Upcoming Group Classes & Workshops

A man with long curly hair, glasses, and a beard playing an acoustic guitar outdoors with greenery in the background.

Guitar Walks & Runs

Adult Class (Intermediate - Advanced) Summer 2026

Taught by Ryan Harlin

If you’ve ever been in a jam and noticed an experienced rhythm guitarist’s ability to lead and guide the whole room from chord to chord with just their guitar, you’ve already experienced the next level of rhythm guitar playing — walks & runs. They’re simple to execute, powerfully effective, but not always self-evident until someone shows you. It takes guidance, demonstration, and repetition to make them a second-nature aspect of your rhythm style. In this six-week series, Ryan Harlin will share his toolbox of walks & runs with class while spending time in several keys and capo positions. We’ll use classic songs and their common chord progressions as the source material to ornament and practice leveling up our rhythm guitar.

Course Goals:

  • Develop the ability to adds walks & runs at will, without additional effort

    • Learn how to signal chord changes with walks

    • Learn how to punctuate using runs

    • Understand each style of walk & run, and when to use which

    • Learn how to guide people through a song using just your guitar

When: June 30th - August 4th, 2026

Time: Tuesday evenings 6:30-7:45pm

6 week course

Ages: 18 years +

Prerequisites:

  • Knowledge of the basic “cowboy chord” shapes (G, C, D, F, A, E, etc)

    • Ability to play the basic boom-chuck strum style of rhythm guitar

    • Capable of playing songs on beat without pausing between chord changes

    • Ability to play with a pick (not finger style)

    • Bring a capo & a heavy thickness pick (1.3 - 1.5mm)

Register
A woman smiling outdoors in front of lush green trees, holding a white banjo. Legendary bluegrass banjo player.
Mike Wilhoyte. A middle-aged man wearing a cowboy hat and plaid shirt, smiling outdoors in front of a wooden fence. Legendary Bluegrass guitarist.

Bluegrass Bootcamp

Adult class (Intermediate - Advanced) Summer 2026

Taught by Mike & Christine Wilhoyte

What is it that takes a group from sounding like a jam to sounding like a cohesive musical unit? What makes a musician that can play comfortably in different settings? Are you seeking a musical experience that’s bigger than just yourself? Calling all musicians looking to take their playing in a group to the next level. In this course, Mike and Christine will support you to develop and deepen your comfort and skill as a musician at playing music in group settings including, but not limited to: public jams, playing with friends, invitational performance jams, and in a band. We’ll start by laying down the foundations: exploring expectations and feeling relaxed and safe while playing. We’ll then use a variety of different activities including active listening, playing along with recordings, and playing in small and large group settings to explore listening, groove, group dynamics, and choice. There’s a special magic to playing music with others when the jam starts feeling like something that’s bigger than any one person. Our goal is to help you experience this magic and to equip you with the tools to make it happen on your own. We hope you’ll join us! 

Course Goals:

  • Deepen your understanding of the pieces that make up a strong bluegrass ensemble

  • Improve active listening skills and musical awareness

  • Walk away with an increased sense of confidence and reduced anxiety in group settings

  • Feel empowered and comfortable to play music with others

  • Have fun!

Prerequisites:

  • Intermediate-advanced playing abilities on one of the core bluegrass instruments: guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, bass, or dobro

  • Experience and comfort playing in group music settings

  • Desire to explore “beyond the basics” - the factors that contribute to exceptional group dynamics

  • Willingness to explore the vulnerabilities of playing music in a group setting

When: June 24th-July 29th

Time: Wednesday evenings 6:30-7:45pm

6 week course

Ages: 18+

Register
Woman with long brown hair smiling and holding a banjo outdoors in front of green trees on a sunny day.
A woman with brown hair, sitting cross-legged on green grass, playing an acoustic guitar, in a wooded area with trees and white flowers.

