~ ODPC 2025 Pre-fest Academy ~

Pre-fest academy 2025
This year at FunFest Academy, we are offering classes the Monday thru Wednesday before the FunFest. Come to Evart early and take part in the pre-festival classes. Not only are the classes an amazing learning opportunity; the fun, music, and fellowship at the campground in the evening make coming to FunFest early so worth it
Rick Thum’s Beyond A-Z Hammered Dulcimer Workshop
This is the fifth year of my new class called “Beyond A to Z.” It is intended for those of you who have taken the A to Z class and need to go further with it. This class will be a lot of hands on playing. We will take all of the techniques that were taught and put them into your hands by playing, playing and playing. You must have taken the A to Z and have a good grip on my chord positions. We will be using them in all their variations and exploring the many ways to approach them. This is a class for those willing to take a challenge and make it happen. Lots of trial and error expected with lots of growth and fun. We will be learning to get more expression and feeling into your music.
  • July 10-12, 2025 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday)
  • Time: 9-12 noon; 1-4pm; and 4:30-6:30pm both days
  • Evart United Methodist Church 619 Cherry Street
  • Fee: $185.00 for two days
  • Contact: Rick Thum to register. Limited Seating. Pre-registration required to insure your place in the class.
Rick Thum’s A-Z Hammered Dulcimer Workshop
Intensive training workshop on all levels for beginning, intermediate and advanced students. This class will start you on your journey to taking your playing to the next level. You will get all of the information to start using your entire dulcimer. This class will teach both music readers and non readers to be able to play and use your entire dulcimer very freely. This class teaches the mechanics of music on your hammered dulcimer.
  • July 14-16, 2025 (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday)
  • Time: 9-12 noon; 1-4pm, all three days; and 4:30-6:00pm
  • Evart United Methodist Church 619, Cherry Street
  • Fee: $250.00 for all three days
  • Contact: Register at Rick Thum. Limited Seating. Pre-registration required to insure your place in the class.
Mark alan wade - hammered & Mountain dulcimer
Join Mark on Wednesday before Evart's FunFest (Wednesday, July 16, 2025) for a small group workshop for hammered and mountain dulcimer at a fraction of the cost of one-on-one lessons. Settle in before the hustle and bustle of FunFest and enjoy focused time with your dulcimer in the air-conditioned high school. Mark has curated engaging topics that will cover extended class sessions which cater to multiple levels, with Mark differentiating instruction to suit each student's needs. Whether you are a beginner or more advanced player, there will be valuable takeaways for everyone. Seating is limited, so reserve your spot today. Click here to see more details on each class. Mark has invited one of his advanced students from Paris, France, to come to Evart this year to teach, perform and enjoy the festival. His name is Val Cortoni. Session: 1 9:30 - 10:45 Hammered Dulcimer - Intermediate through AdvancedSession 2: 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM Hammered Dulcimer - novice thru intermediateSession 3: 1:15 PM - 2:30 Hammered Dulcimer - novice thru int/adv Session 4: 3:00 PM - 4:15 PM Mountain Dulcimer - all levels
  • Wednesday, July 16, 2025
  • Fee: ALL Four Sessions: $117.00; Any 3 sessions $99.00; Any 2 sessions $70.00; Any 1 session - $40.00.
  • Location: Evart High School
  • Contact Mark Wade to register.
Val Cortoni - Hammered Dulcimer
Val Cortoni is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and music producer based in Paris, France. His work blends old-world acoustics with modern production techniques, featuring traditional instruments like the hammered dulcimer and psaltery alongside keyboards and electronic elements. Val has released two synth-folk albums, Nomade (2020) and Corelian (2022), showcasing his unique fusion of folk and electronic music. A hammered dulcimer player since 2015, he enjoys exploring a wide range of styles from folk, early, and baroque music, to unexpected genres like heavy metal, electronic music and video game soundtracks. In addition to performing live, Val works as a freelance hammered dulcimer session musician and teacher. After a decade as a mechanical engineer, he is embarking on his journey as a full-time musician in the spring of 2025. Click here to see more details on each class. Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Session: 1 9:30 AM Hammered Dulcimer - novice Session: 2: 11:00 AM Hammered Dulcimer - Intermediate/AdvancedSession: 3: 1:15 PM Join me in Mark's ClassSession: 4: 3:00 PM Hammered Dulcimer - novice thru int/adv Location: Evart High School Fee: ALL Four Sessions: $117.00; Any 3 sessions $99.00; Any 2 sessions $70.00; Any 1 session - $40.00 Contact: Register through Mark Alan Wade's website. A form will be provided to select your classes. You can mix classes with Mark or Val all on the same form and registration page.
Dave Haas - mountain dulcimer
Track 1: Advanced Beginner 9:00am-12:00pm $150.00
Improve your strum and fingering to play smoother and faster.Learn to play slow tunes by plucking the strings one at a time (arpeggios).Learn backup chords in several positions and how to accompany others.Discover ways to participate in jam sessions.Learn how to play harmonics and add them to your tunes.DAD tuning. Bring a Capo.
