You can see the classes that will be offered. There is no need to sign up for a particular Class within the Session block, you can simply choose to join whichever one you prefer. Those of you requesting private lessons need to view this Private Lesson Schedule. Full class descriptions are located at the bottom of this page for further explanation and interest.
Session I – Masterclasses – For the morning Masterclass sessions, if you are a beginner and completely new to the instrument you will be in the Beginner Class with Max, if you have some background with your instrument but do not feel confident or advanced you will be in the Elementary Class with Noelle, all remaining students will be in the Main Class with Steve. You can chose which class you want to be in and if you feel overwhelmed or underwhelmed, switch classes without issue. If you are unsure as to where you fit in, chat with Noelle at check-in.
Session II – Maintenance Class with Max Enloe, Singing with the Gurdy with Noelle Beaudin, Private Lessons with Steve Tyler. Maintenance Class with Max Enloe – Max will have open office hours for drop ins for maintenance questions or problems. Singing with the Gurdy with Noelle Beaudin – Noelle will teach accompaniment patterns based on common chord progressions in classical, folk and modern/metal music (i.e. I-IV-V, I-V-vi-IV, i-flat VI-flat VII-i) as well as harmonization techniques so you can sing with your gurdy or sing harmonies in song structures. Private Lessons with Steve Tyler – if you have been assigned to a private lesson in this block with Steve this is what you’ll be doing.
Session III – Private Lessons with Max Enloe, Modal Theory & Sight Reading with Noelle Beaudin, Session with Steve Tyler. Private Lessons with Max Enloe – if you have been assigned to a private lesson in this block with Max this is what you’ll be doing. Modal Theory & Sight Reading with Noelle Beaudin – this class will give you the tools to better understand the musical language of the hurdy-gurdy and become more confident reading and playing music. Session with Steve Tyler – A relaxed, open-ended session with Steve exploring hurdy-gurdy repertoire and whatever musical questions are on your mind.
Session IV – Beginner Class with Max Enloe, Private Lessons with Noelle Beaudin, Early Music with Steve Tyler. Beginner Class with Max Enloe – Max will help beginners keep the gurdy rolling along, Private Lsssons with Noelle Beaudin – if you have been assigned to a private lesson in this block with Noelle this is what you’ll be doing, Early Music with Steve Tyler – Steve will take you on a journey through time and space to explore the sounds of medieval and renaissance music on the gurdy.
All classes are held in the Chapel Building – there are two front rooms – Chapel Room A and Chapel Room B – and the large Main Chapel Room where check-in, larger group classes, dancing and concerts are held.
All meals are served at the Inn.
Sunday, August 23rd, 2026
| Check-in in the Chapel | 2:00pm – 3:30pm |
| Maintenance Class in the Chapel | 3:30pm – 5:30pm |
| Dinner at the Inn | 5:45pm – 6:15pm |
| Bonfire on the Beach | 7:00pm – 9:00pm |
Monday, August 24th, 2026
| Breakfast | 8:00am – 9:00am |
| Free Time | 9:00am – 9:30am |
| Session I – Masterclasses (Beginner, Elementary, Main) | 9:30am – 10:45am |
| Session II – Maintenance Class with Max Enloe, Singing with the Gurdy with Noelle Beaudin, Private Lessons with Steve Tyler. | 11:00am – 12:15pm |
| Lunch | 12:15pm – 12:45pm |
| Free Time | 12:45pm – 1:30pm |
| Session III – Private Lessons with Max Enloe, Modal Theory & Sight Reading with Noelle Beaudin, Session with Steve Tyler. | 1:30pm – 2:45pm |
| Session IV – Beginner Class with Max Enloe, Private Lessons with Noelle Beaudin, Early Music with Steve Tyler. | 3:00pm – 4:15pm |
| Free Time | 4:15pm – 5:45pm |
| Dinner | 5:45pm – 6:15pm |
| Dance | 7:00pm – 9:00pm |
Tuesday, August 25th, 2026
| Breakfast | 8:00am – 9:00am |
| Free Time | 9:00am – 9:30am |
| Session I – Masterclasses (Beginner, Elementary, Main) | 9:30am – 10:45am |
| Session II – Maintenance Class with Max Enloe, Singing with the Gurdy with Noelle Beaudin, Private Lessons with Steve Tyler. | 11:00am – 12:15pm |
| Lunch | 12:15pm – 12:45pm |
| Free Time | 12:45pm – 1:30pm |
| Session III – Private Lessons with Max Enloe, Modal Theory & Sight Reading with Noelle Beaudin, Session with Steve Tyler. | 1:30pm – 2:45pm |
| Session IV – Beginner Class with Max Enloe, Private Lessons with Noelle Beaudin, Early Music with Steve Tyler. | 3:00pm – 4:15pm |
| Free Time | 4:15pm – 5:45pm |
| Dinner | 5:45pm – 6:15pm |
| Dance | 7:00pm – 9:00pm |
Wednesday, August 26th, 2026
| Breakfast | 8:00am – 9:00am |
| Free Time | 9:00am – 9:30am |
| Session I – Masterclasses (Beginner, Elementary, Main) | 9:30am – 10:45am |
| Session II – Maintenance Class with Max Enloe, Singing with the Gurdy with Noelle Beaudin, Private Lessons with Steve Tyler. | 11:00am – 12:15pm |
| Lunch | 12:15pm – 12:45pm |
| Free Time NOTE: All attendees that are willing, please gather in the Chapel at 1pm for a group photo | 12:45pm – 1:30pm 1:00pm Group Photo in Chapel building |
| Session III – Private Lessons with Max Enloe, Modal Theory & Sight Reading with Noelle Beaudin, Session with Steve Tyler. | 1:30pm – 2:45pm |
| Session IV – Beginner Class with Max Enloe, Private Lessons with Noelle Beaudin, Early Music with Steve Tyler. | 3:00pm – 4:15pm |
| Free Time | 4:15pm – 5:45pm |
| Dinner | 5:45pm – 6:15pm |
| Open Mic/Concert | 7:00pm – 9:00pm |
| Bonfire on the Beach | 9pm |
Thursday, August 27th, 2026
| Breakfast | 8:00am – 9:00am |
| Free Time | 9:00am – 9:30am |
| Group Session (all attendees join together to play) | 10:00am – 10:45am |
| Check out | 11:00am – 12:00pm |
Departure Information: For those needing rides down to the Concord Trailways Bus depot in Concord, New Hampshire, you will be commuting down with Max Enloe. Please make sure you load your baggage into his truck and are ready to go! He can fit up to four people in his truck. If anyone else is in need of a lift, please email Noelle at info@gurdyworld.com. We have several attendees who would be willing to give a lift to those that need rides to the station in Concord.
