Oly Old-Time Music Class

Class is held every Wednesday night in the South Capitol neighborhood of Olympia, Washington, at Yolanda and Joe's house: 225 17th Ave SE at Franklin Avenue. We play from 7-9pm. During the first part of class we learn a tune and then spend the rest of the class jamming. Note that class is canceled on the following days: January 13, February 10, March 10, April 14, and May 12. For more info, contact mikey@olyoldtime.org.

"Old-Time" refers to a genre of traditional American country music passed down orally from generation to generation. It changes over time. It is like country, bluegrass, and Irish music all blended together for dancing.

Oly Old-Time has been meeting almost every Tuesday since October of 2006. Oly Old-Time's first incarnation was "Banjo Class" at the Olympia Free School, but it quickly became a stringed instrument class. The Olympia Free School has all but disappeared, but Oly Old-Time is going strong. Nearly three hundred people have been a part of Oly Old-Time in the last two and a half years. Average weekly attendance ranges from 5 to 25.

Banjo, fiddle, and guitar are the most common instruments at Oly Old-Time but most stringed instruments can work. Bass, cello, mandolin, ukulele, spoons, washboard, washtub, harmonica, bazouki, feet and saw have all been worked into the mix quite well. Every night is different but, beginner or professional, you will always have a good time.

Support for instruments and skill levels varies from week to week based upon who attends, but you can expect to learn something from someone regardless of your age or musical background. The more of us that come the better it gets.

The general format of the class goes a bit like this:

  • Tuning;
  • Stragglers straggle in;
  • Intro go-around;
  • Play a few tunes from previous weeks;
  • Choose the tune of the night;
  • Play that tune for a long time;
  • Break off into groups based on instrument and skill level;
  • Meet back up and play it again;
  • Jam till 9.
There are some instruments available to loan out and some level of a kids zone for when their attention span wavers. Hope to see you soon! Coming by to listen is an important step in learning any type of music.

Download our songbook here.