Beginning Rhythm Guitar

Adult class (Beginner) Summer 2026

Taught by Michaela Mae & Christine Wilhoyte

In this 6-week course we will focus on smoothing out chord changes, strengthening rhythm and strumming skills, and becoming more comfortable with challenging chords. We’ll explore classic folk, country, and roots songs that are simple, satisfying, and great for playing with others. Whether you’re brand new to guitar or looking to solidify the basics, this class is designed to help you feel more at home with your instrument and enjoy making music in a group setting.

Course Goals:

  • Develop smoother and more confident chord transitions

  • Learn foundational rhythm and strumming patterns used in roots music

  • Gain comfort playing with others

Prerequisites:

  • A guitar and tuner for class and homeplay

  • Interest in singing, strumming, and learning songs in a group setting

When: June 24th-July 29th

Time: Wednesday evenings 5:15pm-6:15pm

6 week course

Ages: 18+

Register
A man wearing glasses and a light blue button-up shirt playing a banjo outdoors with green trees and a wooden fence in the background.

Bluegrass Banjo

Adult Class (Beginning - Intermediate) Summer 2026

Taught by Andy Davis

This 6-week course is designed to help you learn how to develop clear, crisp banjo rolls and backup for bluegrass songs using the basics of three-finger, Scruggs style banjo playing. Throughout the course we’ll learn a collection of bluegrass songs and explore how the banjo fits into the sound and rhythm of a bluegrass jam.

Course Goals:

  • Develop effective right hand picking technique

  • Learn bluegrass rolls

  • Develop stronger timing in the interest of rhythmic expression

  • Learn a small repertoire of songs

  • Find support and inspiration within a community of like minded instrumentalists

When: June 22nd - July 27th, 2026

Time: Monday evenings 6:30-7:45pm

6 week course

Ages: 18 years +

Prerequisites:

  • Some experience with a stringed instrument

  • Willingness to share your banjo successes and struggles within a community of learners

Register

Current Group Classes & Workshops

A man smiling and playing an acoustic guitar outdoors, wearing a plaid shirt, with a wooden fence and trees in the background.
A person with long dark hair playing a white banjo outdoors in front of green trees and a clear blue sky.

Instrumental Improvisation

Adult class (Beginning - Advanced) Spring 2026

Taught by Christine Wilhoyte & Jesse Fichman

Want to develop your voice on your instrument? Add a little flavor to your solos? Get comfortable taking any solo at all? Come one, come all and join Jesse Fichman and Christine Wilhoyte on an exciting 8 week expedition into improvising on your instrument. We’ll demystify improvising, starting with establishing a foundation: a non-judgmental environment, a solid groove, and some inspiration. We’ll offer practical ways to explore your instrument with options for various skill levels and apply them together in an improvisational setting. This class will be a combination of playing with partners, in small groups, and as a large group. Come with a willingness to try new things, make mistakes, and have fun.

Course Goals:

  • Enjoy a safe and comfortable environment for musicians of different skill levels to explore, have fun, and feel inspired

  • Walk away with tools you can apply right away

  • Improve knowledge and comfort expressing yourself through your instrument

  • Experience the magic and excitement of improvising with others firsthand

Qualifications:

  • This class is intended for musicians of varying skill levels who have comfort playing their instrument in a group setting, holding steady rhythm at tempos between 60 and 120 BPM, and playing along to songs in a few or all of the following keys: G, A, Bb, B, C, D, E, and F

  • Knowledge or comfort with solo-ing is not required

  • Most of all, students should come with a nonjudgmental attitude, enthusiasm to explore their instrument, and willingness to make mistakes and be silly!

When: April 15th-June 3rd

8 week course

Time: Wednesday evenings 7:00-8:15pm

Ages: 18+

Register
A smiling woman with long brown hair, wearing hoop earrings, a pink cardigan, and a rust-colored top, standing outdoors playing a double bass on a grassy field with trees in the background.
A man with curly hair, glasses, and a tan jacket smiling in a music recording studio surrounded by audio equipment and guitars.

