MARCH 2025

A Workshop on playing & singing Harmony with Bobcat Opossum

Friday, March 21st - 5:00pm to 6:30pm

Join multi-instrumentalists Sean Hoffman and Ellen Coplin, of the duo Bobcat Opossum, for an excellent workshop on playing and singing harmony. These two highly accomplished musicians and educators will be helping participants to better understand playing and singing harmony. Bring your instrument (or just your voice) and take this opportunity to learn from some of the best! This will be a 1 ½ hour long workshop at Weed Patch Music Company – cost for the workshop is $30 and registration is required. Contact us at (812)200-3300 to register and secure your spot. Space is limited!

Bobcat Opossum aims to inspire and educate musicians through the teaching and performance of traditional music across several genres including Irish, Americana, bluegrass, classical, and old-time music. By focusing on traditional music, they hope to engender cross-cultural collaboration, encourage self-expression and musicality, and create a sense of fun and collaborative play among their students.

Check out some of Bobcat Opossum’s music here - https://bobcatopossum.bandcamp.com/.../look-what-the...

And, don’t forget to go see their show at the Brown County Inn on Thursday, March 20th!

FEBRUARY 2025

BEGINNER’S HARMONICA WORKSHOP

Sunday, February 23rd - 4:00pm to 5:00pm

Join us at Weed Patch Music Company for this Beginner’s Workshop on Harmonica Basics with Allie Jean Burbrink! Workshop cost is $25 for the hour-long workshop. Participants must also have their own Key of C Diatonic Harmonica for this Workshop. We recommend the Bluesband, Big River, Marine Band, Blues Harp, or Special 20 Harmonicas available for purchase at Weed Patch Music Company!

The tiny and portable harmonica has been a staple of folk, country, blues, and rock music for over a century and we’re excited to help you get started playing! Allie will be here to teach you everything you need to know to get started including the basics of the instrument, fundamentals of accompaniment for multi-instrumentalists, breath support, and developing tricks and techniques to get clear and crisp notes from your harmonica.

FEBRUARY 2025

BLUEGRASS BANJO WORKSHOP FOR BEGINNERS

Saturday, February 8th - 4:30pm to 5:30pm

If you've ever been curious about playing the banjo, now is your chance to try it out! This Bluegrass Banjo Workshop is made for the complete beginner - No experience necessary! Only $20! Bring your own banjo, OR borrow one from our shop for an additional $5.


We will cover a brief history of the banjo, banjo setup, and some basic rolls, patterns, and techniques for your right hand using your first three chords!


Space is limited to only 8 participants and pre-registration and pre-payment are required!
To register, contact us at (812)200-3300!

FEBRUARY 2025

Clawhammer Banjo WOrkshop for BEginners

If you've ever been curious about playing old-time, clawhammer, and frailing banjo styles, now is your chance to try it out!   This Beginner Clawhammer Banjo Workshop is made for the complete beginner - No experience necessary! This also a great opportunity for folks with bluegrass experience to try out a new style of playing.  We will cover a brief history of old time banjo playing and styles, some differences between bluegrass vs. clawhammer, your basic “bum-ditty” strum, and how to get started using your left hand by learning a basic melody and your first three chords. 

 

Workshop cost is only $20! Bring your own banjo, OR borrow one from our shop for an additional $5!

JANUARY 2025

The Beatles for Ukulele

Friday, January 31st - 4:30pm to 5:30pm

George Harrison’s love of the ukulele had a significant impact on his music, as well as Beatles music as a whole. The ukulele allowed Harrison to add a touch of warmth and melancholy to his music, and his use of the instrument inspired many other musicians to discover the ukulele as well! In this Beginner-Level Ukulele Workshop, we will explore several Beatles Songs that utilize the ukulele and discuss the impact of the ukulele on the Beatles’ music as a whole! Though no experience is necessary, it may be useful to know a few basic chords ahead of time! We will provide all of the music, chord diagrams, tablature, and lyrics you will need for this workshop.

