Folk School of Chattanooga » Matt Evans

Fall Schedule!

admin — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:47:56 +0000

More instructors, more classes, and some really neat new ensembles! We now have classes for homeschoolers, and lots of beginning classes for people just getting started on their instrument. Check it all out, and help us spread the word over the next few weeks. Classes start Sept. 20, so sign up soon! Full class descriptions and online registration, here.

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:

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!

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.

Lookout Valley Elementary

Matt Evans — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 02:53:50 +0000

I had a great time today playing for a group of 4th Graders at Lookout Valley Elementary School. I’d like to thank Lauren Carpenter, the school’s music teacher, for helping me arrange my visit. I’d also really like to thank my guitar student, Lauren Bearden, appearing alongside me with her pink guitar, for setting the whole thing up. The kids were a fantastic audience; I hope they had as much fun as I did!

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

Appalachian Music at CSLA

Matt Evans — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 12:57:18 +0000

I’d like to thank Cindy Gaston, Mary Foster, Wes Castle, Mary Benno, and everyone else at the Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts for hosting Bryant Haynes and me this past Monday. Mary and Wes’s second grade class studied Appalachian history and culture this semester, and as part of that unit, they invited Bryant and me to come present some Appalachian music to the students. We brought the usual suspects: banjo, fiddle, guitar, mandolin, and voices (this was, in fact, my very first attempt at singing in public). We also brought the bones, Jew’s harps, a minstrel banjo (the kids loved/were shocked to hear that the strings were made out of animal guts), and much to the delight of the crowd, one of Pete Wotowiec’s fantastic limberjacks, who now permanently resides at CSLA (the Limberjack, not Pete). The kids were great; I was really impressed by the curiosity and interest reflected by their attention, comments, and questions. I hope to have the chance to do it again soon!

Blackberry Blossom

Christie Burns — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 22:16:13 +0000

This is what happens when a handful of talented people wander into Mountain Music and Steve says, “Hey, do you all know each other?” Jim Palmour (right), joins Brad Clark (middle) and Justin Hupp (left) for Blackberry Blossom. Brad and Justin play together in the band Slim Pickins, and they were meeting Jim for the first time today. Great stuff! Makes me want to pick up a guitar too. Additional musical accompaniment provided by Steve Daugherty on bass and Matt Evans on banjo.
Spontaneous jams like these are exactly what we’re aiming to promote in Chattanooga.