Class Type: Tickets | Page 3

Guitar 2

THIS IS AN IN-PERSON SEAT IN A HYBRID CLASS

When I first learned how to fingerpick, I thought, “Now I’m a REAL guitar player.” I’ve checked in from time to time with my Guitar 2 students, and apparently, I’m not alone in that feeling.

As with my other classes, you’ll learn fingerpicking, a few strum patterns, and basic music theory—all in the context of playing specific songs. I’ll also help you create a manageable practice regimen (even for us over-scheduled, over-functioning New Englanders!).

This level is right for you as long as you can switch between open chords with relative comfort.

Registration Includes:

5 weekly classes

Sheet music

Let Me Take the Mystery Out of It music theory worksheets

Lifetime access to video lessons of all classes

You’ll learn technique and theory while playing songs like:

Killin’ the Blues

We Are Gonna Be Friends (The White Stripes)

Take It to the Limit (The Eagles)

Speed of the Sound of Loneliness (John Prine)

As Tears Go By (The Rolling Stones)

Landslide (Fleetwood Mac)

“I think you are a revelation—such an excellent writer and performer AND you can teach. Your lucky students!”—Christine Lavin

Janet will run this class in a hybrid format, teaching both in-person and on Zoom. With advance notice, in-person students are welcome to join classes online if needed.

Class ScheduleThursdays: May 8, 15, 22, June 5, 12Time: 8:00–9:15pm ET

Location: Passim School of Music, 26 Church Street, Cambridge, MA(Classrooms are located on the third floor; unfortunately, there is no elevator.)

Ages: 18+

Please Note:Pre-sales are highly encouraged! Online sales end 2 hours before the class begins. Tickets may be available at the door. A minimum of 4 students is required for the class to run. If canceled due to low enrollment, you will be notified and receive a full refund.

Old Time String Band Ensemble

*THIS IS AN IN-PERSON CLASS*

This is a chance to play and learn with other like-minded individuals in a collaborative musical environment. Over the five weeks in class, we will build a broad repertoire of fiddle tunes and songs. Each week will feature new material as we explore melody, harmony, and variations, along with the historical and regional origins of the tunes. We will also discuss the roles of different instruments and musical elements within the ensemble. All instruments are welcome!

Class Schedule Mondays: May 5, 12, 19, June 2, 9Time: 6:30–7:45pm ET

Location: Passim School of Music, 26 Church Street, Cambridge, MA(Classrooms are located on the third floor; unfortunately, there is no elevator.)

Ages: 18+

Please Note:Pre-sales are highly encouraged! Online sales end 2 hours before the class begins. Tickets may be available at the door. A minimum of 6 students is required for the class to run. If canceled due to low enrollment, you will be notified and receive a full refund.

Fiddle From Scratch

THIS IS AN IN-PERSON CLASS

Eager to start learning the fiddle but anxious about where to begin? Don’t fret! We’ll take it from the top in this 5-week introductory fiddle course. We’ll cover safe and comfortable playing posture, simple practice techniques, and eventually work our way into a couple of staple fiddle tunes.

This course is perfect for people who have never played the instrument before or want a back-to-basics refresher.

Need an instrument to rent? We suggest visiting Johnson Strings.

Class ScheduleThursdays: May 8, 15, 22, 29, June 5Time: 6:30–7:45pm ET

Location: Passim School of Music, 26 Church Street, Cambridge, MA(Classrooms are located on the third floor; unfortunately, there is no elevator.)

Ages: 18+Class Size: Limited to 6 students

Please Note:Pre-sales are highly encouraged! Online sales end 2 hours before the class begins.

Become the Guitarist of Your Dreams!

*THIS IS AN ONLINE CLASS*

Guitarists, join Avi Salloway and advance your playing from strumming along to soloing, fingerpicking, and more! You’ll develop skills for improvisation, lead and rhythm playing, ear training, and listening. Avi will guide you through his song-based learning approach, helping students apply new techniques to a great repertoire of songs—from Ry Cooder to Muddy Waters, Doc Watson to Bonnie Raitt, and beyond. Country blues, old-time, bluegrass, Cajun, country, rock & roll, gospel, and alt-folk are all fair game. In this lively online group class, you’ll build your confidence and ability to join jam sessions, perform live, play leads, and sing and accompany yourself at the same time.

