Music Education Team Workshops

MUSIC IS A BIRTHRIGHT.
The mission of Mile of Music’s Music Education Team is to help all people unleash their inner musician in order to build a community of active music explorers, music makers, and music lovers. We are committed to providing dynamic music-making opportunities for people on the Mile to set them on a path of discovering and developing their musical selves.

At Mile of Music, people don’t just hear the music, they are the music!

View the Workshop Schedule Here!

Read more about our Music Education Team HERE!

FEATURED WORKSHOPS:

Acoustic Guitar Workshop (Ages 10+) Saturday 8/2 1:20-2:10 – Heid Music Learn or improve your skills on one of the most versatile musical instruments – acoustic guitar! Beginners to intermediate players welcome. Bring your own guitar or play one of ours!

All-Abilities Inclusive Music-Making (All Ages!) Friday 8/1 1:00-1:50 – Lawrence Conservatory Green Embracing all abilities, ages, and populations! Expressive Therapies will be leading us in drumming and making music TOGETHER with live music performed by Mile artists! Get up close and personal with these musicians while you create your own interpretation of the music.

Bachata Dance Friday 8/1 10:30-11:30 – PAC Thrivent Hall; Saturday 8/2 10:30-11:30 – PAC Thrivent Gall Come and join us for Bachata dance! A dynamic and fun Latin dance from the Dominican Republic. Izzy and Vang have been building the Latin dance community here in the Fox Valley and cannot wait to introduce you to Bachata, with taps, slides, turns dips and lots of hips, you never know exactly what to expect from the dance but you can expect a fun exciting time! You’ll learn simple and intricate patterns that you can take back to teach your family and friends. Don’t have a partner? Come anyways! Beginners and veterans alike, all are welcome to move with the music and have fun along the way.

Balinese Dancing Friday 8/1 2:30-3:20 – PAC Thrivent Hall Learn Balinese dance! Bali, Indonesia is often known for its stunning and intricate dance traditions, from fierce masked dances to graceful movements used in Balinese Hindu temple dances. In this workshop, participants will gain the basic skills needed for both refined female and strong male characters. From the foundational poses to detailed finger movements and facial expressions, practicing Balinese dance is a fun way to learn about another culture!

Balinese Gamelan: Gongs, Drums, and Metallophones (All Ages!) Friday 8/1 11:50-12:40 – Lawrence Conservatory Green; Sunday 8/3 2:10-3:00 – Lawrence Conservatory Green Learn to play music from Bali! Join Balinese Gamelan master teachers and members of the Lawrence Community Music School’s community Gamelan group for this perennial Mile favorite. Patterns played on ornate percussion instruments interlock to create a mesmerizing, shimmering sound that has found a home here in Appleton. Bring the whole family!

Blues Harmonica Workshop Friday 8/1 12:20-1:10 – Heid Music; Saturday 8/2 11:20-12:20 – Heid Music Step into the wonderful world of the harmonica—one of the most portable, versatile, and affordable instruments. In this heart-opening workshop, you’ll connect with your inner music and learn how to take it with you wherever you go. In just 45 minutes, you’ll explore the sounds of blues, jazz, and traditional music, unlocking the endless possibilities of this small but mighty instrument. You’ll learn essential techniques, uncover the secrets of harmonica playing, and gain the tools to make it your perfect travel companion. Get ready to be inspired and surprised by the power of the harmonica!

Brazilian Samba Drumming (Ages 10+) Friday 8/1 3:10-4:00 – Lawrence Conservatory Green; Saturday 8/2 11:00-11:50 – Lawrence Conservatory Green Come and groove with us in this powerful aural drumming tradition from Brazil. No drumming experience necessary! Learn about and play the different “voices” of the bateria – or samba band – that combine to stir the soul and make you want to move.

