My Workshops

We ALL have a great time. . .

I began teaching virtual workshops in July of 2020, and have turned it into a regular monthly event. (http://www.musicladycarol.com/virtual-workshops.html) Here are some email comments I received from folks who have attended my virtual workshops (including QuaranTUNE and NGFDA):

"Thank you, Carol, for a great workshop!! Your explanation, and repetition on hand placement, was fantastic. It takes time to undo old habits, but I'm working on it. I'm definitely enjoying, not only this new method, but how much nicer the music sounds. You taught me so much, and I really appreciate it."

"Thank you very much for preparing for and for doing the workshop. It was very, very helpful. You made it very interesting and it seemed the hour went by very, very fast. I would give it a rating of 11 out of 10!!!"

"Great workshop!!!!! It was extremely helpful for you to start with demonstration of acoustic bass. Have taken other bass workshops but after your explanation with that instrument the light finally came on!!!!."

"I wanted to thank you for yesterday’s “Melodies of St. Kilda” workshop. You’re right, it could have gone on for another hour easily! There is so much richness and beauty to those tunes. Your expressive playing and pointers will help tremendously in our achieving the best arrangements."

"I have to say that in all the years of dulcimer playing and classes I have taken, your class on St. Kilda was the most outstanding by far. Your class was enjoyable and instructional; the St. Kilda music is some of the most beautiful ever. The St. Kilda story, beautiful. Thank you for sharing it with us. With all the world turmoil, I have been feeling a deep sadness. I needed this breath of fresh air. I cried while listening; the lilting music was a soothing balm."

"I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your Welsh Love Songs and Bass classes! I especially liked the way you took us from the upright bass to the bass on our laps. That made a lot of sense to me."

"I took your class Practice with a Purpose last week. I must say, that may have been one of the most valuable music classes I’ve ever taken. I immediately put it to use on several tabs I thought were beyond me, and it worked. Thanks for this very valuable insight."

"Thank you, the best virtual music workshop I ever attended. My understanding of chords has leapt forward, thank you." (Easy-Peasy Chords - QDF5)

"Thank you for the great workshop yesterday. Your music teaching background "shows!" I have felt each of your workshops I've taken very worthwhile." (Piedmont Fingerpicking - QDF5)

"Just a note of profound thanks for Walker's Warmups last week and Expressive Dulcimer this week. Such clear, sequential, and inspiring sessions. Wow- this pandemic has taken a toll on musicians, but given us the gift of wonderful instructors like you. I truly hope to get to the next “live” event where you will be teaching. (Whenever that may be!) In the meantime, I remain an enthusiastic Zoomie. Nobody does MD quite like you."

"Sure do enjoy my classes with you! By the way, I used your positive strategies for learning one of the club songs we have been working on, and viola, it worked! You have no idea how long I have struggled in learning a tune whether it be for class, club, or church. Now I have strategies to use! I look forward to my next class with you."

"Your enthusiasm and talent have restored my interest and joy in the dulcimer! So thank you!"

"Very helpful!! I have been confused about the counting stuff for years." ("Where's the Beat" Workshop)

"I loved the class you taught yesterday. It’s the first of your Zoom classes that I have taken."

"I am familiar with the techniques you taught us. I enjoyed seeing how you packaged them in a class, played the songs so we could hear them from you along with your personal vignettes and encouragement to make songs our own."

"Wonderful class, Carol. I love the way you teach and tips you give for practicing the hard parts of the music."

"I'll try to sign up for more of your workshops. Today helped prime the pump. Your approach resonates with me, others to be sure."

"I never tried to use tab before I printed my session materials. With your tips, I am enthusiastically working on what you shared."

"Best drill and warm-up class ever. I will definitely reach out for more skills training. Thank you so very much!"

"In particular I appreciate all the work you've done to make the video sessions technically up to the teaching you want to do, and in a relaxed, learner-friendly environment. Kudos!"

"I absolutely loved your workshop. It was my favorite of all the ones I took for Quarantune 3."

"The workshop tunes (Manx Part B) were excellent and your crisp, clean presentations did them justice. I was initially curious if the music from a small isle would be as pleasing as other Celtic offerings and indeed it is."

"Thank you for all of your handouts and tips in your [Warmups] session. I learned so much and I appreciate having several different exercises. I'm going to laminate them and keep them on my music stand as a reminder to start my playing time with an exercise. I look forward to taking classes with you in the future."

