This here is Arthur McGregor…the owner and visionary behind the Ottawa Folklore Centre.  Arthur is a man of many instruments and can play the tarnation out of most any string instrument you toss at him.  This is the philosophy behind the Ottawa Folklore Centre; we’re in the business because we play music and love it.

Our goal is to get you playing.  Whether you’re starting from nothing or have been a dabbler for a while; we want you to have the best instruments, books, instruction, and repairs that you can while you start your musical journey.

No lessons, no retail, no nothing.  Get out there next to the lake and get strumming some songs before the bugs git ya.
That’s where we’ll be.

Yes…A regular strap will hold your guitar up just fine.
This strap is pink and wonderfully fuzzy.

Normally $54…get yours today for $30.
Head over to our eStore. 

We have a positively wicked line up of teachers and courses for this summer’s Rock Sküll!

Jesse Green, Kurt Walther, Todd Snelgrove, Doug Gouthro, and Ben Russell are all hosting bands and running courses in which they share the hard earned fruits of their rock and roll labor for you to enjoy.

Get signed up today.  These spots will go FAST!

2012rockskullschedule

Summer Rock School 2012

   Note: the Getting Started course is for kids aged 8-14 years old with little or no musical experience. Students registering for Rock Band focused courses should have at least one year of lessons or the equivalent on their instrument of choice)

Getting Started in Rock Guitar  $150

Designed for the absolute beginner, this course will concentrate on the necessary skills to get you playing rock including: tuning, care of the instrument, open chords, power chords, reading tablature notation, strumming,  & flatpicking. Students as a group will choose songs to learn from a body of simple rock/alternative/grunge tunes. Recommended for ages 8 to 16. Maximum registration of 10, minimum 3.  (We can rent guitars for those who need them on a first come first served basis)  Led by Doug Gouthro , Todd Snelgrove, Ben Russell or Kurt Walther.

Getting Started part 2 $150

This is a continuation of the Getting Started course. It’s all about digging in and learning more techniques, tricks and tunes. Styles and techniques by Nirvana, Hendrix, Clapton, Sex Pistols, Blink 182. etc… ages 8-16. Participants must have taken the Getting Started part 1 course. With Kurt Walther. 2012rockskullschedule

Rock Band  $150

This course is for individuals and/or already existing bands. All aspects of playing in a band will be covered including a look at each instruments’ placement in the sonic field, playing parts that aren’t competing, supporting the singer, compositional techniques etc… Open to intermediate  level guitarists, keyboard players, bass players and drummers.  This group is led by John Henry’s writer/member Doug Gouthro, Ben Russell, Jesse Greene, Todd Snelgrove or Kurt Walther. Only one bassist, keyboard and drummer, max 3 guitarists per group. Singer must play an instrument or talk to the teacher first. ages 12-16-  mystery instruments also welcome (violin, shamison etc…) 2012rockskullschedule

Guerilla Songwriting for Bands with Kurt Walther $150

Kurt has been a master songwriter and arranger for bands for over 20 years. His huge arsenal of ideas and techniques will be the fuel that gets your band producing interesting and engaging tunes. Take advantage of this unique teacher for an August treat! Sign up your whole band and write your brains out trying out the ideas as you go! This class is awesome!!!! 2012rockskullschedule

Guerilla Songwriting with Kurt Walther $150

Kurt has been a master songwriter and arranger for bands for over 20 years. This group is for people who just want to get lots and lots and lots of ideas for writing music from all kinds of musical sources. Students are encouraged to bring in their instruments. This is also an awesome class!!!! 2012rockskullschedule

Overview of Jimi Hendrix 1+2 with Doug Gouthro  $150

It’s all about Hendrix folks! Participants will leave with a boatload of Hendrix tricks and techniques. Enough stuff to practice for the next year. This course is a must have for the Hendrix fanatics out there. Participants must have been playing for at least a year. Ages 12-18

Overview of AC/DC and Led Zeppelin with Doug Gouthro $150

Focus on two of the most influential Rock guitarists of all time, Angus and Jimmy. You’ll learn classic riffs and a few of the more eclectic tricks. What an awesome class!!! Participants must have been playing for at least a year. Ages 12-18 2012rockskullschedule

Power Vocals with Ben Russell $150

If you haven’t heard him sing, Ben Russell knows how to belt it out from the depths. He approaches singing from a combination of music and theatre backgrounds, with breathing techniques and personal focus. Join him for a strenuous vocal workout that will set the ground for many years to come. “ singing is like a controlled scream…” Pavarotti 2012rockskullschedule

Singer/Songwriter with Ben Russell $150

As a teacher here at OFC, Ben spends a tremendous amount of time working with singer/songwriters, honing their songwriting abilities and working on singing and playing at the same time. This course is just like that except you’ll be working with your peers and getting a perspective on different songwriting techniques, musical styles and more. Think discussion group meets songwriting meets vocals. 2012rockskullschedule

Girls only Rock Band w/ Jesse $150

Join Angelina for a week of two hours a day Girls Only Rock Band.  Work on arrangements, song-writing, band dynamics, performance, and more!  Participants will choose one song to cover and write another as a group.  Maximum 3 guitars, 1 bass, and 1 drummer. Fiddle, banjos, and mystery instruments are welcome but players should be at the intermediate level.  Ages 12-16, individual rockers AND full on rock bands both welcome! 2012rockskullschedule