Community Samba Kickoff at the Mile! (Ages 10+) Saturday 8/2 1:00-1:50 – Lawrence Conservatory Green; Sunday 8/3 10:00-10:50 – Lawrence Conservatory Green Groovin’ on Samba at the Mile is a tradition dating back to Mile 1! But Mile 12 is notching it up with something extraordinary: the Community Samba Kickoff! Join LU percussion professor, Jean Carlo Ureña González and Madison Middle School music teacher, Eli Grover on the launch of Appleton’s own community Samba ensemble! We will dig deep over just two rehearsals, culminating in a performance at the Sunday 11am Samba workshop, learning how to play the different instruments of the bateria-or samba band- that combine to create powerful and soul-stirring community bonding through this dynamic Brazilian drumming culture. No prior experience necessary!

Didjeridu (All Ages!) Friday 8/1 4:10-5:00 – Lawrence Conservatory Green; Sunday 8/3 10:00-10:50 – Lawrence Conservatory Green Learn to play the Australian Aboriginal didjeridu! A universe of sounds, all from a log hollowed out by termites. All welcome, no experience needed, didjeridus provided. Bring the whole family!

First Steps in Music (Ages 0-5 & caregivers) Friday 8/1 9:30-10:0 – Harper Hall at Lawrence Conservatory; Saturday 8/2 9:30-10:00 Harper Hall at Lawrence Conservatory Join Ms. Nell (teacher of Early Childhood Music classes at the Lawrence Community Music School) with your littles 5 and under for singing, playing, and moving to great music! Let’s get tuneful, beat-ful, and artful together!

Ghanaian Dancing and Drumming (All ages!) Friday 8/1 11:50-12:40 – PAC Thrivent Hall; Saturday 8/2 2:30-3:20 – Lawrence Conservatory Green Come and dance with us in an energizing, highly rhythmic style from Ghana. You will learn dances that change in response to calls from the lead drum. Exhilarating and fun for people of all ages and experience levels. Bring the whole family!

Hip-Hop Songwriting (Ages 13+) Friday 8/1 2:30-3:20 – Heid Music; Saturday 8/2 12:20-1:10 – Heid Music Led by touring rapper and performer Damien Liriano, this interactive workshop is all about using rap as a tool for expression, connection, and confidence. Drawing from his experience opening for artists like The 1975, Trippie Redd, and Lil Xan, Damien will break down what it really means to engage with Rap—from writing with intention to owning your energy should you choose to put yourself out there on stage some day! Together, you’ll explore lyric writing, freestyle techniques, and stage presence, with space for participants to share their work and grow in a collaborative, encouraging environment. Damien will walk through how to tap into your personal voice, craft meaningful verses, and bring them to life with rhythm, flow, and authenticity. Whether you’re brand new to rapping or have experience, the goal is simple: to help you level up and feel more confident as an artist. See you there! No experience necessary.

Irish Fiddle Workshop Friday 8/1 11:00-11:50 – Harper Hall at Lawrence Conservatory; Saturday 8/2 3:20-4:10 – Heid Music Irish Fiddle music has been moving listeners (and players!) for hundreds of years. The infectious joy and motion of this music tradition comes from the tunes themselves but also the personal interpretation of the musicians! Come learn with award-winning fiddle player, Caitlin Hedge, who will help you create your own interpretations for traditional Irish tunes! Participants will learn stylistic and technical tips for playing Irish fiddle music, including ornaments and bowings, picking tunes up by ear, and accompanying dancers. This workshop is geared towards intermediate to advanced string players of any type! Bring your own instrument, sheet music will be provided.

Los Ritmos de Mariachi (All Ages!) Saturday 8/2 1:10-2:00 – PAC Thrivent Hall Ya llego el Mariachi! Mariachi has arrived in the Valley! Now’s your chance to dance, sing and experience the driving rhythms and soaring melodies of Mariachi music! Come dance to the music and fill your hearts and voices with joy as we explore Mexico’s most iconic music. Bring the whole family!