Class Descriptions
Hurdy-Gurdy Maintenance with Max Enloe
Keep your hurdy-gurdy happy, healthy, and playing its best! In this practical, hands-on class, Max Enloe will cover the essential maintenance every hurdy-gurdy player should know.
We’ll look at basic setup, string pressure/rosin/cottoning, trompette adjustment, and general troubleshooting. Max will also demonstrate how to recognize common problems before they become bigger—and more problematic—ones.
This class is designed to help you feel more confident doing routine maintenance yourself and understanding what your instrument needs.
Bring your questions—and, if appropriate, your own hurdy-gurdy for hands-on learning!
Beginner Hurdy-Gurdy with Max Enloe
New to the hurdy-gurdy? This class is designed to help you get comfortable with your instrument and start making music.
Max will cover the fundamentals, including proper playing position, turning the crank, finding the melody notes, using the keyboard, working with drones, and basic trompette technique. We’ll put these skills together through simple exercises and tunes so you can start developing good habits from the beginning.
Whether you’ve just picked up your first hurdy-gurdy or you’re still figuring out the basics, this class will give you a solid foundation and plenty of practical guidance. This class is an add-on for our beginners that would be in his morning Masterclass and feel the need for more foundation or help.
Singing with the Gurdy with Noelle Beaudin
Learn how to accompany your own singing on the hurdy-gurdy and create harmonies that work across a variety of musical styles.
In this hands-on class, Noelle will teach accompaniment patterns based on common chord progressions found in classical, folk, and modern/metal music, including I–IV–V, I–V–vi–IV, and i–♭VI–♭VII–i. We’ll explore how to use these progressions with your and melody playing to create effective accompaniment patterns.
You’ll also learn practical harmonization techniques for singing along with your gurdy, as well as ways to create vocal harmonies within different song structures.
Whether you want to accompany yourself, add vocals to your own tunes, or play harmonies with other musicians, this class will give you practical tools for making your hurdy-gurdy and voice work together musically.
Modal Theory & Sight-Reading with Noelle Beaudin
This class will give you the tools to better understand the musical language of the hurdy-gurdy and become more confident reading and playing music.
We’ll explore modes and modal theory—what the different modes sound like, how they are constructed, and how to recognize and use them in hurdy-gurdy music. We’ll also look at how drones interact with different modes and how this affects the character and harmony of a piece.
The second part of the class focuses on sight-reading, with practical exercises designed specifically for hurdy-gurdy players. We’ll work on reading melodies, recognizing patterns, navigating rhythms and key signatures, and getting comfortable finding notes on your instrument without having to learn every tune by ear first.
No advanced music theory is required. The class is designed to be useful for a range of musical backgrounds, whether you’re new to reading music or looking to strengthen your existing skills.
You’ll leave with practical tools you can use immediately when learning new tunes, understanding modal music, and reading music on your hurdy-gurdy.
Session with Steve Tyler
A relaxed, open-ended session with Steve exploring early music, hurdy-gurdy repertoire, and whatever musical questions are on your mind.
Bring a tune you’ve been working on, a piece you’d like to explore, or simply come ready to play and experiment. Steve will share his experience and insights while helping participants dig deeper into style, technique, repertoire, and musical interpretation.
This is a chance to learn, play, ask questions, and spend some time making music together in an informal setting.
Early Music with Steve Tyler
Explore the musical world of the Middle Ages and Renaissance and discover how the hurdy-gurdy fits into the sounds and traditions of early music.
Steve will introduce you to early music repertoire, styles, rhythms, and performance practices, with a focus on music that works particularly well on the hurdy-gurdy. We’ll explore how the instrument was used historically, how its drones interact with early melodies, and how to approach this repertoire in a way that captures its distinctive character.
The class will include playing examples, repertoire, and practical tips for bringing early music to life on your own instrument. Whether you’re already a fan of medieval music or have never explored it before, this is a chance to hear—and play—the hurdy-gurdy in its historical musical context.