Music workshops, classes, and lessons with Ryan Thomson
Ryan teaches both children and adults in his
surrounding community and at fiddle schools
and music camps nationally. Instruction
includes: fiddle, 5 string and tenor banjo, celtic
flute, penny whistle, piano, accordian,
mandolin, music making for the disabled; music
theory; playing in a folk or contra dance band,
and workshops in traditional music for
conventionally trained string teachers.
In addition, he is an expert and scholar on the history, lore, and evolution of traditional
music and dance, and can easily integrate that into music instruction. He has a special
interest in the physics of sound production and can discuss those aspects as well.
Ryan authors and publishes a wide selection of instructional books, DVDs, and CDs. He
also calls traditional folk dances such as contras and squares, and teaches clogging and
cajun dance steps.
His teaching credits include:
University of New Hampshire, Div. of Cont. Education - Fiddle Classes, 1979-1982.
University of New Hampshire "Mini Courses," - Traditional Fiddling, 1984-1986.
Hampton School for Life Long Learning - Folk Fiddling, 1985.
UNH Durham - Psychology of Music, Intro Psychology for undergraduates, 1979-80.
North Shore Community College - Fiddle, Folk Ensemble, 1986-1987.
Oyster River H.S., Durham, NH Gifted Students Program - Folk Fiddling, clogging, 1987-88.
Newbury Music Workshop - Violin, Banjo, Mandolin, Accordion 1987-1994.
Newburyport Adult Education - fiddle, Pennywhistle, 1995.
North Eastern Music and Dance Festival NOMAD - Music Theory for Folk Musicians, Fiddling
for Beginners, Cajun Accordion, 1991-1997.
Berklee College of Music - Guest Lecturer "early country music", 1994-1996.
Philadelphia Folk Song Society, Spring & Fall Flings - Fiddling Workshop, 1996, 2000.
Ocean Conservatory, Newburyport, MA - Fiddle, Banjo, Accordion, 1995-1996.
New England Folk Festival - Fiddle for Beginners, Banjo, Left handed fiddling, 1986-2013.
Phillips Exeter Academy - Banjo, Fiddle, Mandolin, Accordion, 1988-2013.
Berwick Academy - Fiddle Styles Workshop, 1996.
SAMW - Summer Acoustic Music Week - Guitar, Dance Caller, 1 week residency, 1997.
Fiddleheads Stringband Camp - fiddle, music theory, clogging, celtic flute/whistle, piano
accompaniment for fiddle tunes, dance caller, 1998 -2009.
Main Street School - Country dancing, fiddle and accordion workshop, 1999
Feile Iorras International Festival, Ireland - American Fiddle Styles, 1 week residency,
2000.
River Tree Arts Center, Kennebunk, Maine - Fiddle Styles Workshop, 2000.
Antrim Celtic Celebration - Beginning Pennywhistle Workshop, 2001
American String Teachers Association, NSOA - Fiddling Workshop, 2002
Mainewoods Dance Camp - Fiddle and Banjo instruction, more, 1 week residency, 2002
Kittery Adult Education, Maine - Fiddling, Contra Dance Band, Folk Music, 2000 - 2008
Festival of American Fiddle Tunes - Fiddle Tutor, slow jam leader, 1 week residency, 2003
Manchester Community Music School - fiddle, banjo, 2004
Spud Blossom Family Music Camp - fiddle, piano, music theory, 2 wks. residency, 2004
Oyster River High School Art Fest, Durham, NH - Pennywhistle, Bones, 2005
Stratham Middle School, Stratham, NH - clogging, bones, folk instruments, 2005
Brookline School District - trad. music and dance of New Hampshire, 1 wk residency, 2006
Star Island Conference on the Arts - Intro to Folk Instruments, 1 week residency, 2006
Greenwood Furnace Folk Gathering - fiddle, foot percussion, improvisation, 2012 - 2013