Track 2: Intermediate 1:00-4:00pm $150
Learn to play faster, cleaner, and smoother.Play slow songs with increased clarity and expression.Become proficient with slides, hammer-ons, pull-offs, and harmonics.Learn chord names and shapes all over the fretboard and how to accompany others. Learn how to particpate in jams with fiddles, hammered dulcimers, and others.DAD tuning. Bring a Cap.
  • 3 day workshops held July 14, 15, 16, 2025 (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday)
  • Location: Osceola County Fairgrounds TBA
  • Contact Dave Haas to register for one or both workshops.
  • Fee $150 per workshop
Bing Futch- mountain dulcimer - M.O.D.E Day
Session 1: Exercise Essentials 9:00 - 10:00 am
We begin with an invigorating session on fundamental exercises to enhance your dulcimer playing technique. From basic scale patterns for finger agility and picking accuracy to harmonic studies for fretboard dexterity, we'll delve into various drills to strengthen your sills and improve your overall proficiency. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned player, this workshop offers something for everyone.
Session 2: Building Repertoire 10:30-11:30 am
Expand your musical repertoire with a session focused on learning new tunes. Learn how to interpret and adapt different musical styles to the dulcimer while gaining valuable insights into the art of arranging and performing.
Session 3: Creative Improvisation 1:30 - 2:30 pm
Unleash your improvisational skills in this interactive workshop focused on creative expression. Explore various improvisation techniques and learn how to improvise melodies, harmonies, and rhythms on the dulcimer. Discover the joy of spontaneous musical creation and unlock your improvisational potential.
Session 4: Integrated Mastery: Applying Techniques in Performance 3:00-4:00 pm
In this dynamic session, we practically apply the skills and concepts learned throughout the day. Explore how exercise, repertoire, and improvisation techniques can seamlessly integrate into your performance to elevate your playing to new heights. Hands-on activities and collaborative exercises will give you valuable insights into effectively applying your newfound knowledge and skills in any musical setting.
Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Location: Osceola Fairgrounds, Evart Time: 9am - 4pm (12:00-1:30 Lunch Break) Fee: Full day of M.O.D.E: $99 Contact: To reserve your spot, register here.
Brett Ridgeway - Mountain Dulcimer
Brett Ridgeway's All-inclusive Mountain Dulcimer Sampler Workshop
When you play your dulcimer, you are telling a story. When you tell your story, you evoke emotion. We create emotion using both left and right hand techniques. In fact, you can play the same time and tell a completely different story, creatin different emotions. In this workshop, you will learn: - how to strum, flat-pick, finger drag, cross/arpeggiate, finger=pick and clawhammer your dulcimer. - how to play across the fretboard - how to properly play and incorporate hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides, triplets, and other embellishment techniques. For every tune learned in this workshop, you will learn to play it using all of the pre-mentioned right hand strum/pick techniques and left hand embellishment techniques, learning to how shape each tune into your story. You will receive a spiral bound workbook covering everything taught in the workshop, plus a copy of my FlatPicked Dulcimer Arrangements Workbook (via Flashdrive format) and a custom Learning for Life mountain dulcimer pick.
  • Monday, July 14, 2025 9:00-12:00 noon and 1:00-4:00PM
  • Tuesday, July 15, 2025 9:00-12:00 noon and 1:00-4:00PM
  • Wednesday, July 16, 2025 9:00-12:00 noon.
  • Location: Osceola County Fairgrounds TBA
  • Fee: $200 for all three days
  • To reserve and purchase your space contact Brett Ridgeway
Joe Steiner - Intermediate Guitar
This workshop is intended for folks who already know how to play a few chords on the guitar. We will explore ways to make your rhythm guitar playing more interesting by using a variety of techniques such as picking out bass notes, using bass runs, and using chord substitutions. There will be a small amount of music theory involved, but we will mostly work by ear using chord diagrams. We will also begin exploring lead guitar playing, or flatpicking, by using chord tones and filling out simple melodies. Attendees will take home several ideas to improve their playing as they explore other songs in their own practice sessions.
  • Wednesday, July 16, 2025
  • Times: 9-12 noon
  • Location: Osceola County Fairgrounds TBA
  • Fee: $40
  • Contact Chris Steiner to register or call 419-721-8015
Joe Steiner - beginning Harmonica
Have you wanted to use that harmonica that you have sitting around? Or have you ever thought it would be cool to play a musical instrument you can carry around in your pocket? Joe will walk you through learning to play tunes on the harmonica and also show you how to improve your playing by isolating single notes. He will also introduce you to some more advanced techniques which you can take home to improve your playing and take it to the next level as you practice. The only thing that is required for this workshop is an enthusiasm for music and a 10-hole diatonic harmonica (ie Hohner Marine Band or similar) in the Key of C.
  • Wednesday, July 16, 2025
  • Times: 1:00-4:00pm
  • Location: Osceola County Fairgrounds TBA
  • Fee: $40
  • Contact Chris Steiner to register or call 419-721-8015
Lamplighter Cafe 313 w 7th street Evart 231-734-3094Breakfast lunch and dinner served all day. Breakfast buffet Saturdays and Sunday
Pizza
Quilt Shop
Bar & Grill