Bluegrass Jamming

Adult Class (Beginning - Advanced) Spring 2026

Taught by Michaela Mae & Ryan Harlin

This bluegrass jamming class is designed for musicians who already have experience on their instrument and want to develop their skills in a group setting. This course will help you strengthen your musical foundation while also stretching into new skills. You’ll learn how to listen, complement other players, and step into soloing with confidence. Playing in an ensemble is one of the fastest ways to improve your musicianship, while having a fun and building a strong musical community along the way.

Course Goals:

  • Foster a communal environment for playing and singing together.

  • Expand your repertoire of bluegrass songs.

2 class time options:

Class 1:

When: April 14th - June 2nd, 2026

8 week course

Time: Tuesday evenings 5:30-6:45pm

Class 2:

When: April 14th - June 2nd, 2026

8 week course

Time: Tuesday evenings 7:00 -8:15pm

Ages: 18 years +

Qualifications:

  • Play one of the core bluegrass instruments: guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, upright bass, or dobro.

  • Ability to transition between basic chords with relative ease.

Register
A woman smiling and playing a double bass outdoors in a backyard with green grass, white flowers, and a wooden fence in the background.
A man with short brown hair and a bright smile is playing an acoustic guitar outside. He is wearing a plaid shirt and has a guitar strap over his shoulder. The background shows a wooden fence and some trees.
A woman with long brown hair, wearing a white jacket and a rust-colored skirt, is standing outdoors in front of bushes with green foliage. She is smiling and holding a white banjo with a wooden neck.

Gospel Harmony Singing

Adult class (Beginning - Advanced) Spring 2026

Taught by Michaela Mae, Jesse Fichman & Christine Wilhoyte

This 8-week course is designed to help you recognize and sing three-part gospel harmonies. It’s a class The Folk Farm has been dreaming about offering since we first opened, and Michaela is especially delighted to be teaching it alongside her dear friends Jesse and Christine, who have been steeped in gospel harmony singing since they were young children. Throughout the course we’ll learn a collection of gospel songs from the roots music tradition. Students will expand their harmony singing abilities and gospel repertoire in a warm, communal environment. The spirit of the gospel songs we sing welcomes and celebrates people of all races, religions, genders, and sexual orientations.

Course Goals:

  • Foster a communal environment for singing together

  • Strengthen vocal techniques for seamless blending and nuanced expression

  • Gain a deeper understanding of three part harmony singing

  • Expand your repertoire of roots gospel songs

Qualifications:

  • Beginning to advanced level of experience singing

  • Willingness to share your voice

When: April 15th -June 3rd

8 week course

Time: Wednesday evenings 5:30-6:45pm

Ages: 18+

Register

Meet the Teachers

  • A woman with brown hair and hoop earrings is smiling while holding a double bass outdoors in a park-like setting with green grass, trees, and small white flowers.

    Michaela Mae

    Founder & Multi-class Teacher

    Michaela Mae is a professional singer, musician, and music instructor with over fifteen years of performance experience. She teaches harmony workshops, songwriting courses, family music classes, and private lessons in the North Bay Area and at music camps around California. Michaela has studied voice for over 25 years and has 45+ credits in Music Education. In her personal projects, she performs and collaborates with Wyld Iris and Miranda Mallard.

    michaelamaemusic.com

  • A man with curly hair and glasses smiling in a music studio surrounded by audio equipment, guitars, and computer monitors.

    Ryan Harlin

    Multi-Class Teacher

    Ryan is a music producer, songwriter, performer, and educator with feet firmly planted in American roots music. He has been a lead instructor at Walker Creek Music Camp and California Bluegrass Association’s Music Camp and collaborated with artists as diverse as dance music legend Paul Van Dyk and banjo icon Kermit the Frog. He is the Senior Creative Executive for Reason Studios and has earned tens of millions of views on YouTube.

    ryanharlin.com

  • Mary Kussmaul. California Bluegrass Association. A woman with gray hair and yellow earrings playing a mandolin outdoors next to a tree and greenery.

