Schedule
2024 Schedule
Pennsylvania Folk Gathering is full of great workshops, concerts, singing, and dancing.
Friday, September 13, 2024
Friday 3:00 – 5:00 pm Pre-Event Intensive Classes
(separate registration required)
A pre-event intensive is a great way to get a jump-start on the weekend. held just before the rest of the festival gets going.
Class size is limited, and a separate registration fee is required.
2024 Intensive Classes
Basics for Beginners – Gene & Gayla Mills
Rhythm Guitar – Henry Koretzky
Fiddle Techniques – Simple Gifts
Mandolin Techniques – Steve Buckalew
Clawhammer Banjo – Jay Best
Autoharp – Larry Mutti
Dobro – Ken Shafranko
Bluegrass Bass – Bill Stetz
Friday 4:00 – 5:15 pm
Jamming – Laura Alexander & Howard Blumenthal
This will be a fun, relaxed jam for all levels, also a good way to meet other attendees before things get going.
7:00 pm Staff Concert
You’ll meet and hear all of the instructors.
After the Concert
Beginners’ Jam – Jay Best
Bluegrass & Old Time Jam – Tussey Mountain Moonshiners
Celtic Session – Holly Foy & Friends
Singing Jam – Cathy Petrissans & Jeff Parker
Start Your Own Jam
Various locations where you can start your own jam, no faculty leader
Friday 10:30 pm
Young People’s Gathering – Laura Alexander
If you’re younger than most of the people in attendance this weekend, this is a chance to meet and jam with other young folks.
Saturday, September 14, 2024
8:00 to 8:30 am Breakfast
Meals are provided for those who pre-paid.
8:30 am Greetings & Introduction
9:00 to 10:00 am
Folk Music Basics – Gene & Gayla Mills
Songwriters’ Circle – Gwen Stimely & Steve Crawford
How to Learn Melodies By Ear – Jay Best
Exotic Tunes – Henry Koretzky
Morning Jam– Howard Blumenthal
How to Run a Sound System – Jeff Parker
10:15 to 11:15 am
Try a Ukulele – Holly Foy & Gayla Mills
Easy Three-Chord Songs – Steve & Bill
How to Jam – HeSimple Gifts
Hammons Family Tunes (old time) – Jay Best
Arranging Traditional Tunes – Henry Koretzky
How to Play into a Sound System – Jeff Parker
11:30 am Group Photo
Bring your instrument and a smile! If it’s raining, we’ll postpone until Sunday right before lunch.
12:00 to 1:00 pm Lunch
1:15 to 2:15 pm
Honoring Pennsylvania Heritage Musician Rusty Frye – Hosted by Terry Troxell & Simple Gifts
An important initiative of the festival is to examine the musical traditions of Pennsylvania–to gain a better understanding of what Pennsylvania music is and to preserve and perpetuate this musical heritage. Each year we identify a musician with a unique musical background and perspective, invite them to the festival so that all can learn from them, and honor them as a Pennsylvania Heritage Musician.
Instrumental Jam – Laura Alexander
Singing Jam – Gene & Gayla Mills
Hiking
2:30 to 3:30 pm
Try an Autoharp – Larry Mutti & Gayla Mills
Townes Van Zandt Songs – Gene Mills
Intro to Soloing – Henry Koretzky
Easy Old Time Tunes – Jay Best
Chord Theory – Ken Shafranko
Contradance Band Practice – Steve Buckalew & Holly Foy
Jamming with PA Heritage Musician Rusty Frye – Simple Gifts
3:45 to 4:45 pm
Singing for Non-Singers – Gene & Gayla Mills
Harmony Singing – Gwen & Bill
Clogging– Cathy Petrissans
Easy Irish Tunes – Holly Foy & Friends
Playing Swing – Steve Buckalew
New England Tunes – Henry Koretzky
Jamming – Howard Blumenthal
5:00 to 6:00 pm Dinner
7:00 pm Concert
Simple Gifts & Tussey Mountain Moonshiners
After the Concert
Contradance – Bob Nicholson, caller, Steve Buckalew & Holly Foy, band leaders
Singing Jam – Cathy Petrissans & Jeff Parker
Start Your Own Jam
Various locations where you can start your own jam, no faculty leader
Sunday, September 15, 2024
8:00 to 9:00 am Breakfast
9:15 to 10:15 am
Try a Melodica – Cathy Petrissans
Hymn Singing – Tussey Mountain Moonshiners members
Rhythm Basics for All Backup Instruments – Gene Mills
Ernie Carpenter Tunes (old time) – Jay Best
Morning Jam – Laura Alexander
Mini Lessons – St4eve Buckalew
Sign up for a 10-minute private session to get feedback.
10:30 to 11:30 am
Try a Bodhran – Holly Foy
Patsy Cline Songs – Cathy Petrissans
Easy Waltzes – Henry Koretzky
Pennsylvania Tunes from the 1930s – Simple Gifts
Intro to Improvise – Steve Buckalew
Mini-Lessons – Jay Best, banjo, guitar, fiddle
Sign up for a 10-minute private session with Jay. Get feedback on your banjo, fiddle, or guitar playing, or general musical feedback on other instruments.
11:45 am to 12:45 pm
Try a Cajon – Jeff Parker
Murder Ballads – Tussey Mountain Moonshiner members
Super Cool Easy Tunes – Steve Buckalew & Holly Foy
Old Time Jam – Jay Best
Open Mic with Feedback – Karen Hirshon
Mini-Lessons – Henry Koretzky
Sign up for a 10-minute private session to get feedback.
1:00 to 2:00 pm Lunch
1:30 to 3:00 pm
The Last Jam – Henry Koretzky & Howard Blumenthal
Don’t be in a hurry to leave. Stick around and jam some more! For all instruments, voices, and levels.
* Schedule subject to change