PineCone hosts regular workshops for amateur musicians. These online and in-person workshops offer emerging musicians the chance to sit knee-to-knee with brilliant musicians and teachers. The ultimate goal of these gatherings is to inspire more people to play this music we love. There are highlights videos from past workshops here.

Here’s a look at what’s coming up:

Western North Carolina Workshops

We’ve invited musicians from parts of Western North Carolina recovering from Hurricane Helene to come to Raleigh for workshops to spread their skills and stories. Learn more about the workshops and these remarkable, resilient artists and make sure to reserve your spot:

William Ritter (photo by Terri Clark)

Old-Time Banjo with Travis Stuart
Saturday, Feb. 22, 10-11:30 a.m.
Riparian Provision Company
We will learn a few tunes from Western North Carolina banjo players in the 2-finger style. We will also explore the use of classical (gCGBD) tuning for playing waltzes and songs.
$20 for PineCone members, $25 for general public
More info + reserve your spot

Old-Time Fiddle with William Ritter
Saturday, March 1, 10:30 a.m. to noon
John Chavis Memorial Park Multipurpose Room 4
505 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Raleigh
$20 for PineCone members, $25 for general public
More info + reserve your spot

Ballad Singing with Donna Ray Norton
Saturday, March 8, 10:30 a.m. to noon
John Chavis Memorial Park Multipurpose Room 4
505 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Raleigh
$20 for PineCone members, $25 for general public
More info + reserve your spot

Bluegrass Fiddle with Zoe & Cloyd
Saturday, March 22, 10-11:30 a.m
Riparian Provision Company
1408 S. Saunders St., Raleigh
$20 for PineCone members, $25 for general public
More info + reserve your spot

Old-Time Banjo with Laura Boosinger
Saturday, May 17, 10:30 a.m.-noon
John Chavis Memorial Park Multipurpose Room 4
505 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Raleigh
$20 for PineCone members, $25 for general public
More info + reserve your spot

One of the first in-person workshops after COVID restrictions started to ease was lead by fiddler Tatiana Hargreaves and banjo player Joseph Decosimo. This workshop was focused on the classic fiddle/banjo duo that is central to the old time sound in the Piedmont of North Carolina.

We started offering these workshops online during the COVID-19 quarantine to encourage people of all skill levels to play music at home.