Please note that attendees have one hour, beginning at 9:00 AM to check in and pay at the registration table and tune their instruments.  But those who have pre-registered for the gourd drum-making workshop must arrive a bit earlier, for that class begins at 9:00 and runs until noon.  A jam area has been set aside for those who prefer to jam rather than attend the workshops.  People are also welcome to jam at 12:30 and, of course, at the large group jam at 3:00.

Also, please note that an area has been set aside called the "Try Out New Things Corner" which will be filled with various instruments from drums to hammered and fretted dulcimers as well as many other instruments.  People are invited to sit down and give these instruments a try.  Experts will be there to answer any questions and to demonstrate how the instruments are played.  This is a marvelous opportunity for all people, young and old, to discover the musician within themselves and to discover the joy of making music.

While people are enjoying their lunch break, they can relax in front of the stage and enjoy three presentations:  At 11:00 there will be an informative and entertaining demonstration of the reed instruments from concertinas through accordions, harmoniums and harmonicas.  At 11:30 Mark Burrill will demonstrate the foot percussion technique that enlivens French Canadian music with its energizing rhythm.  People are welcome to join in and practice the foot tapping style with Mark.  Then at noon Mark will be joined by the other members of Les Amis to perform several French Canadian tunes---it is sure to be a very lively concert and folks are welcome to kick up their heels and dance.

Included in the 12:30 workshops are one in French Canadian style guitar and one in French Canadian style fiddle taught by Jim Scheel and Daniel Slosberg of Les Amis.    Carol Burrill and Patti Amelotte are teaching the hammered dulcimer classes.  Bobbi Adler is teaching the fretted dulcimer class and Patty McCollom is teaching the pennywhistle classes.  Patty will have extra pennywhistles on hand for anyone interested in learning how to play.  Ned Boyer is teaching the Harmonica class, so bring your harmonica because extra ones are limited.

Then at 1:30 sit back and enjoy another concert, this time by Rio Parfrey---an amazing singer and performer on the fretted dulcimer.  Rio will also give a brief explanation of how she writes arrangements for her songs.

At 2:00 there will be an unusual workshop called "The American Experience."  It is designed to get us out of our "comfort zones" and experiment with taking the lead at certain times, switching to playing back-up at other times, listening better to others and playing off their lead.  The group will be divided in several different ways to help facilitate this.  Old familiar traditional tunes will come alive and seem new again in this rousing experience.  This will lead right into the large group jam at 3:00 in which everyone will have the chance to play the tunes they learned during the day's workshops, as well as take turns choosing their other favorite tunes to play all together.

At the same time, in a nearby location, there will be a drum circle for anyone interested in participating.  People are encouraged to bring a drum with them, as the number of extra drums is limited.

After dinner, stick around for a terrific evening concert of lively Celtic music by four different bands, including Legacy, Senara, Looney's Fortune, and Wake the Bard.  You won't want to miss it!!