    Mary Kussmaul (Felton)

    Jamming Class Teacher

    Mary is the California Bluegrass Association’s Regional Activities Director, coordinating jams and activities in Sonoma, Napa, and Lake Counties. An active bluegrass performer, she plays mandolin in the all-women’s band Bluegrass Holiday and often appears with the Bloomfield Bluegrass Band. Her musical journey began with classical piano as a child, and she transitioned to mandolin and bluegrass after attending a fiddle camp with her children. Even though she loves performing, the sense of community she finds through jamming is what brought her into bluegrass and is her favorite part of the genre.

    www.mandowithmary.com

  • Dave Pascoe.A man with long curly hair and a beard, wearing a gray hat and a red jacket, holding a guitar vertically in front of him outdoors with green foliage in the background. Legendary guitarist, violinist, fiddle and mandolin player and teacher

    Dave Pascoe

    Workshop Teacher

    David Pascoe is a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and touring musician whose music blends traditional folk with playful improvisation. He performs with multiple groups in the San Francisco Bay Area, including Late for the Train, Eric Long, and the Jimbo Scott Band. David also co-founded Every Folk, a camp for adults to explore traditional folk music and culture and is a lead teacher at the Pacific Songwriting Camp.

    davidpascoemusic.com

  • A man with a beard and short brown hair playing a mandolin outdoors in a garden with large white flowers and a wooden fence in the background.

    David Thiessen

    Multi-Class Teacher

    From the moment David picked up the mandolin at age ten, Bluegrass and Americana music became an integral part of his life. Soon after, he formed a band with his twin brother and best friends that lasted for more than a decade. Since then he has played in countless bands around California including Windy Hill, One Grass Two Grass, and currently Mission Blue. He continues to play shows and festivals regularly. David has many years of experience teaching music to individuals and groups alike. It’s his belief that the first step to learning is being excited about the music and realizing that musical goals can be achieved through effective practice. His goal is to develop students into the musicians they want to be, while remembering that the main purpose of music is enjoyment, fun, and community.

    davidthiessenlessons.com

  • A man smiling while playing an acoustic guitar outdoors in front of a wooden fence.

    Jesse Fichman

    Afterschool Bluegrass Club Teacher

    Jesse Fichman grew up in Santa Rosa, California, discovering bluegrass in fifth grade with The Mighty Chiplings under Chip Dunbar’s guidance. Attending the Grass Valley Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival deepened his passion, leading to lifelong friendships and six years with AJ Lee and Blue Summit. Beyond bluegrass, he studied saxophone, clarinet, and voice, performing in jazz combos and choirs. He has taught at the California Bluegrass Association’s Kids on Bluegrass Music Camp and led workshops at Walker Creek Music Camp. A part-time field biologist considering graduate school, Jesse values the joy of learning and creating a supportive musical environment.

  • Andy Davis

    Multi-Class Teacher

    Andy Davis is a traditional bluegrass banjo player, singer, songwriter, and band leader who splits his time between Philadelphia, PA and the San Francisco Bay Area. His Philadelphia-based band, Midnight Flyer interprets bluegrass, old time and original  tunes with a style faithful to the roots of American stringband music. While in California, he performs with his daughter, Ruby Davis and Bay Area Special, as well as with a growing list of California musicians.

    andydavisbanjo.com

  • A man with glasses, a mustache, and a bald head holding an acoustic guitar in front of a stone wall. Fingerpicking, fingerstyle guitar expert.

    Michael Greenberg

    Fingerstyle Guitar Teacher

    Michael Greenberg discovered his passion for guitar at age 15, teaching himself the basics before being inspired by a college friend to explore fingerstyle playing. During those years, he balanced his love for physics with the joy of mastering songs by artists like Jim Croce, James Taylor, and Dan Fogelberg, deepening his connection to music. Today, Michael plays and teaches for the sheer joy of it, cherishing the moments spent creating music with others and sharing his love of fingerstyle guitar with fellow enthusiasts.

    https://wwwidgets.wordpress.com/