Applied Music Theory for Old Time
- In-Person Classes
- Instrumental
**THIS IS AN IN-PERSON SEAT IN A HYBRID CLASS**
Folk music is a spoken language, a tradition passed person to person. What can we learn by taking a closer look at the unique relationship between harmony, melody, and rhythm inherent in traditional music? In this 6 week course, we’ll build a repertoire of tunes and get to know them, and old time music in general, using the basics of music theory. This friendly and fun approach will help folks identify common chord progressions, improve skills for learning tunes on the fly on various instruments, and help build an intuitive sense of harmony. Folks can expect to walk away with skills to play expertly and thoughtfully with others, and understand the inner workings of this music on a deeper level. All instruments and levels are welcome!
Class Schedule
Wednesdays: Jan 14, 21, 28, Feb 11, 18
Time: 6:30-7:45pm ET
Location: Passim School of Music, 26 Church Street, Cambridge, MA(Classrooms are located on the second floor; unfortunately, there is no elevator.)
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.
Sophie Wellington
- Fiddle
- Old Time
- Trad
Sophie Wellington is a fiddler, flatpick guitarist, jazz vocalist, and percussive dancer. Sophie was raised in Staunton VA by dance caller and old time musician Bill Wellington and classical pianist Lynne Mackey. Sophie’s music education began at an early age with choirs, saxophone in school bands, square/contra dancing, Irish step dance, and old time fiddle. She studied at Berklee College of Music and graduated in 2021 with a degree in vocal jazz performance, while also studying with Bruce Molsky.
Since graduating, Sophie has kept busy with recording projects, touring, and teaching. She released her debut solo album Roving Jewel in 2022. This captures an eclectic moment in her sound and features various musical genres, environments, and adaptations. She also plays in the Boston based country band The Talking Hearts and progressive old time supergroup Dumpster Debbie. Sophie has toured nationally and internationally in solo performance, duet projects, and most recently as fiddle player and percussive dancer for Willi Carlisle.
In recent years, Sophie has taught flatfooting, fiddle, and guitar on staff at Augusta Heritage Center’s Old Time Week, Blue Ridge Old Time Music Week, Acadia Festival of Traditional Music and Dance, CDSS’s Harmony Week at Pinewoods, and Earful of Fiddle. Her teaching approach draws connections between melody, harmony, and rhythm from her unique perspective as a multi-instrumentalist and percussive dancer.