Workshop cost is $20. Bring your own ukulele or borrow one from the shop (for an additional $5).

Space is limited, so give us a call at (812)200-3300 to register and secure your spot!

JANUARY 2025

BLUEGRASS & OLD-TIME JAMMING WORKSHOP WITH ALLIE JEAN BURBRINK

Join us at Weed Patch Music Company for this Bluegrass and Old Time Jamming Workshop taught by Allie Jean Burbrink that will help you improve your skills at playing with other musicians!  All bluegrass instruments are welcome and no jamming experience is necessary!  Participants should be able to tune their instrument (electronic tuning devices welcome) and change smoothly between G, C, D, and A. (Fiddles and basses need to know which notes work with which chords). Workshop cost is $25 and space is limited so call us at (812)200-3300 to register!

Allie is a musician, teacher, and mom. As a founding member of the Indiana-based band The Whipstitch Sallies, she sang lead and harmony, wrote songs, and played guitar, clawhammer banjo, and harmonica. Allie also played in the popular old time string band The Freight Hoppers, based in western North Carolina.  Her first solo record, a folk/children’s album called SING & PLAY ALL DAY, will be out in March! Whether performing, teaching, or playing with her son, Allie is enthusiastic and encouraging. She believes making music is something everyone can learn to do!

DECEMBER 2024

CHRISTMAS CAROLING WITH WEED PATCH MUSIC COMPANY & FRIENDS

Sunday, December 22nd at 3:30pm

Join Weed Patch Music Company and Friends for some festive holiday fun as we gather our instruments and take to the town for some caroling fun! Meet us on Sunday, December 22nd at 3:30pm at Weed Patch Music Company to jam and learn some songs together - Then we'll head out into the town at 4pm to sing some carols to our friends at the other local businesses! Bring your ukuleles, drums, kazoos, and holiday cheer and join us! All are welcome! 

DECEMBER 2024

DECK THE HALLS WITH UKULELE

A holiday-themed beginner ukulele workshop and song circle

Come and celebrate some holiday cheer with us in our “Deck the Halls with Ukulele” holiday-themed ukulele workshop and song circle! In this workshop, we’ll be exploring some of your holiday favorites ukulele-style! Beginner ukulele players will practice 6 easy ukulele chords, some beginner strumming pattens, and some easy melody-lines using tablature to start strumming, playing, and singing some holiday favorites just in time for the holidays!

Though no experience is necessary, it may be useful to know a few basic chords ahead of time! We will provide all of the music, chord diagrams, tablature, and lyrics you will need for this workshop. Bring your own ukulele (workshop cost is $20) or borrow one from the shop (for an additional $5). Pre-registration and pre-payment are required as space is limited (minimum of 3, maximum of 10 participants)! Contact us at 812-200-3300 to register by phone or stop by the shop to see us!

NOVEMBER 2024

A WORKSHOP ON CROSS-TUNING FOR FIDDLERS -

Join us at Weed Patch Music Company for this workshop for budding fiddle players taught by Allie Jean Burbrink! Cross-tuning your fiddle is a common and important practice for old-time and folk music and simply means re-tuning your fiddle to different notes!  In this workshop, you will learn cross-tuning for playing in the key of A (AEAE) and the key of D (ADAE). The cost for this workshop is $25 and space is limited, so be sure to contact us at Weed Patch Music Company to secure your spot!

Friday, November 1st - 5:30pm to 6:30pm

OCTOBER 2024

PERFORMANCE BY BROWN COUNTY DULCIMER SOCIETY AND FRIENDS and Book Signing by Author Rachelle Gegg

Friday, October 24th - 4:30pm to 5:30pm

Join us at Weed Patch Music Company for a Performance by the Brown County Dulcimer Society and Friends! Gather around outside of our shop and listen to the beautiful sounds of mountain dulcimer (and more)! Meet children's book author Rachelle Gegg and check out her adorable book "the Music in the Wood". Her book explores woodland music through the "ears" of a black walnut tree and tells the story of her brother's mountain dulcimer. What a lovely way to spend an Autumn day in Brown County! See you there!

