Anne Weiss is an award winning poet, singer-songwriter, and multi -instrumentalist with five albums to her credit and many years of touring under her hat.  She has had the good fortune to share the stage with many luminaries, from Dar  Williams to Taj Mahal. Anne loves teaching world music choirs and contemporary voice, guitar, piano, ukulele and songwriting in her home town of Portland, Oregon, as well as nationally at festivals and multi-day workshops. Her passion is to help participants and students across ages and abilities to feel at ease, and to help them gain and enjoy musical skills and new repertoire while building community. She has a passion for activism, and feels that teaching and sharing music has a place in all peace and justice efforts. She believes music is an ideal way to help connect and lift people up. Amongst the many settings where Anne has taught for over 30 years: Artichoke Music,  Portland Community College, Goddard College, PSGW, Centrum Blues, California Jamboree and more. Her students often speak of the joy that is part of the classes, making them exceedingly fun as well as educational. 

More info:www.anneweiss.com

Lessons Inquiry:likapika@aol.com

Annie Sea sings socially conscious acoustic soul anthems to energize and empower her audience. Whether she is leading a band or weaving a solo live looped soundscape, her velvet voice and lively melodies deliver compelling stories of transformation.

Once a secretive songwriter, Annie began sharing her music after partial vision loss derailed her career as an environmental microbiologist. While adjusting to this change, she tuned more deeply to sound, strengthened her voice, and stepped into her new role as a powerful frontwoman. Her writing reflects her belief that we can collectively return to more sustainable way of living as well as her individual journey toward her true vision and purpose.

Annie released her third album, Shadows Insight, in 2017. Her music is featured on the 350.org compilation Protect What You Love – Songs and Stories of the Pacific Northwest, the film Falling South, and the upcoming documentary Dammed to Extinction. She has collaborated with hip-hop artist Quincy Davis, and contributed vocals to the benefit album PDX Hip-Hop for the Water Protectors. In 2018, she was voted People’s Choice Artist at Flow Festival.  

Based in the Green Dream tiny house in Portland, Oregon, Annie strives to pursue an eco-conscious life in alignment with her message.

Arlo Leach has taught jug band classes and workshops around the country,  published original research on early jug bands and organized fundraisers for several musicians’ gravestones. He has performed in Louisville, KY  and Memphis, TN, the jug band heartland. He currently hosts a monthly jug band jam and leads the How Long Jug Band in performances around Portland.

http://www.arlotone.com

Avery Hill is a performing artist, songwriter, storyteller, and music teacher. Her singular style of songwriting integrates intricate melodies with insightful, storytelling lyrics. Avery’s voice is at once both wise and curious, direct and searching, telling and investigating. Her latest album is Dreams & Ghosts: A Family Album (2015), featuring the award-winning single Hello & Goodbye. Since 2013, she has been teaching ukulele classes and workshops, leading jams, and instructing at camps and retreats. Whatever the classroom, Avery’s teaching philosophy is encompassed in three goals: to educate everyone’s inner musician, to elevate their self-knowledge and confidence, and to enchant them with insight, presence, and a handful of good jokes.

Learn more at www.averyhill.studio

David taught harmonica at Artichoke in the late 90’s, as well as at PCC.   He currently plays in a number of Portland bands (Portland Country Underground, Woodbrain, Denver, among others)

Gary knows recording and production.  He’s also an incredible musician who has donated his time generously to build the “studio” that we call “Cafe Artichoke.”  An eight-time Emmy Award winner, he’s spent my career writing, photographing, directing and editing television programs, promos and commercials. Along the way he’s had the privilege to work with some of the best in the business: ABC News, ESPN, NBC News & Sports -- and at some of the top stations in the country including KSDK in St. Louis and KGW here in Portland. Whether working as a cameraman, editor or directing and producing, it has been a diverse, rewarding experience.

