Group Classes

$130 for four-week sessions. Members save $5.
At the Americana Music Academy, students learn in a relaxed group atmosphere. All classes meet once a week with about 5-10 students. Lessons are 90 minutes in length. If you are a beginning student, group courses offer the freedom to try a new instrument in a low-pressure environment.
(All classes are above price unless otherwise noted)

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Beginning Guitar
Intermediate Guitar
Beginning Fiddle
Intermediate Fiddle
Hammered Dulcimer
Mountain Dulcimer
Basic Music Theory
Beginning Mandolin
Intermediate Mandolin
Elements of Rock
Beginning sight-singing
Half Notes
Keys to ABC's and 1, 2, 3's
Ol' Timey Banjo (Frailing Style)
Bluegrass Banjo (Scruggs Style)
The Horns
Harmonica
West African Drumming
Electronic Music 101
Fife and Drum

Beginning Guitar
Learn basic chords and easy songs in a relaxed group atmosphere. You’ll be playing songs by the end of the first class! Then, solidify your ability to use basic chords as you’re introduced to new songs arranged for beginners.
Wednesdays, 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Matt Dollar, Instructor
Saturdays, 10:30pm – 12pm
Dan Rempel, Instructor
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Intermediate Guitar
Begin in simple finger picking patterns, bass runs, and rudiments of music theory. You’ll learn more chords and more complex right-hand rhythms. Use these skills to put some sparkle on material drawn partly from class requests. Tuesdays, 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Corey Merritt, Instructor
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Beginning Fiddle
Begin with the basics: How to hold the bow and the instrument. You’ll be playing a simple tune by the end of the first night. After eight weeks, you will have a small repertoire of standard fiddle tunes and all the notes you’ll need to know for old time fiddling.
Tuesdays, 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Diane Gillenwater, Instructor
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Intermediate Fiddle
In this course, Diane takes you to the next level, teaching you more technique and giving you a better handle on your instrument overall.
Tuesdays, 8:30pm – 10:00pm
Diane Gillenwater, Instructor
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Hammered Dulcimer
The Hammered Dulcimer and its backwoods cousin the Mountain Dulcimer have been mainstays of old time and country music for nearly two centuries. A member of the zither family, the hammered dulcimer came to North American from Britain in colonial times and is played with mallets. The Mountain or Appalachian Dulcimer typically has three strings, is strummed or played with a plectrum and is a uniquely American instrument. In this age of volume and technology the beautiful tones of these instruments have almost disappeared. Join us and take pride in keeping these traditional American instruments alive. These classes are meant for the beginner and novice level player. We will work on the basic care and feeding of your instrument, including tips on tuning hammering patterns (for the Hammered Dulcimer), left hand techniques (for the Mountain Dulcimer), repertoire building, chords for accompaniment, and basic musicianship.
Wednesdays, 8:30pm – 10:00pm
Allen Macfarlane, Instructor
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Mountain Dulcimer
Wednesdays, 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Allen Macfarlane, Instructor
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Basic Music Theory I
This is an introduction to music theory--why music works and how to make it work for you. In this opening level class, you will learn what an interval is, what a chord is, what they sound like and how to play them, plus some basic chord movements, and a simple scale. There will be ear training, hands-on instrument instruction, and a take home practice CD. This four week class will meet every
The class will cost $50.If you are already taking lessons at Americana, the cost drops to $40. What a great way to boost the work you're doing in your regular lesson!
Saturdays, 10:30am – 12:00m (June 3 through June 24)
Michael Paull & Greg Allen, Instructor
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Beginning Mandolin
Because of its small scale and violin-like tuning, mandolins are perfect for playing fiddle tunes and harmonized melodies. Good mandolin rhythm skills compliment guitar rhythm, and the sweet tones of the mandolin are a welcome addition to any ensemble.
Call for times
Bill Browning, Instructor
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Intermediate Mandolin
Call for times
Bill Browning, Instructor
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NEW! Elements of Rock
This class gives you the opportunity to learn how to play in a group with professional musicians to guide you. Students will be placed with others of their own musical level and ability and will develop a set of songs so they can go out and perform at the end of the course. Rehearsal techniques, listening and sectional playing techniques will be taught and you’ll learn how to perform in front of an audience (The Beatles called this “making show”). The songs you play will be ones agreed upon by the group. Let your imagination go and learn how to rock. Finally, the 8th class is a recording session, which will produce an audio disc for all the world to hear, or at least your family members.
Prerequisite: One year’s experience or the equivalent.
Thursdays, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Saturdays, 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Corey Merritt, Instructor
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Beginning Sight-Singing
