One of the original founders of the Chicago Barn Dance Company, Masha has been performing and teaching banjo and clogging and calling for over 30 years. Now a resident of Northern California, she is best known in this region for many years of performing with the "Yeow!" show, and many years of calling the dances at the Strawberry Music Festival. She is particularly good at working with beginners and making their introduction to old-time music and dance fun and welcoming. Festival/group workshops only (sorry, no private lessons).

Geff Crawford plays and teaches traditional old-time fiddle, clawhammer banjo, and old-time back-up guitar.

Geff has played old-time music with kids almost every working day for the past 30+ years. He teaches traditional old-time fiddle, banjo, and guitar to all ages and abilities. An accredited and experienced teacher, he understands music theory and chord structures, and is wonderfully patient and encouraging. Private or group lessons.

Masha plays & teaches:
• Old-time banjo styles including frailing, clawhammer, drop-thumb, double-thumb, Galax style, Round Peak style and the traditional two-finger up-picking style known as "seconding". (Old-time only, sorry, no bluegrass)
  
• Traditional dance styles including flatfooting, clogging, buckdancing, improvisatory percussive American stepdance. She can teach almost anyone from little kids on up how to clog. She knows how to break steps down into simple component parts, and give you the tools to continue learning and improving and improvising.
• Dance calling including contras, visiting couple sets, early Western squares. She can help you learn timing, patter calling, chant calling, planning an evening, and how to teach others.

Geff plays & teaches:
• Traditional old-time fiddle including numerous bowing styles. He has himself studied and played with notables including John Hartford, Tom Paley, Melvin Wine and others. Geff has a wide repertoire of tunes drawn from many regions.
  
• Clawhammer banjo: Geff's clawhammer banjo playing has a clear, steady style with a nice balance of rhythm and melody. He can teach clawhammer, frailing, and chord structures.
  
• Backup guitar: Geff teaches the good, strong, basic old-time boom-chuck guitar backup with simple bass runs which are so essential for that traditional stringband sound.