Spring 2026 Weekly Schedule

Banjo I (Blue Hill, Wednesdays at 4pm): Time to learn that plunk and thump in this beginner course to the 5-string Banjo! No experience necessary, we’ll take it from the beginning learning clawhammer style. Not sure what clawhammer is? Come in and see for yourself! Not sure if you have the right type of banjo? Bring yours in and we’ll take a look! Not sure you have a banjo? Not to worry, we have banjos we can loan out for the duration of the class!

Banjo II (Blue Hill, Wednesdays at 6pm): Learn more of the intricacies of the banjo in this intermediate class!

Banjo Ensemble (Belfast, Thursdays at 4pm): In the Belfast Banjo ensemble, we will learn clawhammer banjo tunes, accompanying parts, and harmonies and create a fun environment to play together with a mighty crew of banjos! Throughout the class we will look at techniques, tips, tricks, and ideas to expand your clawhammer banjo playing. We welcome anyone who has some experience playing clawhammer banjo and will accommodate all levels of playing. However, it is not a “start from the beginning” banjo class. Come check out our Banjo 1 class in Blue Hill if you want to learn how to play the banjo!

Bluegrass Ensemble (Belfast, Thursdays at 4pm): This ensemble is for intermediate musicians interested in improvisation and bluegrass music. We’ll talk about bluegrass forms, improvisation techniques, practice soloing and build a repertoire of new and classic bluegrass material together. Bring your voice, mandolin, fiddle, guitar, 3 finger banjo, dobro, or bass! Led by Benjamin Foss.

Birds of a Feather: Children’s Chorus (Belfast, Tuesdays at 4pm for ages 9 – 13): Birds of a Feather Children’s Chorus is a beginning singing experience for children who love music. In a safe and relaxed environment, children will learn songs from near and far, as we playfully explore the wonder of our own unique voices within a group setting. Clapping games and pitch exploration will further enhance their inherent musicality and choral experience. Lastly, when a child’s development is supported by music, it is in all aspects—including a strengthened sense of community, social inclusion, empathy and self-identity. Come sing with us! Early arrivals welcome for a provided community snack from 3:30-4pm!

Bodhrán (March Pop-Up: Tuesdays at 5pm): Bodhrán is a traditional Celtic drum. Lessons will be geared towards beginners and intermediate levels, but no drums/tippers will be provided. Please bring your own drum and a tipper. Students will learn waltzes, polkas, slip jigs, etc., and after five lessons, students will be especially proficient in playing jigs and reels.

Celtic Ensemble: Weds 6:00 – 7:00pm (Spring 2026): Learn how to play tunes from Ireland, Scotland, Cape Breton, and beyond with Molly Gawler and Bob McCormick. This ensemble is for musicians who want to feel comfortable playing in a session or an informal group setting. Tunes will be taught by ear at a moderate pace. Students should have a reasonable level of technical proficiency on their instrument so that they are able to learn a new tune each week. Some attention will be given to style and instrument-specific issues, although the focus of the class will be on learning melodies. The goal of the ensemble is for intermediate-level musicians to learn traditional tunes and accompaniment, build shared repertoire, and practice building medleys together.

Community Chorus (Belfast, Thursdays at 7pm): Come make a mighty chorus with us, singing songs from village traditions around the world, local sea shanties and farmer’s ballads, shapenote, and newly written material, too. Some songs will use sheet music from Bagaduce Music, others will be taught by ear. Emphasis will be on quality fun, led by Mia Bertelli, Elsie Gawler, Ethan Tischler and Bennett Konesni with special guests.

Guided Jam: Weekly FREE guided jam sessions for stringed instruments in a supportive environment for all ages and levels! Learn how to play in jam sessions with Molly & Elsie Gawler, Benjamin Foss, Bennett Konesni and other special guests throughout the session. Guided jams are held at Bagaduce Music in Blue Hill on Wednesdays and at the First Baptist Church in Belfast on Thursdays.

Guided Improvisation Workshop with the Moment’s Notice Jazz Quartet (January and February: Blue Hill, Mondays at 3:30pm): Jazz improvisation sessions with members of the Moment’s Notice Quartet, Tom VanBuren (saxophone) and Victor Lopez (bass).  A guided improvisation workshop for intermediate and above instrumentalists and vocalists. Develop your skills in hearing, thinking and practicing in harmony, playing with the various song forms and styles used in jazz, and rhythm training in swing, bop, latin, and fusion music. Sessions will take place on Mondays in January and February, 3:30pm to 5:30pm in the Bagaduce Music Performance Hall.

Guitar Ensemble (Blue Hill, Wednesdays at 6pm): This ensemble, designed for guitarists with at least one year of experience, will develop our technique and knowledge of the instrument through the practice of playing music together. Although the course will explore scales and theory, the primary focus will be on the application of those tools towards the experience of group music making. Through fiddle tunes, jazz standards, songs, and improvisation, we’ll explore the interplay of melody and harmony on this versatile and delightful instrument. Led by Ethan Tischler.

Northern New England Ensemble (Blue Hill, Wednesdays at 6pm): Join our dance band, focused on the traditional repertoire of Maine and its neighbors! We’ll learn classic tunes contextualized in the dance tradition, and work towards playing for dances as a group and as individual members of our thriving local contra dance scene. Over a semester we’ll build a shared list of tunes and spend our class time arranging them into medleys and building our skills playing as a band. This fast paced class is recommended for musicians who have some experience learning tunes and are interested in cultivating style and playing in the New England tradition.

Old-Time Ensemble (Blue Hill, Wednesdays at 4pm): This ensemble is for intermediate musicians who want to learn about Southern Old-Time string band music. We’ll look at what differentiates southern tunes and the square dance tradition from our northern tunes, with a focus on groove, style and repertoire. We’ll go back to source recordings and build a fun, driving collection of tunes to share. Open to fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin, and bass. If you play another instrument, check in first! Led by Benjamin Foss.

Songcrafting (Blue Hill, 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at 4pm): Develop your songcrafting abilities with a rotating cast of experienced songwriters. Listen to their approach and then share your own work. All styles and abilities. New teacher/perspective every 4 weeks, rotating through.

Spelmanslag (Belfast, Thursdays at 6pm): Spelmanslag is an intermediate-level ensemble for folks who are excited to play Nordic tunes in a community context. We’ll focus on learning great dance tunes from Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark, and tunes that came to Maine with immigrants from those countries. We welcome string instruments including fiddle, viola, nyckelharpa, guitar, mandolin, and upright bass. Want to bring your accordion, piano, clarinet, or horn? It might work but we should have a conversation about that first!

Teen Community Chorus (Belfast, Thursdays at 4pm): For the first time, we’re delighted to offer a teen-focused vocal ensemble through Bagaduce Music! Designed for young singers ages 13-18, this non-auditioned youth chorus is open to young singers who are excited to connect with others and hone their vocal abilities through a wide range of genres. Our work together will emphasize developing vocal range and repertoire, harmony and close harmony singing, learning by ear, and sight singing in a safe and supportive environment. The ensemble will be led by Ethan Tischler and Mia Bertelli.

Traditional Song Ensemble (Blue Hill, Wednesdays at 3:30pm): Traditional Song Ensemble pulls from a variety of folk traditions with an emphasis on developing repertoire and stylistic vocal elements such as ornamentation, timbre, and harmonization. We will choose selections from the woods and waters of Maine, from the fields and forests of the British Isles, and the hills and hollers of the Appalachian Mountains, with potential forays into South Indian, Corsican, and Georgian traditions. Led by Mia Bertelli and Ethan Tischler.