http://skiplandt.com/news.html Skip's Harp Site: My Music News Jannis' PHPRss class - http://www.jannis.to/ Sun, 16 May 2010 01:25:12 -0700 http://skiplandt.com/news.html#32
It's been a great year, expanding my teaching at the Old Town School of Folk Music: my full harmonica curriculum is offered both evenings and days! Add to that my Wednesday noon jams (folk music), Thursday Americana Ensemble (songs from the 1940s and earlier!) and First Firday Back Porch James (blues) and that adds up to 12 wonderful months.

This has also been the first big year for Strictly Jug Nuts, the jug band that I more-or-less front. Key appearances of Strictly Jug Nuts in 2009 included playing at the University of Chicago Folk Festival workshop series (drawing the biggest Saturday crowd), a performance at the Wild Raspberry Orchard Apple Harvest Festival, and being the headline act at the Old Town School of Folk Music First Friday concert series in December 2009. Best of all, of course, was Strictly Jug Nuts winning the Chicago Battle of the Jug Bands in November 2009 over tough competition.

Hope to see you folks again in 2010. Please keep in touch! (Again, do so via skiplandt (at) sbcglobal.net rather than this site!)

Skip]]> http://skiplandt.com/news.html#32 Sun, 13 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0800 Harmonica Blues, country, folk, gospel - Skip's Harp Site - My Music News http://skiplandt.com/news.html#31
It's all over but the cheering! Armed with jugs, washboards, kazoos, and other musical weaponry, six jug bands of all sizes and descriptions clashed at the SECOND ANNUAL CHICAGO BATTLE OF THE JUG BANDS on Saturday, November 14th. Most important, the battlle trophy, a handle-operated sausage packing machine, better known as The Stuffy, has returned to Chicago from Denver, home of the previous year’s band leader.

Once again, the Morseland Restaurant and Tap had a sell-out crowd, with a line at the door. Competing were several other Chicago bands, including the Shticklers, the Bare-handed Jug Band, and the Hump Night Thumpers, along with the Deep Fried Pickle Project (from Michigan), and the Brass Band Jug Band (with participants from different cities, including Portland, Oregon, and Dodge City, Kansas.

Again this year, the crowd was so large that by mid-evening newcomers were admitted only when someone else left. Strictly Jug Nuts will have their name engraved on The Stuffy, which is on display in the Cafe at the Old Town School of Folk Music, mounted on a handsome wooden plaque. The names of other bands at the competition also had their names emblazoned, but only on the air of the Morseland at the time of their performances. Hence the Shticklers, the Barehanded Jug Band, the Hump Night Thumpers, Brass Band Jug Band, and the Deep Fried Pickle Project are left with nothing but hope, looking forward to future years, future battles, and to memories of their participation in this memorable occasion in Chicago Battle of the Jug Bands history.]]> http://skiplandt.com/news.html#31 Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800 Harmonica Blues, country, folk, gospel - Skip's Harp Site - My Music News http://skiplandt.com/news.html#28
My full harmonica curriculum is now available during the day as well as the evening.

Daytime: Harmonica 1 and Rep (Mondays at noon, Fridays at 12:30), Harmonica 2 and Rep (Mondays at 10 am), and Harmonica Forever (Fridays at 10 am). As always, the emphasis in the classes is hands-on: the more we play, the more fun we have.

Evening: Harmonica 1 and Rep (Tuesdays at 6:30), Harmonica 2 and Rep (Wednesdays at 6:30) and Harmonica Forever (Tuesdays at 8 pm).

Questions? Email me via skiplandt (at) sbcglobal.net!]]> http://skiplandt.com/news.html#28 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800 Harmonica Blues, country, folk, gospel - Skip's Harp Site - My Music News http://skiplandt.com/news.html#21
Well, what about a class that meets two hours a month, at 1 pm the first Saturday or Sunday of each month? I've offered this monthly class every two or three years, and it's been very popular. Between class meetings we can keep in touch through email and telephone.

I guarantee you'll have a good time -- and a class performance at an outside venue after the final class!

This class is now in the process of being scheduled for January-April 2010. Check it out at oldtownschool.org.]]> http://skiplandt.com/news.html#21 Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800 Harmonica Blues, country, folk, gospel - Skip's Harp Site - My Music News http://skiplandt.com/news.html#30
This two-part workshop is intended as an introduction to blues harp. The two part structure gives you time to be shown the basic skills, practice them, and return for review, answering questions, and taking the next step in your playing.