AUGUST 2024

FIDDLE BACKUP TECHNIQUES FOR BEGINNERS -

Learn chords, double stops, and rhythms with Allie Jean Burbrink!

Friday, August 23rd - 5:30pm to 6:30pm

Join us at Weed Patch Music Company for this workshop for budding fiddle players!  Learning to play backup chords on the fiddle is a great way to become a more versatile and well-rounded musician.  Chord Backup Skills will help you to play with others in a jam and will allow you to experiment with playing a supportive role in addition to playing the melody.  Participants for this workshop should have some basic fiddle skills already. 

Pre-requisites include the following: 1) Students should feel comfortable tuning their own fiddle, 2) Students should understand and be able to play G, D, and A Scales, and 3) Students should have a basic understanding of chord formation and what notes make up a chord.

Allie is a musician, teacher, and mom. As a founding member of the Indiana-based band The Whipstitch Sallies, she sang lead and harmony, wrote songs, and played guitar, clawhammer banjo, and harmonica. Allie also played in the popular old time string band The Freight Hoppers, based in western North Carolina.  Her first solo record, a folk/children’s album called SING & PLAY ALL DAY is out now! Whether performing, teaching, or playing with her son, Allie is enthusiastic and encouraging. She believes making music is something everyone can learn to do! 

JULY 2024

Cajon & Djembe Workshop for Beginners with Julian Douglas

Julian Douglas is a percussionist and composer of contemporary World Music and a founding member of the world percussion ensemble Rhythm Quest.  His influences include traditions from the African diaspora, Asia, and the Middle East, but his focus has been on the creation of new music that seeks to honor the beauty and brilliance of the world’s traditions with an eye towards creativity and innovation. 

Julian brings more than 25 years of experience playing and teaching world percussion.  Along with instrumental technique and some examples of traditional vocabulary, participants will learn the theory of rhythm and how to express themselves through percussion.  These skills are equally valuable whether the goal is to learn a new instrument, take up or deepen a personal creative practice, or to enhance skills and vocabulary for performance.  All skills levels are encouraged to attend.

Workshop cost is $25 and space is limited so contact us to register! Cajons and Djembes will be provided (or, bring your own if you have a favorite)!

JULY 2024

CHORD Melody Ukulele Workshop

Friday, July 26th - 5:30pm to 6:30pm

Join us at Weed Patch Music Company for a Chord Melody Ukulele Workshop! Chord Melody is the perfect way to test the waters in solo-fingerstyle ukulele playing! This method of ukulele playing combines picking the melody with the strumming and chords to create a more complex and interesting ukulele arrangement!  If you are an advanced beginner or an intermediate ukulele player that is looking to diversify your ukulele style, then this might be the workshop for you!

For this workshop, some experience on the ukulele would be beneficial.  Beginner to Intermediate players who have some experience with reading chord diagrams and tablature and are familiar with the 4 main chords in the Key of C (C, F, G, Am) will be well-prepared to attend this workshop.  We will provide all of the music, tablature, and chord diagrams needed for this workshop.

JUNE 2024

BEGINNING VIOLIN & FIDDLE WORKSHOP WITH AUDREY JO WILLIAMS

Saturday, June 29th - 5:30pm to 6:30pm

This Introduction to Violin and Fiddle Workshop is intended for adult beginners.  No experience is necessary, though this workshop will be good for complete beginners through early violin students.  This workshop will focus on many beginner concepts including instrument care and maintenance, how to hold the instrument (bow and violin), tuning, proper use of your right hand (and how to use the bow), and the basics of beginning to use your left hand by learning some basic techniques and scales.  This workshop will include techniques that can apply for both beginner violin and fiddle students.