Julio Appling's performing career began in junior high as a gospel bassist, and has since weaved through classical, jazz, Americana, rock, and blues styles. Past projects include the genre bending, globetrotting Student Loan Stringband and the exploratory jazz project Trio Flux. In his fifteen years as a Portland-area sideman, his credits: The Portland Cello Project, Never Come Down, The Good Time Travelers, Strange and the Familiars, Russell Street Jam, Will West and the Friendly Strangers, Left Coast Country, Pretty Gritty, Far Out West, Thunder Ridge, Stumptown Swing, Anne Weiss, Stephanie Schneiderman, Bre Gregg, Ben Larsen, Josiah Payne, Clara Baker, Tara Velarde, Kory Quinn, Adam Sweeney, Tanner Cundy, and Laura Ivancie.

Based in Vancouver, Washington, Julio offers both musicianship coaching and private bass lessons, helping students foster an individualized and sustainable relationship with music, with a focus on fun.  

Jack is our resident luthier here at Artichoke who also volunteers his time helping out in our store.  Be on the lookout for his fabulous courses in appalachian dulcimer making, washtub bass assembly, and guitar setup.

Singer/songwriter, producer, teacher, and master of ceremonies Ken Gaines was a staple in the music scene on his previous home in Houston as well as throughout Texas. As of October, 2022 Ken now makes his home in Oregon City, South of Portland.  

He is the 2005 TMA Singer Songwriter of the Year and, for the past 24years produced the Thursday night, in the round series at Houston’s legendary Anderson Fair. He’s been featured numerous times at the Kerrville Festival and festivals and concert series across the country.

As a teacher of song craft & performance Ken has developed a number of theme-specific seminars for adults as well as teens and children. For the past 11 years he has been a teacher for the Kerrville Summer Music Camp for Teens  and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Texas. Ken has  written and produced numerous performance lectures, 2 live-theater children’s shows, and several movie/video scores.

As an MC Ken is known as the “voice” of both the Texas Music Awards and the Songwriter Serenade.  

He’s been active with FAI and SWRFA for 17 years, booking and hosting sponsored showcase rooms first for the Houston Association of Acoustic Musicians and then for Anderson Fair. He’s also a member of the health team for both conferences, mentoring traveling musicians on eating healthy while touring.

In 2016 Ken became one of the primary developers and Vice President of Song Circle Houston, a 501c3 organization in Houston featuring regular gatherings as well as concert and performance arts seminars. There Ken hosted a monthly Gatherin’ song circle, co-produced a series of Master Classes, and is also a regular featured performer of his own original music.
With bachelor’s degrees in Theatre Arts and Visual Arts Ken is celebrating his 54th year as a professional performer.

Harmonica teacher, Kyle Keilman has been performing onstage on diatonic (blues) harmonica for over 50 years, while also teaching the harmonica in classes and private lessons. His album credits include the Sons of Champlin, (Zappa percussionist) Ed Mann, Tim Cain, and live performances with them, as well as appearing with progressive rock group Ambrosia, salsa band Con Sol, and the reggae rock Tasmanian Rhythm Devils, among others.

Kyle teaches first, second and third positions on the ten hole diatonic for beginning, intermediate and advanced players.  He can teach from his home in SE Portland or at the Artichoke School of Music at 2007 Powell. Kyle can be reached at 415-259-7657 or email kylekeilman@gmail.com

With over fifty years of guitar playing experience Mark Shark brings his unique talents to the beautiful Pacific Northwest. 

As a multi-instrumentalist, performer, composer, author and educator, Mark has had the good fortune to share the stage and studio with many of his own personal hero's during his long and storied career (i.e., Jackson Browne, Jesse Ed Davis, Bonnie Raitt, John Trudell, Taj Mahal, Bob Dylan) 

His definitive and celebrated book The Tao of Tunings (Hal Leonard) is an in-depth exploration and analysis of alternate tunings that continues to inform and inspire players around the world.