This is an intermediate class. Familiarity with chords, simple rhythms, basic melodies, and some experience playing songs is recommended. All you really need is a love for playing music with other people who also love music.

Class ScheduleMondays: May 5, 12, 19, June 2, 9Time: 8:00–9:00pm ETLocation: Online (via Zoom)

Ages: 18+

Please Note:Pre-sales are highly encouraged! Online sales end 2 hours before the class begins. A minimum of 4 students is required for the class to run. If canceled due to low enrollment, you will be notified and receive a full refund.

Beginning 3-Finger Banjo

THIS IS AN IN-PERSON CLASS

Always wanted to play the banjo but don’t know where to start? This class is perfect for complete beginners as well as anyone who wants to review the basics and build a strong foundation. Whether you’ve never picked up the banjo before or need a refresher on fundamental techniques, this course will guide you through essential chords, simple melodies, and classic banjo roll patterns. In a fun and supportive environment, you’ll gain confidence in your playing and walk away with the tools that will take your music to the next level!

Requirements:This class will be best suited for students who have:

No prior musical experience

A 5-string banjo

A willingness to learn and a love for music

Class ScheduleTuesdays: May 6, 13, 20, 27, June 3Time: 6:30–7:45pm ET

Location: Passim School of Music, 26 Church Street, Cambridge, MA(Classrooms are located on the third floor; unfortunately, there is no elevator.)

Ages: 18+

Please Note:Pre-sales are highly encouraged! Online sales end 2 hours before the class begins. Tickets may be available at the door. A minimum of 3 students is required for the class to run. If canceled due to low enrollment, you will be notified and receive a full refund.

Bluegrass Ensemble

THIS IS AN IN-PERSON CLASS

The Passim Bluegrass Ensemble is a five-week group class that offers a relaxed space to learn new music and gain experience playing with other musicians. This class will focus on bluegrass and bluegrass-adjacent styles of music, studying the elements of melody, harmony, and groove that create the ear-catching sounds we know and love. We will discuss the different roles that instruments in the ensemble can play, and how those roles interact with one another. In addition to learning new music, class members will work on essential jamming techniques such as leading a tune and learning songs on the fly.

Class members should have basic knowledge of chords and be comfortable learning music by ear or with sheet music. All musicians—instrumentalists and vocalists—are welcome!

Class ScheduleMondays: May 5, 12, 19, June 2, 9Time: 8:00–9:15pm ET

Location: Passim School of Music, 26 Church Street, Cambridge, MA(Classrooms are located on the third floor; unfortunately, there is no elevator.)

Ages: 18+

Country Blues Guitar: The Basics and Beyond

THIS IS AN IN-PERSON CLASS

In this class, we’ll learn simple right-hand picking patterns and open tunings by playing and singing songs like Lead Belly’s Relax Your Mind, The Memphis Sheiks’ Ain’t Nobody’s Business But Mine, and Robert Johnson’s Kindhearted Woman.

Bring your guitar, a capo, any finger picks you use, and a slide if you have one. We will not be using flat picks or tab. This class is suitable for advanced beginners and up. An audio or video recorder is strongly encouraged to support your learning.

Class ScheduleThursdays: May 8, 15, 22, 29, June 5Time: 6:30–7:45pm ET

Location: Passim School of Music, 26 Church Street, Cambridge, MA(Classrooms are located on the third floor; unfortunately, there is no elevator.)

Ages: 18+

Please Note:Online sales end 2 hours before the class begins. A minimum of 3 students is required for the class to run. If canceled due to low enrollment, you will be notified and receive a full refund.

Celtic Ensemble

THIS IS AN ONLINE CLASS

In this ensemble class, we will learn a shared repertoire of Celtic tunes, creating our own musical community at a distance! Each class, we will break down the melody, ornamentation, and interpretation of favorite Celtic tunes. At the beginning and end of each class, there is always time to jam!

