Kari has been leading singing classes and workshops for more than a decade.  Kari draws on her vast experience as a Spanish and English teacher and her lifelong love for and experience with music to create a safe and encouraging environment for new and experienced singers alike.

Mountain Mama Madness

For five years now, Kari and host, Kathy Scott, have been organizing singing weekends for women in Kathy’s north Georgia mountain cabin in the woods.  Aptly named Mountain Mama Madness, these weekends have become cathartic and valuable for the singer wannabes as well as for those who simply want to expand their repertoire and improve their vocal and harmony skills.  Sorry, gentlemen, these weekends are for women only.

Every weekend has a theme and a set of songs to learn and explore, while we explore our own selves, voices, and each other.  If you have ever wanted to sing your heart out but wished you could do it in a place where only the bears could hear you, these weekends might be just what you have been waiting for.  As many Mountain Mamas will tell you, even if you have never heard of the genres or artists we will be exploring on a given weekend, you will take away much more than you could imagine with the always supportive and generous spirits around you.

Here are some Mountain Mama quotes:

~ My first Mountain Mama singing workshop exceeded all my expectations! Not only did I learn a lot about singing, but I laughed, cried (from laughing), enjoyed the beauty of the Georgia highlands, bonded with a sisterhood of ya yas came out of my shell, and sang my heart out to the bears, deer, trees and hills.  Oh yeah, I ate very well too. It’s not just about the music, I came away with so much more – I feel re-juvinated, re-born, re-laxed, and will re-peat and re-turn to this re-treat!

~ I like the holistic nature of the experience and I will highly recommend it to anyone who will listen – although then it will be sooo popular, I’ll have a hard time securing a spot!

~ Kari is a wonderful teacher, singer, songwriter . . . person! I feel blessed to have had this opportunity.

~ Kathy’s cabin sits in a beautiful spot that emanates energy refreshing any who is fortunate enough to be there.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Weekend cost is $150 – includes lodging AND breakfasts.  Breakfasts are included and everyone shares in the remainder of the food contribution and preparation.

The views are spectacular, the hostess is the mostess (trust me), and we would love to tell you more.  Email me at kari@polecatcreek.net or Kathy at cbscott@mindspring.com for more information than you will ever need.

Come on and sing with us!

2012 Calendar – Save the Dates!

Mountain Mama Madness #22 – May 4 – 6  Theme:  Songs about Mama       There are so many beautiful and interesting songs about mothers, and this weekend we will sing some of the best of those.  No matter what kind of mother you have, had, are, or are not, there will be something for you here.  Within the theme we will explore singing styles and harmony parts and learn to make the most of our unique voices, together and separately.

Mountain Mama Madness #23 – July 13 – 15  Theme:  George and Tammy – together again              Country music scholar Bill C. Malone writes, “For the two or three minutes consumed by a song, George Jones immerses himself so completely in its lyrics, and in the mood it conveys, that the listener can scarcely avoid becoming similarly involved.”  Arguably the best voice in country music today, George Jones is worth spending a weekend on.  But we couldn’t leave out his beautiful ex-wife Tammy Wynette!  We will listen to songs by George, songs by Tammy, and also duets by them both. Famous songs and obscure ones, sung in the sad and the celebratory country style that defines THE one and only POSSUM, and THE one and only Tammy Wynette.

Mountain Mama Madness #24 – Sept 21 – 23  Theme:  Duets                                   Back by popular demand, this weekend will be centered around duet styles from old-time, folk, country, and bluegrass genres.  We will sing both melody and harmony parts and experience the joy of blending voices together to create new sounds.  If you love to sing with another person (who also loves to sing,) this weekend is for you!  We will listen to and figure out what makes harmony interesting and what we can do to make it our own.

Harmony Upon the Mountain (HUM)

Singing Workshops at Hampton Creek, NC (near Asheville) for women AND MEN!

Next Workshop:   ~~ DUETS ~~   June 16, 2012

Singing is great fun, but it’s even better when you sing with someone else.  In this workshop we will focus on duets and practice the art of holding down a melody part and finding and adding harmony.  If you feel you are not ready to sing harmony, no worries!  The melody is just as important.  If you want to challenge yourself by delving into harmony more than you have in the past, great!  This workshop is for all of you.  We will spend the day singing and laughing and trying – and having fun!  Come with your favorite singing partner, or meet one in the circle.  There are no prerequisites and no pressure.  Just a day of making music together.  Compilation CD of some of my favorite DUETS songs included!

HUM Workshop Fee:  $75 — Healthy lunch included

Optional Overnight – All the comforts of home in a beautiful wilderness setting. Includes evening potluck and jam, and Sunday morning gospel singing. The only requirement is that you bring your own drinks of choice and contributions for potluck dinner and Sunday breakfast. We’ll be leaving by 12 noon.

For more info, contact: Terry Deal

To Register, go to: HUM Workshop home page

Previous Workshop: COUNTRY LOVE SONGS