For more information on Mark Shark please visit:   www.http//:TaoofTunings.com  

Instrument: Banjo

Martha grew up in Vermont, where clawhammer banjo was being played everywhere she went. She started by playing guitar, but as soon as she heard that infectious “Bum-Ditty” rhythm, she was hooked. By the time she was twenty, she was learning fiddle tunes, banjo tunes, songs, and back-up techniques on clawhammer banjo. Soaking up tunes and old-time songs and music as she traveled across the country, she listened to as many artists as possible to develop her own style of playing.

Martha has taught clawhammer workshops regularly at many music festivals, including the Wenatchee River Bluegrass Festival, the Tygh Valley Bluegrass Jamboree, and the Nashville Clawhammer Banjo Camp. She teaches individual lessons from her home in Cascade Locks, and thoroughly enjoys teaching both individual students and classes. She has been teaching her entire life and has transferred her academic teaching skills into music skills. 

“I have had quite a few teachers in my lifetime who had vast amounts of knowledge of their field, but I have only had a handful of ones who were skilled in imparting that knowledge to students. It is a talent that many do not have. What a delight it was to find that Martha possesses this rare skill, in addition to her vast knowledge of music and great talent for playing clawhammer banjo. She is an awesome musician and a super-intuitive instructor!”

-Florence Harti 

Contact: clawhammerrules@gmail.com

Instruments: Songwriting, Guitar

Performing songwriter Matt Meighan has taught songwriting classes at Artichoke since 2008. He is co-founder and host of the Hidden River Songwriting Camp each July, and of an annual Donegal, Ireland Songwriting Retreat. 

Matt's teaching approach is to create an environment where students' own wisdom is encouraged to emerge. "The goal is not the passing along of the teacher's knowledge, nor the passing along of anyone's knowledge: the course sessions are meant to provide occasions for individual insights and encouragement." - poet William Stafford. 

Matt earned an MFA in writing and poetics at the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics at Naropa Institute in Boulder.

Teacher's Web Site: Matt Meighan

Private Lesson Inquiry: Lesson Inquiry

Max Tucker is a drummer, producer and educator living in Portland, Oregon.  He relocated to Portland in 2018 moving from NYC where he studied jazz at the New School and studied with master drummer, Michael Carvin.  He is currently teaching drums and playing actively in the fertile Portland music scene.  Tucker also leads the Student Jazz Jam session at Artichoke Music every first Sunday from 3-5.   

maxdtucker@gmail.com

Instruments:    Fiddle, Viola, Violin, Ukulele, Songwriting

Megan started playing violin in 1994 as a junior high school student and immediately fell in love with the power and versatility of the instrument. She began her music education with classical training but after college joined a bluegrass band and discovered the joy of folk music and improvisation. A few years later she picked up viola and was wooed by its richness and depth.

After playing, composing and singing in folk bands for several years she picked up the guitar and ukulele as songwriting tools then dove into learning the ins and outs of harmony through these instruments. Today she regularly plays and sings her original music at various venues in the Portland area.

Around 2010, in the midst of her own musical journey, she began teaching music to others. Her gentle teaching style has drawn both late bloomers and sensitive individuals into their own unique musical journeys. 

Megan teaches students through a hybrid approach of folk and classical style and strives to create an encouraging, comfortable and fun environment in order to nurture student creativity.

Megan says,

“There is no end goal with music, we are always learning. On this path is where we can find the joy of making music on our own but especially with others. Whatever level a student is at, they are part of a wonderful and enriching music community. I try to foster this community among my students the best I can.”

Teacher's Web Site: www.megancroninmusic.com

Instrument: Guitar, Ukulele, & Banjo 

I have over 15 years of experience teaching , banjo, and ukulele. Since 2003, I’ve taught at several music schools in Portland, Oregon. Today I have my own studio where I focus on teaching beginning adults and kids ages 5 and up.

Before I taught music lessons, I was an elementary and high school teacher. My college degree is in education. I specialized in helping students who were struggling to keep up in their studies. With personalized instruction, I helped them become more successful in the classroom. This often involved finding out what was holding them back. And then, developing a plan on how they could best achieve success. In a way, it’s not unlike what I do today.

