lynne is an internationally acclaimed Billboard Top Ten Windham Hill recording artist. She has appeared in numerous national TV, print, and radio, including CNN, NBC, and The Wall Street Journal. In 2001, she founded "Hands-On-Harps," an interactive music program that shares her Celtic harp collection with schools, hospitals, retreat, and rehabilitation centers.

Fee: The fee for the workshop is $25.00 plus a $1.92 processing fee to cover processing charges. A total of $26.92.

Registration: So we know how many harps to provide, all registrations must be done in advance.
Also, we need a minimum of ten folks signed up to hold the class.
If the number of folks signing up exceeds 20, Lisa may offer a second workshop later that day.



Click to Register



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Guitar Workshops by Mary Flower

Blues fingerpicking from the ground up.
 For levels beginning and advanced beginning. Mary will share 8 and 12 bar blues progressions in different keys along with turnarounds and simple lead parts. Students should have some fingerpicking experience (no flatpicks) and know all the basic first position chords. 

When: Sunday, August 11th at 3:00 PM Register

Where:   Reedwood Friends Church
2901 SE Steele Street
Portland, OR 97202

Ragtime Guitar. For level advanced beginning and up. Class will learn some great Piedmont or ragtime styles with simple alternating bass and eventual adding of melodies. The music of Mississippi John Hurt might be a good starting point. 


When: Sunday, August 18th at 3:00 PM Register
Where:   Reedwood Friends Church 2901 SE Steele Street Portland, OR 97202

Arranging in Open Tunings. All levels welcome. Mary will present a few open tunings and show what is in common among all of them. New and simple two finger chords will be the norm and how to incorporate these into your own arrangements will be the focus. Players will find this easier than playing in standard tuning. 

When: Sunday, August 25th at 3:00 PM Register
Where:   Reedwood Friends Church 2901 SE Steele Street Portland, OR 97202

 

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  Comments, questions, about this site? Write to pfs-online@portlandfolkmusic.org