top of page

Workshop Info
*Subject to change

10:00 am  Kickoffs, Backup, & Jamming Techniques: at The Family Stage

Fiddle Workshop with Shelah Spiegel

Ideas for starting tunes. Learn the difference between chunks, chops and long bow backup.

Quickie fiddle tunes and fiddle jamming techniques to get you out and jamming. 

 

10:00 am: Sing Along with 2 and 3 Chord Songs with Sally and Dana Charette at Songmakers

10:30 am: Wernick Method Bluegrass Jam Class with John David at SWBA

Wernick Method Bluegrass Jam Class with John David at 10:30 am at SWBA

Crash course! All bluegrass instruments. All levels. Novices welcome!

Only requirement is change smoothly between 4 chords. G, D, C, A. (notes for bass and fiddle)

You will be jamming right away! 

more info:  https://wernickmethod.org/event/jd-2026-05-calabasas    

11:00 am: Beginner Family Jam at the Family Stage

Led by LA local fiddle teachers Molly White and Natalie Brejcha.

Open to all ages, this slow paced, family oriented jam is for those who have a melody instrument like fiddle

and want to learn and play some classic tunes as well as chord players who know how to play basic ADEGC

chords on their instruments.

This beginner jam will have printed music available with chord charts, words and melodies provided.

11:00 am  Ledbelly Songs that Broke the Top 40 with Chuck Behrman at Songmakers

11:30 am: Intro to Musical Saw - at Instrument Petting Zoo

Hosted by Frank Feldstein who has taught musical saw for the past 25 years

with Tony Ramirez Retired Teacher (Musical Saw Tech Support.)

This is a hands on course no experience necessary.  All ages. Saws provided.  

You will learn:

*Solo demo

*Saw Plate harmonics

*The S curve

*Saw Playing posture

*Hammer Technique

*Bowing Technique

*Vibrato

*Playing a Scale

*Playing a simple song

12:00 pm Singing Workshop with Sweet Megg 

Please arrive 5 minutes early.​

12:00 pm Ukulele Sing & Strum Along with David Steinhart at Songmakers

1:00 pm Guitar Fingerpicking with Jordan Tice

Please arrive 5 minutes early.

1:00 pm: Flatfoot Workshop with Rebecca Stout & Hendricks Run at the Dance Stage​

1:00 pm Crazy Fun Sing Along with Janice Gelencser & Louise Dobbs at Songmakers

​​

1:30 pm: DJ Reed & Main Street Jam - Slow Jam 

Hosted by Southwest Bluegrass Association (SWBA).

"Nothing over 80 BPM Jam".  Come on by and hang out with friends…

The Nothing over 80 beats a minute jam is a come-as-you-are casual hoe down.  

Classic songs and fiddle tunes.  

Flip chart with chords.  

Guaranteed fun and smiles!  

2:00 pm Let’s Folk Up Rock & Roll with Warren Hasselberger & Michael Singletary at Songmakers

​​

2:30 pm Old Time Fiddle with Jake Blount

Please arrive 5 minutes early.​

3:00 pm  Americana & Roots with Gary and Kathy Lynch at Songmakers

4:00 Band Workshop with Foghorn Stringband

Please arrive 5 minutes early.

4:00 pm: Saw Players Workshop at Instrument Petting Zoo

Intermediate/Advanced

Hosted by Frank Feldstein who has taught musical saw for the past 25 years

with Janet Holmes & Tony Ramirez Retired Teacher (Musical Saw Tech Support.)

Open to anyone who has participated in a saw playing workshop and wants help

developing and honing their techniques.

This workshop focuses on Individualized instruction​​

Topanga Banjo Fiddle Festival

JOIN US! Sunday, May 17, 2026

 

Where:

King Gillette Ranch,

Calabasas, California, in the Santa Monica Mountains.  

 

Address: 

26800 Mulholland Highway

Calabasas, CA 91302

Contests 9:00 am

Featured Performances: 12:00 pm

Jamming all day!

Workshops

Food Trucks

Craft Beer

Artisans

Instrument Petting Zoo

Family Entertainment

Kids 9 and under are free for basic admission 

(excluding the contests and VIP tickets)

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
PngJoy_spotify-spotify-playlist-logo-png

© 2019 Topanga Banjo•Fiddle Contest & Folk Festival.  All Rights reserved.

bottom of page