Sax Quartet  with Ross Davison $150

Hey, sax players! Looking to play mixed styles of music with other players and have your fingers and mind worked to within an inch of your life? This is the session for you. Don’t even hesitate. You will be a better player after this course! 2012rockskullschedule

Blues Guitar Leadline with Doug Gouthro $150

Without a doubt, Jesse is one of the best blues guitar players in Ottawa. She will take players who have been playing for at least one year and introduce them to patterns and variations on the minor pentatonic scale (blues scale), basic boogie guitar, and cover the 12 bar blues form and it’s many variations. 2012rockskullschedule

Classic Rock Ukulele with Jessamyn Greene $150

Yes you read that properly! Join Jesse Greene for a rock ukulele course. Tunes will be taken from a variety of classic rock tunes from Pink Floyd to Led Zeppelin and more. Beginners welcome but it does help if you’ve had a little guitar in your background, and well… a ukulele!  2012rockskullschedule

Guitar Chords Intensive with Kurt Walther $150

Kurt Walther is indeed s a guitar chords master and will introduce students to new and innovative ways of looking at the neck of the guitar from the point of view of chord creation and design. There are chord patterns to be found all over the guitar that, with a little help, can be worked to create unique sound combinations that define your sound. If you like noodling for hours on the guitar, and want to explore some new pathways, this is the class for you! 2012rockskullschedule

Also Available:

Private Intensives

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Drum intensives with Liam Smith (one hour per day for a week!)

Vocal Intensives with Ben Russell

Piano Intensives with Steve Tatone

Guitar Intensives with Justin Black

   Don’t forget, we have over 30 of the best private teachers in Ottawa and the surrounding areas offering lessons in everything from Guitar, to Violin, Sax, Clarinet, Flute, Bagpipes, Banjo, Mandolin, Didgeridoo, Piano, Tin Whistle, Uillean Pipes, Autoharp, Drum Kit and more.

************Summer is a great time to work on your skills***********

Preview the Teachers at www.ottawafolklore.com

To Register

   Simply give us a call after 2pm during the week at 613-730-2887 ex 3, or Saturdays 9-5 and Sundays noon – 5pm. We can sign you up over the phone with a credit card or you can stop by the store anytime. Registration requires a membership which is a one time fee of $30 and is good for life. Membership also gets you discounts in the retail store, special offers, workshops and more…

*** Please keep in mind that with all courses (except for the “Getting Started in Rock” course), students ought to have been playing and taking lessons for around one year. Give us a call anytime and we can talk to you about the playing levels if you have concerns or questions. “Getting Started in Rock” is for absolute beginners. Students for Bands should be 12ish -17ish years old. Getting Started students can be as young as 8yrs old.

Note: Only drums, amps and a P.A. system are provided for band sessions as well as the getting started courses. Students must have their own instruments. Guitars and amps are available for rent on a limited first-come-first-served basis.

Alisha is our newest member to the Folklore team. She has been through several years’ theatre training and has had an exciting opportunity teaching creative drama at the Ottawa School of Speech and Drama. Alisha is thrilled working for the School of Music and has begun her musical venture learning the drum kit.  You can find her, fighting the dark forces of chaos and schedule conflicts, behind the school desk.

“Blowin’ in the wind” an exhibit of works of scenes of nature by Marianne Feaver

Nature is my first love, whether it be the delicate petals of an oriental poppy or the gnarly bark of ancient olive trees.  I look for the way light falls through the branches of the forest or glistens on a pond.   I tend to see the world on the bright side and celebrate the wonderful colours that surround us.  In full admiration of the Impressionists’ ability to capture the essence of a scene, enhancing it with bold strokes and colours while simplifying the subject matter, I attempt to move in that direction.

Whether I am painting “en plein air”, or in the studio with the music turned up loud, art is a passion that gives me great joy.  I hope my work exudes some of my “joie de vivre.”

My works can be seen at Galerie Old Chelsea where I am an associate. In addition to having a solo show once a year,  I regularly participate in group shows including the Ottawa Art Festival, and the Ottawa Tulip Festival.  My paintings are on display in Ottawa restaurants and I  also sell privately as well as doing works on commission. I have taught painting for the City of Ottawa.

One can find my works featured in private collections in Canada, the US,  Europe and the Middle East.

Join a group of new and beginner harmonica enthusiasts to work on basic techniques (such as how to hold the harmonica, play notes, chords, trills, bends, riffs and improvised melodies).  Focusing on harmonica fundamentals helps build confidence and the ability to play songs alone and with other musicians. To participate, bring a diatonic (10-hole) harmonica in the key of C, or you can purchase one from the Folklore Centre. The workshop takes place at the centre on Sunday, June 17, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. It costs $20 for members and $25 for non members. WKSHP12.11

Catriona Sturton has been playing the harmonica for 19 years and got her start as a teenager in Ottawa, studying from Larry “The Bird” Mootham. She has taught harmonica in Toronto and Guelph, and has given workshops for libraries and folk festivals across Canada. Catriona has studied harmonica in New Orleans, Mississippi, and currently studies with Carlos del Junco, one of Canada’s best harmonica players.

Local Realtor extraordinaires Diane Allingham and Jen Stewart swung by the store and shot this video as part of their “Spotlight on…” series.

Great shots from inside the store and a fantastic interview with Arthur.

Click here to view the embedded video.

We’ve got you covered for all of your banjo needs.
Grab an instrument, get signed up for lessons, and get banjo-ing before you know it.

The Ottawa Folklore Centre: Where ‘Banjo’ is a verb.