Carol is a born teacher.
Carol Walker -- breath of fresh air.
Inspiring, well planned & taught.

Always wonderful to have Carol Walker here – love her workshops.
Carol Walker’s workshop was especially fabulous – flawless – everything timed well, great handouts, perfect pace.
Good, informative, easy to follow.
Excellent – learned some new techniques.
Well-processed teaching! Masterful!
Just the best!
She is a very good teacher who I had not met before.
I am a relatively new player, and learned so much this weekend.
There were so many new ways to play that I was unfamiliar with.
For the most part I have learned to play the dulcimer on my own. The workshops were so helpful for me.

GREAT! Very encouraging & non-threatening for a self-conscious beginner.
Very good. Taught just a few songs so time to go over each & in several different ways.

Learned some really neat ways to play.
...making simple tunes into harmony – lots of good hands on!!
Very good, Carol Walker especially.
a real lot of fun with simple tunes.
Carol Walker -- well prepared, had a variety of tunes, made enough copies, geared the level of their workshops so all could do something, kept my attention, was great!
I'm so grateful for your careful planning and good instruction. You fine tuned my ears (and hands!) so that I am able to take some old favorites and smooth them out more beautifully. I'm also on the lookout for more "delicious" chords as I think about doing more arranging. I'm working on several of the tunes you gave us as well.

Would absolutely take another class with her. Carol presented the material as a fine instructor and technician on the instrument BUT also as an artist with expressive flair. Thank you for having her teach the master class!!
Carol was very motivational and challenging me to another level.
Carol is fantastic – great enthusiasm for teaching
Taught fabulous workshops on music theory. Broke the information in to understandable forms.

Here are some comments from my new friends at Wallowa (Oregon) Dulcimer Camp, 2016:

"What I liked best at camp? Classes with Carol -- because she has a good method for teaching a new song."

"...excellent teaching skills and music ability."

"Carol's method for learning new songs and working on hard parts was very helpful. Going over recommended fingers to get one through a song very good."

"I liked the way Carol broke down the parts, and gave noodling time. I really appreciate the teaching strategies of isolating difficult parts and playing them repeatedly. I loved the way Carol taught us to analyze the music first!"

"You are a fantastic teacher and performer. I felt very comfortable in your intermediate class. The pace was perfect for me! [My husband] noticed immediately the improvement and confidence in my playing."

"Thanks for spending a week with us at the Wallowas. In addition to your great workshops I will always remember you wonderful smile and laugh. I love playing all the songs you taught us and exploring your books."

"To date no instructor has had the degree of positive effect on our playing that you have. Your music and personality really spoke to us. I have discovered the joy of fingerpicking and how it opens up a whole new dimension to the Mountain Dulcimer. Our daughter is a new dulcimer player and we gave her your books and she has also fallen in love with fingerpicking and your Manx tunes."

These comments are from Melodies & Musings in Alabama (2014):
"...thank you so much for the intermediate classes you taught. I really enjoyed them and felt I learned a great deal. Your classes were fun as well as very rewarding! And............your performance was so exciting and your skills are amazing!"

"Thank you so much for sharing your amazing talents with us in Guntersville! You have forever friends here!"

"Trip to the Isle of Man class was [the highlight of my festival experience.] Loved the interaction of dulcimer and history."

"I thoroughly enjoyed this past weeks dulcimer time with you in Guntersville, AL. It was the best workshop I have ever been a part of. Thanks so much for sharing your time and talent with us."

"Carol Walker's workshops were the highlight of my experience."

"All the workshops were great, but yours was the one that gave me something that I can take home and work on right away."
"Fantastic, excellent teacher -- so helpful! Love her 'style' -- the 'idea' of her teaching -- 'free spirit teaching!' Loved it!"
"This was exactly what I was looking for. Thank you so much."
"She was very organized -- her handouts were clear, and the information was just right for our group."

I loved this class. Carol was so inspirational in her presentation.

Useful demos of techniques, fingerings; Great music-beautiful arrangements; Great stories interspersed.
Wonderful pacing. Lots of great handouts.
Loved Carol Walker! Carol Walker was an excellent presenter.
Carol Walker – very interesting and fun
Carol is energizing at the end of the day.

We ALL have a great time. . .

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