When I first started teaching music lessons, it was natural for me to focus on teaching children. I was surprised, though, by the lack of quality teaching materials for young learners. I did quite a bit of research and ended up putting my own materials together. That process has been refined over the years and the result is a step-by-step method that’s a favourite for both kids and parents.

Teacher's Web Site: normanhmusic.com

Private Lesson Inquiry: Lessons Inquiry

Instruments:  Guitar, Harmonica

Steve Cheseborough re-creates the blues, hokum and ragtime of the 1920s-30s, interspersing the songs with stories, history and humor. The author of Blues Traveling: the Holy Sites of Delta Blues and one of the stars of Last of the Mississippi Jukes, Cheseborough has the uncanny ability to turn any setting into a 1925 Mississippi jook joint. A cult figure, he has played at festivals, riverboats, jook joints, breweries and barbecues throughout the Western world. In his teaching, he works from the original recordings and tries to get his students to feel the groove with their hands and voices.

Teacher Web Site: Steve Cheseborough - Oregon Art Beat

Private Lesson Inquiry: Lesson Inquiry

Instrument: Dobro
Levels: Beginning-Intermediate
Styles: Western Swing, Bluegrass, Jazz

Tim Dawdy is a Northwest Dobro and Steel Guitar favorite. You will find him playing Western Swing on Friday night and Bluegrass on Saturday Afternoons. 

Tim is presently a private Dobro student of Dr. James Kerr of Columbia University. He has also studied Dobro with Micheal Witcher, Greg Booth, Sally Van Meter, Phil Leadbetter, Orville Johnson and the late Dobro Maestro Stacy Phillips.

Tim has trained in steel guitar with Bobby Black, Joe Wright and Larry Behm.

He teaches basic and intermediate Dobro at Artichoke Music in Portland and from his modern music studio in Ridgefield Washington. Most styles of music are taught, including Western Swing, Bluegrass and Jazz Standards. Private and group lessons are available.

Lesson Inquiries: Request Tim Dawdy

Instrument: Harp

Some of Tracey's performance experiences include with the National Ice Dance Theatre of Canada, 2 months touring S.E. Alaska and 2 months touring the Hawaiian Islands with a major cruise ship line, as feature harpist. She has played numerous private functions, for the Provincial Government of Alberta, Canada, Cross Cancer Hospital, University of Alberta, Road Scholar, Coast Plaza and Sheraton Hotels, and here in Portland at McMenamins and Waldorf schools.

Tracey began piano and voice lessons at 8 years, followed by guitar and harp. Her first harp teacher, after being self-directed for several years, was Kim Robertson, then there were workshop intensives in Wells, B.C., the World Harp Congress in 2011, Vancouver, Canada, and an Irish music workshop in  Donegal in 2018. She also studied several years at the university level on pedal harp. She has performed with Formolo Dance, master Sitarist Patric Marks, Canadian composer Roger Deegan, Canadian fiddler and producer Shannon Johnson, and locally in Portland with Irish style fiddler Erik Killops. 

Tracy's musical offerings as a teacher are harp fundamentals with a student centered approach that can be applied to most musical styles.  She, herself tends towards Renn dance music, Celtic, including from Brittany, light classical and original material, and she was employed at one time to play show tunes on harp.  She can teach either by ear or with written music, music theory for harp, and for those inclined, playing harp to sing to. Music samples can be heard at https://traceyrosebrown.bandcamp.com/releases.

Instruments: Guitar, Songwriting, Voice

Soldier Songs and Voices’ Coaches are a group of established songwriters and musicians, about half of whom are veterans. We have played a wide variety of styles and genres in our musical careers and have a broad range of skills to share. Our rotating Coach schedule serves to expose our vet participants to different perspectives and approaches each week and we are committed to the principle that everyone takes something new home from each session.

Group Website: SSV-Portland

Information: Inquiries