Workshop

My name is Sam Dickey, and I'm a recent addition to the Brooklyn Music Lessons roster of teachers. I have trained and worked extensively as a jazz guitarist, but have also spent a lot of time playing funk, rock, and world music. My most recent musical foray took me to the West African nation of Mali, where I spent about five months playing with kora maestro Toumani Diabate's band. I had a blast, and it was an amazing opportunity to fully immerse myself in a tradition that has been a part of my life and music for a very long time.

On that note, I'd like to invite everyone to a West African Guitar workshop I'm teaching this Sunday at the Jalopy Theatre & School of Music. This workshop is not affiliated with Brooklyn Music Lessons, but it would be an opportunity to get to know me as a teacher in a group setting, as well as an introduction to some of the material I have to offer. I've included the event description below, but I'll get to the point and say that you should come out if you want to learn to do this:

or this:

or this:

West African Guitar Workshop By Sam Dickey

Sunday, January 30 @ 1:00pm
Jalopy Theatre & School of Music
315 Columbia Street
Brooklyn, New York 11231

Explore the exquisite, infectious, and sonorous guitar styles of West Africa in this unique workshop. West African music draws on traditions that date from before the 13th century, and contains the roots of jazz, blues, old-time music, funk, rock, and many other strands of American music. The result of this centuries-long musical development is a music that is percussive yet lyrical, energized yet majestic. This workshop will provide an introduction to the vast body of melodies and folklore that makes up West African guitar music, with tablature available for further study. Come with open ears and be prepared for some musical adventures!

Sam Dickey is a guitarist/composer and a recent arrival in New York. Although he has a deep background in jazz, African music has been a huge part of Sam's life since he spent two years in Burkina Faso as a child. Fresh off a five month stint playing with Toumani Diabate's band and studying the ngoni (a traditional lute) in Mali, Sam performs on both coasts and teaches regularly, specializing in jazz and the musical traditions of West Africa.