Workshop cost is $25 for the hour-long workshop. No experience necessary - you don't even need your own violin (just borrow one from us during the workshop for an additional $5).  Registration is limited, so give us a call at (812)200-3300 to register and secure your spot!

Audrey Jo Williams is a professional musician who began her studies on double bass, cello, and violin and has over 10 years of experience teaching students of all skill levels, from adults to high school students to young children just starting out.  Her students have won and placed in national competitions, gotten into the prestigious IU String Academy at the Jacobs School of Music as well as gotten into the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra. Audrey has taught strings at a variety of Elementary and Intermediate Schools and has performed as Principal Bassist in the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra.

JUNE 2024

FLAT FOOT DANCING WORKSHOP WITH ALLIE JEAN BURBRINK

Friday, June 28th - 5:30pm to 6:30pm

Join us at Weed Patch Music Company for this fun and upbeat workshop to learn flat foot dancing!  Flat Foot Dancing is a style of clogging which is a unique part of Appalachian culture and music.  Many of the steps associated with flat foot dancing have their roots in Irish, Scottish, or English step-dancing and even further back in African traditions.  Flat Foot Dancing, though, is often thought of as a form of mountain clogging in which dancers dance solo and keep their feet close to the floor.  Flat footing is an expression of how the dancer feels the music.  In this workshop, Allie Jean Burbrink will guide us in some steps and techniques that may be used in flat foot dancing steps and styles!

Workshop cost is $25 and registration is required!  This workshop is filling up fast, so make sure to call us at (812)200-3300 to register and secure your spot!

Allie is a musician, teacher, and mom. As a founding member of the Indiana-based band The Whipstitch Sallies, she sang lead and harmony, wrote songs, and played guitar, clawhammer banjo, and harmonica. Allie also played in the popular old time string band The Freight Hoppers, based in western North Carolina.  Her first solo record, a folk/children’s album called SING & PLAY ALL DAY is out now! Whether performing, teaching, or playing with her son, Allie is enthusiastic and encouraging. She believes making music is something everyone can learn to do!

MAY 2024

Kid’s Ukulele Workshop at Brown County Public Library

Join us over at the Brown County Public Library for this Group Ukulele Class for kids aged 6 to 11 years! The workshop is totally FREE and is going to be so much fun! We'll provide the ukuleles, but you have to register over at the Brown County Public Library - Register Here!

See you there on Thursday, May 23rd from 1pm to 2pm!

MAY 2024

BEGINNER’s DULCIMER WORKSHOP with SECOND PLACE NATIONAL DULCIMER CHAMPION ALLISON O’SHea

Friday, May 24th 2023 5:30pm–6:30pm ET

Allison O’Shea has been playing the Mountain Dulcimer for many years.  She has studied with National Dulcimer Champion Kara Barnard and assisted in workshops and beginner classes with Kara’s Silver Strings Dulcimer Program.  In 2023, Allison was awarded third place in the National Championship in Mountain Dulcimer at the Walnut Valley Festivalk and in this year’s Arkansas Dulcimer Championship, Allison increased her placed to now hold the impressive Second Place Title!  Join Allison for this excellent introduction to the Mountain Dulcimer and learning to play!

Never played a string instrument? NO PROBLEM!
Can't read music?  NOT AN ISSUE!
Don't have your own dulcimer? WE CAN LOAN YOU ONE!

Space is limited to only 10 participants and registration is required! Contact us at Weed Patch Music Company at (812)200-3300 to reserve your spot!  Cost for this hour-long workshop is only $25 (additional $5 to rent a dulcimer for the workshop hour).  Don't miss out on this great opportunity to learn from one of the best right here in Brown County!