These workshops always adapt to those signing up;
even if you've played for a while, you'll probably learn something of interest and of value to your playing. For info, check the listings at oldtownschool.org.]]> http://skiplandt.com/news.html#30 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700 Harmonica Blues, country, folk, gospel - Skip's Harp Site - My Music News http://skiplandt.com/news.html#29
Adding to the fun will be a variety of musical groups provided through the good offices of Alderman Schulter:
Two for the Road (guitar and harmonica), the Basket Cases (a jug band), Otisco (old-time string band harmony),
The Barehanded Jug Band, and and Skip with his Dancing Chicken (me and wooden chicken) are among the attractions.

The Lincoln Square Farmers Market operates Tuesdays from 7 am until 2 pm in the parking lot next to the Western CTA stop where Lincoln curves to cross Western Avenue.]]> http://skiplandt.com/news.html#29 Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 Harmonica Blues, country, folk, gospel - Skip's Harp Site - My Music News http://skiplandt.com/news.html#27
The original setting was not ideal. We'd initially been scheduled for the Dance Room, but one band member felt an asthematic reaction coming on, so -- with the aid of the folk festival staff -- we moved into the open area by the pop machines.

That worked out very well indeed. In spite of publicity that listed us only under family programs, we are told that we drew the largest workshop/concert crowd for the entire day, and one of the largest for the weekend.

It's a wonderful festival, and we're hoping to be asked back again next year -- for their 50th anniversary year program.]]> http://skiplandt.com/news.html#27 Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800 Harmonica Blues, country, folk, gospel - Skip's Harp Site - My Music News http://skiplandt.com/news.html#26
What's that? It features not only traditional insttruments like guitar, mandolin, and banjo, but also kazoo, slide whistle, jug, washboard, and washtub bass. It's a fun informal kind of music.

Our shows are fun, animated, and welcome audience participation by all members of the family. We'll even show you how to play the washboard, washtub, and even the jug!]]> http://skiplandt.com/news.html#26 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800 Harmonica Blues, country, folk, gospel - Skip's Harp Site - My Music News http://skiplandt.com/news.html#23
Harmonica 1 and Rep - Jump in! Learn the basic harmonica skills used in folk, blues, gospel, country, Irish, and jug band traditions, including playing in different keys, 12-bar blues, and note-bending. Emphasis on in-class playing. “Rep” means that content changes each term for students wishing to expand their repertoire with new songs.
Monday mornings at 10 am, Tuesday evenings at 6:30 pm, Friday afternoons at 12:30 pm

Harmonica Forever - Develop note-bending, tone production, and soloing while playing songs in blues, country, gospel, and other traditions with band backup. Content varies each session, ranging from classics to Flying Burrito Brothers, Old Crow Medicine Show etc. Prerequisite: ability to play clear single notes. Ear players, chromatic harps welcome.
Tuesday nights at 8 pm, Friday mornings at 10 am.

New! The Americana Ensemble- This class emphasizes American popular music before 1950. We sing it, we play it, and arrange it for performances. The class has guitar accompaniment and includes harmonica players, singers, and players of spoons and other instruments. Ear players, chromatic players, and kazooists welcome.
Thursday mornings at 10 am

In January, 2008, I'll also be starting a monthly harp class, meeting on one Saturday or Sunday a month.
It's a great option for people with tight schedules.]]> http://skiplandt.com/news.html#23 Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800 Harmonica Blues, country, folk, gospel - Skip's Harp Site - My Music News http://skiplandt.com/news.html#25
The first Chicago Battle of the Jug Bands took place Saturday, November 8th. at Morseland in Rodgers Park.
By shortly after 9 pm the place was so full that no one else was admitted until someone left. They had to send an employee out to buy a case of glasses from another bar.

Morseland staff tell us it was the largest crowd they have ever had.

Bands included Strictly Jug Nuts (my band(, The Bare Hand Jug Band (Chicago), Escape the Floodwaters Jug Band (Iowa City), The Fat Chance Jug Band (Minneapolis), the Geezers (Minneapolis), the Blue Ribbon Jug Band (Chicago), and the Hump Night Thumpers Chicago, with which Fran and I also played).

The winner was determined by ballot of those attending; a ballot based on the Chicago Board of Elections model. People entering and paying their $5 received a ballot. In true Chicago style, the winning band had hired a trolley which was routed to pick up and bring all their friends to the election.

Their reward:
one year custody of the Chicago Battle trophy, a large, genuine, inoperable sausage grinder, mounted on an attractive wooden shelf.

As Chicagoans, we appreciated the traditional touch of votes being exchanged for money.]]> http://skiplandt.com/news.html#25 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800 Harmonica Blues, country, folk, gospel - Skip's Harp Site - My Music News