As part of the online experience, students will receive recordings of the tunes, a backing track, and sheet music to help everyone learn at their own pace. Chordal backing videos will also be provided.

Basic skills on your chosen instrument and chord knowledge (for backing instruments) is highly recommended.

Class ScheduleFridays: May 9, 16, 23, 30, June 6Time: 8:00–9:00pm ETLocation: Online (via Zoom)

Ages: 18+

Please Note:Pre-sales are highly encouraged! Online sales end 2 hours before the class begins. A minimum of 3 students is required for the class to run. If canceled due to low enrollment, you will be notified and receive a full refund.

Blues Ensemble

THIS IS AN IN-PERSON CLASS

Dive into the rich world of blues music in this engaging ensemble led by visiting artist-in-residence Mercedes Escobar and co-instructor Maxfield Anderson. We’ll explore various blues styles and grooves while developing (or refreshing) essential skills in this foundational American art form. You’ll build confidence playing blues with others in a hands-on, supportive environment.

Explore call-and-response, expressive techniques, and improvisation fundamentals. We’ll draw inspiration from the African-American blues legends who shaped this powerful and influential musical tradition.

All instruments welcome! All levels welcome. Intermediate playing skills are encouraged.

Class ScheduleTuesdays: May 6, 13, 20, 27, June 3Time: 6:30–7:45pm ET

Location: Passim School of Music, 26 Church Street, Cambridge, MA(Classrooms are located on the third floor; unfortunately, there is no elevator.)

Ages: 18+

Please Note:Pre-sales are highly encouraged! Online sales end 2 hours before the class begins. Tickets may be available at the door. A minimum of 6 students are required for the class to run. If canceled due to low enrollment, you will be notified and receive a full refund.

About Mercedes Escobar

Guatemalan singer-songwriter Mercedes Escobar, referred to by her home country’s press as “La Peregrina del Blues” (The Blues Pilgrim), brings a lifetime of blues admiration and devotion to her role as visiting artist-in-residence. From playing in Guatemalan bars as a teenager to receiving a Berklee scholarship after a Boston fan encouraged her to apply, her musical journey has been remarkable. After graduating with honors and receiving a Berklee songwriting award in 2024, she quickly earned a nomination for Latin Artist of the Year at the Boston Music Awards. Her upcoming album (fall 2025) features collaborations with multiple Grammy-winner Gaby Moreno, blues icon Joe Bonamassa, Fabiola Mendez and Luis Conte. Mercedes has been featured in acclaimed Guatemalan film soundtracks including Tremors (2019) and Cadejo Blanco (2022). Her performance at DC’s The Hamilton Live and sold-out show at legendary Club Passim have drawn enthusiastic audiences.

Clawhammer Banjo Study Group

THIS IS AN IN-PERSON CLASS

Hello Fellow Banjo Enthusiasts! Have you ever found yourself frustrated with your playing—ready to ascend to the next level but not sure what to do next? Would you like to have a great time jamming with a group of like-minded musicians who enjoy learning as much as you do? Welcome to the Clawhammer Banjo Study Group!

In this Study Group, we’ll dive into common questions that arise for beginning to intermediate banjoists. My mission with this group is simple: to equip you with the fundamental components of healthy technique, practical music theory, growing your repertoire, and unlocking practice tips that propel you forward—all to enhance your ability to express yourself through the banjo.

Each week, we’ll explore a new concept and workshop it together in a supportive class setting. After each class, you’ll receive follow-up materials to continue your progress throughout the week. By the end of the course, you’ll be armed with tools and knowledge to take your playing to new heights!

See you soon,Trevin

Prerequisites:

Have played a banjo for at least 2 weeks

Materials:

5-string banjo

Electric tuner

Open mind

Class ScheduleTuesdays: May 6, 13, 20, 27, June 3Time: 8:00–9:15pm ET

Location: Passim School of Music, 26 Church Street, Cambridge, MA(Classrooms are located on the third floor; unfortunately, there is no elevator.)

Ages: 18+