Frank Hamilton School

🎃 Have a good and safe holiday!

You never know where Frank might show up! On a recent Good Ol’ Grateful Deadcast, there’s a discussion about Bob Weir’s 2016 solo album titled Blue Mountain. At the 35-minute mark, Frank gets a mention as being the first to record the song “Blue Mountain” in 1958! Thanks to Andy Wiggers and FHS uke instructor Jeff Pearlman for the heads up!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-ol-grateful-deadcast/id1522914723?i=1000796446566

We had a wonderful time playing for voters at the Clarkston Community Center on behalf of Project Halo! Enjoy a clip of the music: https://youtu.be/Cg_u2Ow1zi4

☀️CompassionCon 2026 proved to be a wonderful afternoon! With over 2,000 people in attendance, we had quite the gathering at our Instrument Petting Zoo! Thanks to all of the FHS volunteers who came out, and to Lala McBride of Notes of Impact (notesofimpact.org) for joining forces with us to present a great variety of instruments that kids of all ages could put their hands on. Deep gratitude to Compassionate Atlanta!

🍁 We're delighted to be participating in Chomp and Stomp Chili Cook-Off and Bluegrass Festival, a free outdoor fest on November 7 in Cabbagetown this year! Louis Cayedito will be leading a Bluegrass jam from 1-2 and Max Godfrey will be leading an Old-Time jam from 3-4. Check out all of the activities here: https://chompandstomp.com

🎸There’s still time to sign up for Jordi Lara’s theory class (relevant to all genres/instruments, including jazz): https://frankhamiltonschool.org/classes/day-time/thu-230pm/intro-music-theory-jazz-players/

Jordi grew up just outside of Atlanta. He first picked up a guitar at age 9 which was overshadowed by the cello a year later – an instrument which he studied throughout his undergrad years at The University of Georgia.

Using the tools he’d learned from years of playing guitar and cello, Jordi picked up the electric bass to accompany college bands and play in jam sessions. He fell in love with the instrument and all of the harmonic and rhythmic capabilities he uncovered with it.

While in Athens, Jordi and two friends tried on various musical outfits before landing in bluegrass music and forming The Afternoon Raccoons. Not long after the music went acoustic, so did the bass – the electric bass and the upright position of the cello had prepared Jordi to swing right into playing upright bass.

Jordi continued to play bluegrass music with his friends and to study bass in the jazz program at UGA, giving him the opportunity to play upright in a wide variety of settings around Athens.

Now back in Atlanta, Jordi continues to learn and grow on both bass and cello, branching out to new styles and focusing primarily on developing his improvisational skills while maintaining his classical chops and technique.

This class will help students build a foundational comprehension of music theory, including scales, harmony, ear training and transposition. This class is open to all instruments, so feel free to bring yours!

While the class will use jazz harmony and tunes as the foundation, these skills can be transferred to any style to help develop your improvisation and listening skills, regardless of genre!

While the class won’t be heavily dependent on reading music, it may be helpful for some students to grasp certain concepts. It is recommended that students at least to know how to find any notes on their respective instruments!

This class meets in person.

A uniquely Atlantan opportunity: INDIGO FOLKS: Learn, Sing, And Play The Songs Of Decatur, Georgia’s Own Indigo Girls!

https://frankhamiltonschool.org/classes/day-time/wed-6pm/indigo-folks/

Come together with FHS teaching artist David Robert King to learn to play the iconic acoustic folk-rock songs of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers. All instruments and voices welcome. Focus will be on chords and melody, but please bring that harmony, too!

This class meets in person.

Photo by Wendy Harman via Creative Commons

David is a singer-songwriter and musician known for his boneyard truth telling, worn and vulnerable voice, and his melodic and soulful guitar playing. His professional music career has seen him tour the world as a solo artist, as well as with the GRAMMY-nominated Mary Gauthier and NBC The Voice’s Sarah Potenza. King’s debut E.P., Take Me Home, was released in 2010 and reached the top 40 on the Folk Music Charts. In 2011, he released the full-length album, Midnight in Gloryland. In 2018, he released the album Idaho. He has performed on The Grand Ole Opry and at Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe sharing the stage with notable artists such as Josh Ritter, Loudon Wainwright III, Darrell Scott, Over the Rhine, Don Henry, The Mark O’Connor Band, and Tim O’Brien, and has collaborated with Emily Saliers of The Indigo Girls and Jonatha Brooke.

Beyond performing, King is committed to the craft of songwriting. In 2017, he piloted the first songwriting class at the Frank Hamilton School. Today, he is based in Scottdale, where he owns and operates Hummingbird Recording Studio. He lives there with his 7-year-old daughter, Lucy.

We’re happy to let you know that Sing-Along Sessions with Dave C***s will resume on Thursday, October 29 at 11:30 AM! Mark your calendars. Have a great weekend!