APRIL 2024

LEARNING THE NATIVE AMERICAN FLUTE

Sunday, April 14th 2023 5:30pm–6:30pm ET

Join us for another incredible workshop with Thunder Horse Flutes builder Douglas Thunderhorse! This workshop will include an introduction to the Native American Flute and a brief discussion of how Douglas builds his flutes, including some of the symbolism behind the colors and styles of flutes he makes. Douglas will also be teaching a song using flute tablature. This workshop will be slightly different than any previous workshops held at Weed Patch Music Company with Douglas, so there will be new things to learn at this workshop for folks who attended previous workshops and want to learn more!!

Workshop cost is $20 and participants must have their own Key A 6-hole Native American Flute to participate in the Workshop. Brown County Backpacker and Little Bear Flutes in the key of A are available for $89 at Weed Patch Music Company!

USING THE NASHVILLE NUMBER SYSTEM - A BEGINNER’s MUSIC THEORY WORKSHOP

Friday, April 26th 2023 5:30pm–6:30pm ET

Learning Music Theory is a great way to be able to talk with other musicians successfully, learn to write music and play with others, and to improve your musical skills. Unfortunately, it's often difficult to know where to even start! Join us at this Beginner’s Music Theory Workshop where we focus on the Nashville Number System to get you started on the right path to learning the basics of Music Theory.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own stringed instrument of their choice for this workshop. Participants should have a good understanding of how to play and switch between several chords confidently (the chords G, A, C, D, E, F, Am, and Em will be used in this workshop). Beginners are also welcome to attend to learn the fundamentals of Music Theory and work on their own on chord changes and basic skills as they progress in their playing.

Topics we will cover include: What is a musical key? What is a scale and how do I find one? What chords are in a Key? What is the Circle of Fifths and how do I use it? What is the Nashville Number System? How can I use the Nashville Number System in a jam? We will cover all of these topics AND practice jamming to a few songs together using what we learned of the Nashville Number System to play together effectively!

Workshop cost is $20. Instruments are not required, but you are encouraged to bring your instrument along with you in order to participate in the jam at the end of the workshop! There will be time for you to ask specific questions related to your instrument or to try out ways to put what we learn into practice while you are here. Registration is required, so give us a call at (812)200-3300 to secure your spot!

MARCH 2024

BEGINNING ON THE BASS WORKSHOP

Friday, March 1st 2023 5:00pm–6:00pm ET

Join us at Weed Patch Music Company for a Beginner Workshop to help you learn the basics of playing Bass! The bass guitar is the anchor to almost any band and is responsible for holding together many of the instruments in a band. In this workshop, you will learn all of the fundamentals to get you started, including: a basic understanding of how notes work on the fretboard, how to read tablature, a basic knowledge of the Nashville Number System and how to use this in your bass playing, left and right hand beginner bass techniques, and some simple rhythms and grooves to get you started!

This workshop is geared towards the absolute beginner. Weed Patch will have a limited number of Acoustic Bass Guitars and/or U-Basses available for participants to borrow. Call us today at (812)200-3300 to secure your spot (and your instrument to borrow). Workshop cost is $20 if you have your own bass, or Borrow one from our shop for an additional $5 (limited availability - so contact us to reserve!).

MUSICAL SPOONS WORKSHOP

Friday, March 15th 2023 5:30pm–6:30pm ET

Though the Musical Spoons are not a conventional musical instrument, they actually have a very rich history in music and are often a popular percussion element in folk music today!! We love the Musical Spoons for begin so fun and easy to learn and we can't wait to teach you all some fun Spoons techniques!

Join us at Weed Patch Music Company where we learn some fun percussion techniques on the Musical Spoons! We'll be playing with both the Heritage Spoons Wooden Musical Spoons (sold at Weed Patch Music Company) and also teaching you how to play standard metal spoons (and some other fun percussion instruments as well!). We'll teach you how to maintain a simple rhythm and get all sorts of different tones out of your spoons and get into some of the more complex techniques to spice up your playing!

This is an all ages Workshop - join us for some fun! Workshop cost is $20. Give us a call at 812-200-3300 to register for this Workshop and secure your spot. Pre-registration and pre-payment are required as space is limited!