This class is designed for those who have no previous experience with reading music. We will cover the basics of musical notation and ear training as it relates to sight singing. All singing will be done in unison as a group.
Mondays, 4:00pm – 5:30pm
Rebecca Craft, Instructor
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Half Notes
This 45-minute journey for kids, ages 6 months through 3 years, explores the wonderful world of music. Babies and toddlers love singing with their parents and in the company of other children. In each session, children sing, play rhythm instruments and do circle dances. This class is a great way to spend some musical time with your child. Join us as we share the joys of music.
Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays
9:30am – 10:15am or
10:30am – 11:15am
Shelly Sanders, Instructor
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NEW! Keys to ABC’s and 1, 2, 3’s
Keys to ABC's and 1,2,3's is a group piano class for 4-6yr.olds. Classes will be held every Wednesday afternoon from 4:00 to 4:45. We will play piano, sing, march to our own beats, make up a song, and play games until we all fall down! From "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" to Jack Johnson songs, and They Might Be Giants, "Here Comes the ABC's," we have it covered. March session begins Wednesday, March 7th. For more info, contact Kim at (785) 841- 1547.
$60.00 a month
Kim Matchette, Instructor
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Ol’ Timey Banjo (Frailing Style)
This class is tailor-made for beginning students. Participants will learn the basics of old-time Southern banjo playing in several different styles, two finger picking, three finger picking, up-picking, claw hammer as well as frailing. Different tunings will be explored to help students understand the versatility of this uniquely American instrument.
Tuesdays, 8:30pm – 10:00pm
Jim Krause, Instructor
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Bluegrass Banjo (Scruggs Style)
Noah Musser is a demon on the banjo. He is also a well-versed instructor of the Earl Scruggs style of five-string banjo playing. Designed for the complete novice, this course presents the banjo as an exciting and playable instrument. Starting with some simple chords Noah will have you strumming songs in the first class. Tuesdays, 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Noah Musser, Instructor
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The Horns
Looking for a place where kids can come and get some extra help with their band instruments. Such as trumpet, trombone, clarinet, saxophone, flute, etc. We will work with any age—pure beginners all the way up through advanced students. Helping students broaden their musical horizons beyond the traditional band repertoire into the realm of blues and jazz forms. So if your kids simply want to improve their playing and move to the top of their section, or if they are interested in learning material appropriate for jazz band and beyond, come see us.
Call for times
Nate Craft, Instructor
Rick Yamashiro, Instructor
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Harmonica
Got the Blues? Jimmie will get you jammin’ the blues immediately! Emphasis in this class will be on playing and having fun as you are introduced to many of the tricks and techniques to make the harmonica cry, laugh, wail and scream. No previous musical experience or harmonica training is required—only a love of the blues and the desire to play the harmonica!
Call for times
Jimmie Meade, Instructor
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West African Drumming
In West Africa, tribal societies such as the Malinke, Susu and Bambara possess a music rich in rhythmic vitality. It is a music of multiple layers of rhythms. This contrasting of interweaving rhythmic patterns is what creates that vital spark in African music. We will play many different rhythms and there will be parts for every player from the novice to the advanced musician. Without even knowing each other, when people drum together, they create a wonderful sense of community. The serenity that these rhythms transmit is simply wonderful. This course is open to players of any skill level. (drums will be provided if you do not have one)
Mondays, 8:00pm – 9:00pm
@ Bassett Studios
Dylan Bassett, Instructor
$6/class
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Electronic Music 101
Electronic Music 101 will be one on one sessions teaching concepts, techniques, and theory behind the creation and performance of electronic music, using hardware or software, such as drum programming, sample looping, synthesis, sequencing, MIDI implementation, and effects processing.
Call for times
J. Phoenix, Instructor
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Fife and Drum
In an era before electronic communications devices, and in a place where time pieces were uncommon among soldiers, the fifer played an important role. It was he and the company drummer who signaled the troops when to rise, when to assemble, when to eat, when to quit work for the day, and when to retire at night. In short, the musicians of the company functioned as a human time piece.
Today many of these pieces, with popular song and dance tunes of the 18th and 19th centuries have entered the fife and drum folk tradition and are still played at fife and drum corps festivals, which are called ‘musters.
Students will learn to; hold the fife correctly, breath control, basic note reading,
sight reading, proper stick technique, and basic repertoire. Students will also begin learning early 19th century marching technique.
Call for times
Jim Krause, Instructor (Fife)
Dylan Bassett, Instructor (Drums)
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