If you don’t see your question answered here, contact us and ask! We’re still finding out which questions are asked frequently, so we will continue update this page as well.

How do I get to Sharpsburg if I don’t drive all the way from home?
Sharpsburg is a bit over an hour’s drive from Dulles Airport, and within an hour and a half of BWI and Reagan National, as well as Washington, DC’s Union Station.

We are also able to help organize carpools from DC area transit stations or from more distant locations. If you’re in need of a carpool or if you’re willing to offer a ride, let us know!

Dulles is also accessible by DC Metro, so people arriving into DC’s Union Station by train could also be able to make it to a shuttle leaving from Dulles.
Please let us know if you are able to take a passenger or two, either for your entire drive or from one of the regional airports; and likewise, please let us know if you will be looking for a ride!

What instruments is this for?
Our classes are geared toward recorder ensembles and mixed consorts, or Celtic folk ensembles. Recorder ensembles can welcome other ensemble-friendly “indoor” instruments, such as viola da gamba, violin-family strings, flutes, etc – as long as you can read at concert pitch and blend in a group. Folk ensembles can accommodate pennywhistle, fiddle, harp, other plucked strings, some bagpipes, flutes, recorders, reeds, etc, etc. If you’re not sure, just ask!

What kind of recorders or other instruments do I need? What pitch?
All our music will be at modern, A=440 pitch (A=442 is fine); other pitches such as A=415 or A=466 are not required. Any decent recorders in good working order will be fine, just like at every other recorder workshop (i.e, Yamaha, Moeck, Mollenhauer, etc. Plastic is fine). The same is true for other instruments: Standard modern instruments in good working order will be just fine. If you have any questions, just ask!

What level of musician do I have to be?
We welcome musicians at a variety of levels. For recorder and mixed consort classes, you will need to be able to play and read at a lower intermediate level or above – enough to get around on your instrument and play in a group. We will do our best to sort participants into well-matched classes by level and by interest.

What level of crafting experience is required?
No experience necessary! Just come ready to participate, learn, and experiment. If you’re an experienced crafter, we hope you’ll still learn something new, and come ready to share your expertise as well.

I do a different craft than what you’re offering. Do you have activities for me?
While we have to pick one topic for the afternoon large group class, you are of course welcome to bring whatever project(s) you are working on! We want to create time and space for participants to share skills and projects of their own, too. While we invite you to try the theme class, it’s up to you whether to take it any further! And if you would rather work on another craft during that time, we welcome you do do so as well.
Additionally, our “Open Gallery and Open Mic” night will give everyone who wants to a chance to show off their creative efforts, both musical and crafty!

Are there scholarships available?
We have one partial scholarship available this year, which is a work-study position. Please let us know if you are interested.
Several organizations offer scholarships for their members to attend events like Common Threads, such as the Country Dance and Song Society, the American Recorder Society, and the Viola da Gamba society.