NixWorks Academy Zoom Classes and Workshops

NixWorks Academy Zoom Classes and Workshops

What students are saying:

Michael’s approach is straightforward as he provides a clear explanation of the music theory and its hands-on application on your instrument. Barry/guitar

I’m getting real benefit from these sessions. The introduction of learning theory along a horizontal axis has made concepts much easier to understand. Richard, guitar

Thank you for your great work. I definitely would recommend your class. Yenna, uke

Thank you so much for your terrific teaching. Katie, banjo, guitar & Robert, mandolin

Understanding Modes for pickers, pluckers and folk musicians

Six Wednesdays: Watch for new dates 7:30 - 8:45 pm, Eastern Standard Time

Composer and multi-instrumentalist Michael Nix teaches a six class Zoom intensive on musical modes and how they are used in folk music, laying out the concepts of scales and modes along a string and across the fretboard rather than the traditional keyboard centric presentation. Examples from folk song and fiddle tunes will be used to illustrate how modes are used. Any instrument - guitar, banjo, mandolin, violin, etc. -with a G string is welcome. Each session will cover an hour of material with a 15 minute open Q & A time to follow. A great way to dig into modes in depth!

Modes are used to produce different sonic environments in folk, jazz and classical music. Some of these modes sound like a combination of major and minor inflections. Some have become associated with specific styles. The modes provide rich alternatives for color and atmosphere.

Price: Six 75 minute sessions

$150 for the six class session / Computer

Level: Intermediate. Players should have had at least a year of playing experience, the ability to play a single line melody, and the ability to play chords in various keys.

Instruments: Guitars, Banjos, Mandolin, Uke, Fiddle

The class is not style-specific so finger style, clawhammer, and flat pick players are all welcome.

Reading: Reading music is a plus, but not entirely necessary. Examples will be primarily taken from the Fiddle Tune Fakebook. If you do not read music you may want to have a copy of that book in tablature arranged for your instrument. I will supplement the class with pdf's, which may contain the tunes in notation, not tab. You will be responsible for the tab.

Pentatonic and Blues Scales

Postponed, Watch for new dates!

Composer and multi-instrumentalist Michael Nix teaches a four class Zoom intensive on pentatonic and blues scales -- how they are used in music. Nix lay out the concepts of scales and modes along a string and across the fretboard rather than the traditional keyboard centric presentation. Any instrument - guitar, banjo, mandolin, violin, etc. -with a G string is welcome. Each session will cover an hour of material with a 15 minute open Q & A time to follow. A great way to dig into these scales in depth!

Pentatonic scales are used to compose music in styles from all over the world. Pentatonics and the related blues scale give color and a sense of mystery to blues, rock, and jazz. This class will explore the construction of the scales and their use in examples from various musical generes.

Price: Four 75 minute sessions

$100f or the four class session / Computer

Level: Intermediate. Players should have had at least a year of playing experience, the ability to play a single line melody, and the ability to play chords in various keys.

Instruments: Guitars, Banjos, Mandolin, Uke, Fiddle

The class is not style-specific so finger style, clawhammer, and flat pick players are all welcome.

Reading: Reading music is a plus, but not entirely necessary. Examples will be primarily taken from the Fiddle Tune Fakebook. If you do not read music you may want to have a copy of that book in tablature arranged for your instrument. I will supplement the class with pdf's, which may contain the tunes in notation, not tab. You will be responsible for the tab.

Understanding the Circle of 5ths for pickers, pluckers and folk musicians

Postponed, Watch for new dates!

Composer and multi-instrumentalist Michael Nix teaches a six class Zoom intensive on the Cicle of 5ths and how it applies to folk musicians, laying out the concepts of scales and modes along a string and across the fretboard rather than the traditional keyboard centric presentation. Examples from folk song and fiddle tunes will be used to illustrate how the Circle of 5ths relates to key signatures, chord progressions, and other relationships in music. Any instrument - guitar, banjo, mandolin, violin, etc. -with a G string is welcome. Each session will cover an hour of material with a 15 minute open Q & A time to follow. A great way to dig into 5th relationships in depth!

The relationship of the 5th - notes, scales, and chords five scale steps apart - is an important foundation to our theoretical system of Western tonal music. Understanding the implications of the 5th relationships will greatly increase your understanding of the music you play, and how it works.

Price: Six 75 minute sessions

$150 for the six class session / Computer

Level: Intermediate. Players should have had at least a year of playing experience, the ability to play a single line melody, and the ability to play chords in various keys. Some experience with fundamentals of music theory is helpful. If you are unsure of your skills, please be in touch with me to set up an assesment or review session.

Instruments: Guitars, Banjos, Mandolin, Uke, Fiddle

The class is not style-specific so finger style, clawhammer, and flat pick players are all welcome.

Reading: Reading music is a plus, but not entirely necessary. Examples will be primarily taken from the Fiddle Tune Fakebook. If you do not read music you may want to have a copy of that book in tablature arranged for your instrument. I will supplement the class with pdf's, which may contain the tunes in notation, not tab. You will be responsible for the tab.

General NixWorks Academy Class Information

Prerequisite: Any instrumentalist is welcome to participate. Your instrument should have a G string as all of the basic concepts will be laid out along this single string. You will be best prepared for this class if you have had some beginner lessons, and can play a bit of melody and G, C, D chords on your instrument with some facility. You do not need to know how to read music.

Class Parameters:

• Upon registration a class outline, exercises, and songs for each class in .pdf format will be emailed to you as an attachment.

• Students may only register for the entire four class series of sessions as the concepts for a new class are built on the concepts discussed in the previous classes.

• There will be several opportunities to ask questions during the session. The final 15 minutes is reserved for follow up questions via Zoom chat, or verbally.

• Late registrations received after a half hour before the session cannot be guaranteed to receive the email pdf. I will be screen sharing the pdf during the session, and I can email the pdf after the class.

• A link to a video of each Zoom class will be available to all participants within couple of days of the class enabling you to review the material at your own speed.

• This is a fundamental music skill building course, so you will get a greater benefit from the course if you practice the material as I have laid it out for each class so you have worked out your foundational skills for the following class.

• If your questions cannot be answered in the short review times and the 15 minute Q & A , I would urge you to schedule a private Zoom lesson to dig deeper into the concepts.

To register: /contact

Private lessons link: /p/20/Private-Lessons

Michael Nix taught Music Theory at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, and at Greenfield Community College in Greenfield, MA.

Nix performs on classical guitar, banjo, and mandolin throughout the United States and Asia, and he has recorded for the PBS series “American Experience”, independent documentaries, and numerous CD projects. His compositions are performed internationally. His music has been heard on “Weekend Edition”, and other NPR programs. Nix has performed his compositions at the Smithsonian Museum of American History, and with Seeger collaborator, Lorre Wyatt, participated in Seegerfest 2014, commemorating the life of Pete Seeger.

A banjo innovator and composer, Nix designed the Banjar; a modern seven string banjo combining elements of the five-string banjo and classical guitar; bringing the classic finger-style banjo of the late 1800's into the twenty first century. He initiated the New Classic Banjo project to compose, commission, record, and perform new works for the classic finger-style banjo

NixWorks website: www.NixWorks.com

Michael Nix and New Classic Banjo Project performance site: www.michaelnixmusic.com

NixWorks accepts registration payment through PayPal. Please use the form below to register and pay with a credit card or your PayPal balance. Thank you!