Folk School of Chattanooga » Christie Burns

Summer Schedule!

admin — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 12:24:27 +0000

We have not one but two new batches of classes to announce! In July we’re featuring four weeks of old-time and blues classes, and in August we’re all about the bluegrass. Registration deadline for July classes is July 5, and for August classes is August 8. Most of these summer classes are aimed at the advanced-beginning level (beginners classes will be offered again in our 8-week Fall semester, starting September 20). We’re adding a few new instructors, Gordy Nichol on bass, Roy Curry teaching guitar, Laura Walker teaching singing, and Ed Huey for harmonica. Speaking of Ed Huey, he’ll be performing this Saturday afternoon, June 26, at the Folk School—and knowing Ed, it should be a really fun show! This and many other summer performances are listed on our Events page: http://chattanoogafolk.com/events

Mountain Music Open House, August 8, 2009

admin — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 12:50:01 +0000

We had a wonderful time at the Mountain Music open house party! Thanks, everyone, for coming out to play with us, and big thanks to Robby Hilliard who posted all these great photos of the day.

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:

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.

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

I Love This Job!

Matt Evans — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 03:46:42 +0000

So, it’s the eve of New Year’s Eve. I’m just getting ready to dust off a Dock Boggs record (literally: I listen to that old vinyl stuff, and I clean it off with a solution before spinning it), when the phone rings. It’s a banjo student. With a banjo emergency.

He broke a string during one of those endless attempts to get a banjo into a tuning that fits the song/tune you’re wanting to play. Events unfold: a bridge is broken; a bridge is replaced; a banjo is re-tuned. And according to the player’s handy electronic tuner, he’s got it ready to play. And yet, it just don’t sound right.

The bat signal goes up (via the cell phone), I respond. He plinks his strings on one end of the line; I plink my strings on the other. The diagnosis: B and high D strings are an octave too low. Treatment: Close you eyes, turn your face away and wrench those suckers up to where they belong.

And it works.

Andy, my student, is a real tackler of problems; he’s not one to sit back and wait around for something or someone to fix a problem he’s run into. His banjo broke, and he went about to fixing it. I applaud his spirit, and am thankful for being able to help him tackle it.

Have you ever felt as if you had fewer opportunities to help others as you wish you had? I’ve felt that way. So when I get a call in the night, and can lend someone a hand in some small way, I’m grateful.

Thanks for calling, Andy!

In other news (kind of):

Christie rolls back into Chattanooga today after a long spell on the West Coast. The folk/old-time community has missed her. What was she doing out West? Chasing the warm weather? Playing High-Priced Gigs? Whooping it up?

Nope: she went out to help someone out.

Welcome back!

Welcome!

Christie Burns — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 23:15:48 +0000

A happy set of circumstances found the three of us together at the store. Steve was kind enough to take this video so we could show you a bit of the fun that goes on at Mountain Music. Welcome to the website for the new Mountain Music Folk School. We’ll have lots of exciting news and updates to share with you in the coming weeks, so check back frequently. Enjoy our first post!

This is “Cockeyed Hen”, a tune by Casey Phillips, played by himself, Christie Burns, and Matt Evans, at Mountain Music, Chattanooga, TN.

[youtube src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vcp55EpL2PA"]