Oct 7 – 28: Clawhammer Banjo Classics with Molly Tenenbaum

Four Wednesdays, October 7, 14, 21, 28

7:45pm -8:45pm

Dusty Strings 3406 Fremont Ave N

Maximum Enrollment: 16

Registration & Refund Deadline: Saturday, October 3, 2026

Deepen your skills, expand your repertoire, and explore banjo style by learning tunes from influential banjoists and recordings. Each week will focus on one or two pieces from sources such as Etta Baker, Blanche Coldiron, Cousin Emmy, Murph Gribble, Tommy Jarrell, John Cohen’s High Atmosphere anthology, and Clawhammer Banjo vols 1, 2, & 3, from County Records. And we’ll throw in a contemporary “classic” or two. With each tune, you’ll learn techniques to apply to other tunes and songs.

Skills Needed: (Mixed Levels—lower intermediate to advanced) Comfort with basic frailing (the bum-diddy pattern), familiarity with G, Double-C, and modal tunings. Ability to play a tune or song by heart all the way through without stopping, at a steady tempo (slow or medium is fine). Drop thumb not required, though we will practice and refine it in the class.

What to Bring: 5-string banjo in playable condition, paper, pen or pencil, recording device (smartphone or other).

Teacher: Molly teaches old-time clawhammer banjo (also called “frailing” or “overhand” style). A banjo teacher since 1987, Molly guides students to be independent players and learners, emphasizing old-time traditional repertoire from diverse sources. She deeply loves old-time music and is always excited to get students involved in the music and the community. Molly has been playing old-time banjo since she was a teenager and has since performed around the Pacific Northwest with bands including The Queen City Bulldogs and Dram County. She’s taught locally and nationally at camps including American Banjo Camp, Augusta, and The Festival of American Fiddle Tunes.

*Most classes and workshops are geared towards late-teens and adults. Younger learners will benefit most starting with private lessons.

If you have any questions about group classes, or the school in general, don’t hesitate to contact us at (206) 634-1662 or music@dustystrings.com.