The New Expression
School of Music

Walt Richards began performing while still in high school, having taken up guitar at age 15. Within a year he had added banjo, soon becoming one of southern California's best-known players with multiple wins at the Topanga Banjo and Fiddle contest. He went on to tour nationally with various folk music groups in the 1960's.

In 1974 Walt and Vickie Cottle co-founded a folk instrument study center, The New Expression, where he taught bluegrass and frailing banjo, finger-style and flat-picking guitar, mandolin and autoharp to students who come from all over the southwest. Walt also offers a monthly performing workshop called the SloJam to help beginning/intermediate musicians learn to play together. And he currently coaches several ongoing performing groups.

In addition to his instrumental talents and teaching skills, his rich voice, harmonizing and arranging abilities have made Walt an extremely versatile performer. His active vocal repertoire includes 100s of folk songs, with a current emphasis on cowboy and train songs. A few years ago, Walt and Paula Strong recorded train songs used in ALL ABOARD, a special originally commissioned for Disney, which aired on the Discovery channel. A prior studio engagement resulted in an EMMY for Walt and Vickie Cottle for best musical arrangement and performance in an educational mini-series.

Besides being a gifted player, Walt is also a folklorist with a wealth of information on the instruments and the music produced on them. Audience members often comment on how much they have learned, as well as enjoying the music when he performs.

Walt is featured on a number of CDs both as solo performer and as a member of various groups he has formed including Mandolin Madness, The Soft Touch Banjo Ensemble, Trails and Rails, and Bow Willow. Walt and Paula have just completed two new "duo" CDs - a collection of cowboy songs and one of train songs.

Walt's experiences and talents as leader, composer, historian, multi-instrumentalist, lead singer and studio musician add to his groups' diverse music choices and arrangements. He has also been featured on teaching and demonstration videos and has performed in live theater with The Old Globe in San Diego.

Guitar:

• Fingerpicking: melodic and accompaniment styles
• Flatpicking: Bluegrass, Country, Lead and accompaniment styles
  

Banjo:

• Three Fingered Bluegrass styles
• Clawhammer / Frailing styles
• Parlour styles from the late 19th Century

Mandolin:

• Bluegrass
• Celtic
• Country style
• (via tab and note reading)

Autoharp:

• Melodic and Accompaniment styles

Lessons are 30 minutes long and are offered in a comfortable, air-conditioned studio located in the New Expression Scool of Music on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday's from 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM. Students are encouraged to record their lessons. (Cassette or CD format available at studio)

Walt Richards - Instructor
www.waltrichards.com
The New Expression School of Music
(619) 280-9035
Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
$30.00 / Lesson

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