Words can hardly capture the extraordinary experience of jamming with fellow musicians. It’s a unique blend of connection, inspiration, and musical growth.
Upcoming Group Classes & Workshops
Fingerstyle Guitar
Adult Class (Intermediate - Advanced)
Taught by Michael Greenberg
This 8 week class is designed to provide developing guitarists with a solid foundation in fingerstyle accompaniment. The songs we’ll cover in this course have been chosen both for their intrinsic musical appeal and their suitability to teach core skills that will jump start beginning fingerstyle players and further refine the technique and musicality of those already able to play basic fingerpicking patterns. Bring an inquisitive musical mind and your guitar and capo. No picks needed!
Course Goals:
Learn foundational fingerstyle guitar skills applicable to all styles of music
Understand how to apply basic alternating thumb patterns over common chords
Apply variations of the basic picking pattern and walking bass lines over chord changes to keep things interesting
Improve your musicianship while expanding your repertoire with well known - and some wonderful but not-so-well-known - fingerstyle songs
Pre-Requisites:
Advanced beginner/intermediate guitar skills
Ability to play all the common ‘cowboy’ chords in 1st position
Comfortable transitioning between chords while keeping time with a metronome
Existing ability to play basic fingerstyle would be valuable but NOT ESSENTIAL - players with no fingerstyle experience are absolutely welcome to participate!
When: October 21st - December 16th, 2025
8 week course
No class Thanksgiving week
Time: Wednesday evenings 6:15-7:30pm
Ages: 18 years +
Clawhammer Banjo
Adult Class (Beginning - Intermediate)
Taught by Ryan Harlin
The wonderfully lyrical sound of clawhammer banjo can take minutes to learn, but a lifetime to master. In this intro to clawhammer banjo, we’re going to dig into the elements of clawhammer technique that will set us off on that path with rock-solid fundamentals. Clawhammer banjo has a wonderful sound that fits well as a classic pairing with old time fiddle, but has more recently found its way to being a popular style in folk, singer-songwriters, and other acoustic settings with artists like Rhiannon Giddens, Kaia Kater, or Viv & Riley. Get yourself a banjo and join Ryan Harlin for 8 weeks that will get you hooked on clawhammer banjo!
Course Goals:
Learn clawhammer banjo fundamental techniques
• Approach so-called “advanced” techniques from the get-go, demystifying them in the process
• Learn how to play chords and backup behind vocals
• Gain familiarity with the melodic patterns that we use as variation vocabulary
Qualifications:
Students will need a 5-string banjo, capo, and tuner for class
When: October 21st - December 16th, 2025
8 week course
No class Thanksgiving week
Time: Tuesday evenings 5:30-6:45pm
Ages: 18 years +
After-School Bluegrass Club
Youth class (Beginning - Intermediate)
Taught by David Thiessen, Jesse Fichman, & Michaela Mae
This exciting new class invites 4th–8th graders to discover the joy of bluegrass jamming. Taught by a team of experienced musicians and music educators, the course immerses students in the tradition of singing and playing together in an ensemble. Along the way, every child will learn the basics of both mandolin and guitar, giving them the chance to try out two of bluegrass music’s core instruments. Using a collection of Bluegrass songs and Old Time tunes, students will also build foundational skills on their voices and instruments, learn how to play as part of a group, and take their first steps into soloing.
More than just a music class, this is a chance to grow in confidence, make new friends, and develop a lifelong love of music in a supportive, fun-filled environment. This class is offered in partnership with The California Bluegrass Association and Junior Appalachian Musicians. It is open to both beginners and kids with musical experience. Books are provided, and instruments are available if needed.
Course Goals:
Create a welcoming space for playing in an group
Lead songs with confidence
Foster supportive ensemble playing
Develop solos
Qualifications:
Owning a guitar or mandolin is recommended, but not required
When: October 15th - December 10th, 2025
8 week course
No class Thanksgiving week
Time: Wednesdays 4:30-5:30pm
Ages: 4th-8th Graders
*Scholarships are available for families with financial need. To apply, please email folkfarmmusic@gmail.com with a short paragraph explaining your situation.*
Bluegrass Jamming & Harmony Singing
Adult Class (Beginning - Advanced)
Taught by Michaela Mae & Ryan Harlin
In this class, you will strengthen your musical foundation while also stretching into new skills. Together we will grow your repertoire, explore harmony singing, practice soloing, learn to play at different tempos, and build confidence leading songs. Whether you are just starting out or ready to take your jamming to the next level, this course will give you the tools to feel comfortable in a group and experience the joy and energy of a bluegrass jam.
Course Goals:
Foster a communal environment for playing and singing together
Expand your repertoire of folk songs
When: October 21st - December 16th, 2025
8 week course
No class Thanksgiving Week
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
Currently Running Group Classes & Workshops
Folk Jamming (FULL)
Adult Class (Beginning - Advanced)
Taught by Michaela Mae & Ryan Harlin
This folk jamming class is designed for musicians who already have experience on their instrument and want to develop their skills in a group setting. Through a collection of folk, country, celtic, bluegrass, and Americana songs, you’ll learn how to listen, complement other players, and even step into soloing with confidence. Playing in an ensemble is one of the fastest ways to improve your musicianship—while having a great time and building a strong musical community along the way.
Course Goals:
Foster a communal environment for playing and singing together
Expand your repertoire of folk songs
When: August 19th - October 7th, 2025
8 week course
Time: Tuesday evenings 7:00-8:15pm
Ages: 18 years +
Qualifications:
Ability to transition between basic chords with relative ease
Duet Singing (FULL)
Adult Class (Beginning - Advanced)
Taught by Michaela Mae & Ryan Harlin
This 8 week course is designed to help you learn how to recognize and sing duet harmonies while exploring the music theory of why harmonies work. In each class we will learn a collection of folk, bluegrass, and country harmonies.
Course Goals:
Foster a communal environment for singing together
Strengthen vocal techniques for seamless blending and nuanced expression
Gain a deeper understanding of duet harmonies compared to three and four part harmonies
Expand your repertoire of duet songs
Qualifications:
Beginning to advanced level of experience singing
Willingness to share your voice
You do not need a duet partner to be a part of this class
When: August 19th - October 7th, 2025
8 week course
Time: Tuesday evenings 5:30-6:45pm
Ages: 18 years +
Rhythm Guitar Workshop (FULL)
Adult workshop (Beginning - Advanced)
Taught by Jim Nunally
Join renown guitarist Jim Nunally for a deep dive into the heart of roots rhythm guitar. This class offers an in depth look at strumming patterns, dynamics within strums, and how to use them. We will cover the differences between folk/country strum patterns and the classic bluegrass strums. This class is for all levels and is based on Jim's critically acclaimed instructional DVD "The Art Of Rhythm Guitar - Strumming". This workshop will include guest vocalist Nell Robinson.
About Jim Nunally: Jim is a guitarist, producer, composer, and educator with deep roots in traditional American music. Jim is a highly respected teacher at music camps across the country, including the Puget Sound Guitar Workshop, Bluegrass at the Beach, California Coast Music Camp, California Bluegrass Association Music Camp, Kaufman Kamp and many more. He is a two-time Western Open Flatpicking Champion, a recipient of two Grammy Award certifications and two IBMA awards, and earned two JUNO nominations with John Reischman and the Jaybirds. He has performed with legends such as David Grisman, John Reischman, and Laurie Lewis, and spent over 25 years teaching at top music camps.
When: Sunday, September 7th
Time: 9am-12pm
Ages: 18+
Meet the Teachers
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.