Merengue Dance Friday 8/1 1:10-2:20 – PAC Thrivent Hall; Saturday 8/2 2:30-3:30 PAC Thrivent Hall Come and join our dynamic workshop to explore the vibrant rhythms of Merengue! Experience the energetic drumming techniques and spirited dance moves that define this lively tradition from the Dominican Republic. Perfect for all skill levels, this immersive session promises fun, cultural enrichment, and an unforgettable taste of Caribbean musical heritage. (Ages – drumming: 10-adult; dancing: all welcome).

pBone Jam! (All Ages) Friday 8/1 2:00-2:50 – Lawrence Conservatory Green; Saturday 8/2 11:50-12:40 – Lawrence Conservatory Green Ever played a pBone? Now’s your chance! No experience necessary to jam out on these plastic, brightly colored “brass” instruments! We’ll explore styles from funk, jazz, pop, and rock, and end with a community groove anyone can play!

Playground Games (ages 6-12 & caregivers) Friday 8/1 11:00-11:30 Lawrence Conservatory Green; Saturday 8/2 11:00-11:30 Lawrence Conservatory Green Everybody get on the Playground! Come out to learn (or remember!) Playground Games of yesterday and today. Join our leaders in hand clapping games, jump roping chants, tinikling challenges and more! Each session will present unique material, so come to both!

Shuffle It Up! Blues Songwriting Workshop Friday 8/1 3:30-4:20 – Heid Music Join award-winning Minnesota blues artist Casey Frensz for a journey back to the roots of so much music we love today. Bring your own instrument or borrow one of ours as we unlock the formula behind a classic 12-Bar Blues and create an original song together.

Songwriting Workshop with Steffi B Friday 8/1 11:20-12:10 – Heid Music; Saturday 8/2 2:20-3:10 – Heid Music Dive into to the craft of writing music and lyrics with Steffi B, singer-songwriter and Martian of Porky’s Groove Machine! Focus on the basics of music theory, demystifying lyrics, and discovering and strengthening creativity through the practice of balancing the Inner Creative and the Inner Critic.

Sounds Together – Community Song Circle (All ages!) Saturday 8/2 3:10-4:00 – Lawrence Conservatory Green Lift voices and hearts together as we sing songs of healing, belonging, compassion and community. This is a welcoming space for harmonizers, improvisors, movers, dancers and those who may be timid about singing in the circle to experience the powerful connectivity of singing together within our community. Bring the whole family!

Stories that Sing 1 and 2 (Ages 2-10 & caregivers) Friday 8/1 10:10-10:40 Harper Hall at Lawrence Conservatory; Saturday 8/2 10:10-10:40 Harper Hall Lobby at Lawrence Conservatory Watch, listen, and interact with our lively musician storytellers as they bring our picture books to life with song, dance and tons of fun! Sessions on Friday and Saturday will feature a different selection of stories.

Strums and Drums: A Rock and Roll Uke Workshop Saturday 8/2 2:10-3:00 – Lawrence Conservatory Green; Sunday 8/3 12:00-12:50 – Lawrence Conservatory Green Designed for people who love Rock and Roll, this workshop experience will teach you the basics of the Ukulele and send you right into the genre of Rock and Roll. Come join us for an experience that teaches you music by The Beatles, Queen, Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, and special guests, YOU! Yes, you can create Rock and Roll music in just 50 minutes! Bring your Ukulele and jam out with us, if you do not have one, there will be some available.

Uke Jam with Forte & Pianissimos (Ages 10+) Friday 8/1 1:30-2:20 – Heid Music; Saturday 8/2 11:50-12:40 – PAC Thrivent Hall The sounds of Hawai’i in Appleton! Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned strummer, experience the joy of the ukulele with this heart warming workshop led by Greg Forton of Forté and the Pianissimos. Within 50 minutes you will learn to play the ukulele and enough chords to play over 3000 popular songs. If you have your own instrument, bring it! If you don’t, there will be some ukes available at the workshop. WARNING! Playing the ukulele will lead too many hours of joy, laughter, and camaraderie.

Thank You to our 2025 Music Education Sponsors & Partners: