Folk School of Chattanooga » Christie Burns

Alabama Gals

Christie Burns — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 23:41:31 +0000

…or Buffalo Gals, if you prefer. This tune will be our big group grand finale number at our opening set on September 26th at the Riverfront Nights concert, so students, study up! We’re calling for all students and teachers of the Mountain Music Folk School to join us on stage for this one.

Here’s Matt playing it on fiddle:

And Christie playing it on mountain dulcimer:

A visit from Colleen Heine

Christie Burns — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:03:32 +0000

We had the extraordinary pleasure of hosting Colleen Heine, director of the Folk School of St. Louis, in Chattanooga for a few days in the middle of June. She came to share with us all the details of what makes a successful urban-based folk music school, and we certainly made the most of her visit! We had extensive meetings every morning/afternoon, and then tunes every night. Here’s Fletcher Bright, Bobby Burns, Matt Evans, Joseph Decosimo, Colleen Heine, and Doc Cullis playing a really fun version of “Black-Eyed Susie” on June 16, 2009. Colleen is doing wonderful things with the Folk School of St. Louis, and gave us so many ideas for what we can do with a folk school in Chattanooga. Plus, she’s a great fiddler! Bonus!

Riverbend–What a blast!

Christie Burns — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 12:46:00 +0000

Thank you all for coming out to celebrate with us at Riverbend. I was so proud of the performance we put on at the Tennessee Valley Credit Union stage. That was definitely a “Red Haired Boy” to remember! We’ll post photos and videos as soon as we can.

Here’s the article written about us on Saturday morning in the Times Free Press:

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2009/jun/13/school-folk/

Old Chattanooga

Christie Burns — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:39:07 +0000

Here’s one for our Tuesday night students, a video clip of some folks playing “Old Chattanooga” at Christie’s house last year.

Julianne Johnson

Christie Burns — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 03:42:49 +0000

Here’s the tune we’re teaching this Tuesday at the tune-learning class, Julianne Johnson. It’s a beautiful old time fiddle tune in the key of D.

Red Haired Boy

Christie Burns — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 02:58:56 +0000

Tonight in our Tuesday night tune-learning class, we learned “Red Haired Boy”. Here’s myself and Matt playing it at a kind tempo for the folks who were in the class to have something to play along with. It was a fun class tonight! Thanks everyone!!

Tuesday Tune-Learning Class

Christie Burns — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 23:45:50 +0000

This past Tuesday, we had a nice turnout for our first of 8 Tuesday night tune-learning classes. Fiddlers, guitarist, and a mandolin player came, and we all worked on “Cuckoo’s Nest,” a fun jam tune in D. With Matt out of town for the week, Butch Ross stepped in to help teach the class. Thanks, Butch! I’m already looking forward to our next class. We’ll have lots of tunes ready to go and determine what to teach based on who shows up (we’ll pick a tune that’ll be new to everyone in the class), and like the first week, we’ll teach the tune by ear and give out the printed notation/tablature at the end for students to take home. All advanced-beginners and intermediate players are welcome to join us this Tuesday, or any Tuesday between now and the end of April. Classes cost $10 per session, and meet in the church across the street from Mountain Music, 7 to 8:30pm. No RSVP or registration required–come once, twice, or to all eight classes! You’ll meet other musicians, and add a tasty tune or two to your repertoire. Call us at 827-8906 if you have any questions.

Why Old Time?

Christie Burns — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:31:07 +0000

Here’s a trailer for another documentary about old time music. For anyone who plays, they know exactly what these people are talking about! I love the line… something like, “you could go out to lunch, come back, and they’re still playing the same tune.” So true!!

The word from West Virginia: Clifftop.

Christie Burns — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 06:20:08 +0000

We often get asked, “What is ‘old time’ music?” Here’s a very nice video that explains it well, in the setting of the mothership of all old time music festivals, Clifftop. I know there was a big crowd of Chattanoogans who made the trip last year, and I’d expect even more of us to pile in next time with fiddles, guitars, and banjos in tow. Our jam at the Market Street Tavern last Monday almost made me feel like we were in the middle of an old time music festival!

Walkin’ in the Parlor

Christie Burns — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 21:00:20 +0000

Robby Hilliard took the time to make a two very nice instructional video clips of “Walking in the Parlor,” the tune we taught on Saturday at the workshop. Nice work, Robby! Much appreciated.

By the way, Matt and I also have a nice recording of “Walking in the Parlor.” However, we recorded it in the key of C, rather than the key of D (as it usually is played, and as we taught it at the workshop). So you won’t be able to easily play along with this if you’re used to playing it in D, but anyway, enjoy!

Walkin\' in the Parlor