Teaching Braiding Classes

[HorsehairBraider]

How many of you teach classes in braiding? I'd sure like to start a discussion about that.

About 20 times a year someone or other will contact me (usually by phone) and want me to teach them everything I know about braiding over the phone. Imagine me beating my head on my desk now. !! How can you teach someone to braid over the phone?! I do not possess this rare skill. And usually the person calling thinks I'm just being difficult.

It's given me the idea of offering a braiding workshop. Maybe a three day class, they would stay at the local hotel and I'd be there so many hours a day to teach. Anyway if any of you teach, I'd love to talk about it... if you like you can PM me, and I'd be happy to pass out my email address to talk to people about it. I'd love to hear your experiences, what you taught, how big of groups and so on.

I have a great deal of teaching experience and I've even taught large groups with zero experience how to do real simple braids (a 4-strand round for example) and I have 40 years braiding experience. I think I could teach people a thing or two.

What do you guys think?

[Northmount]

Go for it. You may be able to work through a local college's continuing education program to help look after the logistics. Though that could lock you into a lower hourly rate for your time. Some high school con-ed programs may do the same. Also consider libraries.

Tom

[mikesmith648]

I would be interested in something like that

[NVLeatherWorx]

Mike,

There is an eBook available on the Leathercraft Library site that you can buy, download and print (or have printed and bound). The price to purchase this book and download it is $1.99 (sales tax will apply as well) and the name of the book is: Braiding and Lacing for Fun. This might help you to get the basics down and give you a starting point to work with when putting together an instructional program.

Let me know if you need any help.

[electrathon]

My suggestion is to work with/through a local Tandy or other leather store. See if they will let you teach there. Depending on what you want to teach you can have classes for a few hours to a few days. I would suggest starting with a one day class covering the basics. A couple weeks later have intermediate class, then later have advanced class. There could be many variations of this, you would just have to see what would work with your schedule and what students you can drum up.

I teach a handfull of beginning leather classes at Tandy. Some weeks I have 10 people show up and some weeks I have 1, you never know who will show up.

Aaron

[HorsehairBraider]

Thanks for the idea Aaron. The closest Tandy is an hour and a half away... kind of a commute. Still, a great idea. Maybe I could do it for one day a month or something. I would not want to drive there and back all the time, as it's 3 hours out of my day for just driving.

My specialty is of course horsehair braiding. The people who contact me specifically want to learn to braid hair the way I do. Only thing is you kind of need at least some experience to do it; still, starting out with beginners is an idea. I think even beginners could at least learn to braid the lengths; a 4 strand, 8 strand etc.

There is a local (well - relatively local. I am kind of in the middle of Nowhere.) community college, but I also know the owner/manager of the Holiday Inn Express. I was going to approach her and see if I could get some kind of group rate for students, they could stay there for the weekend/whatever, and she probably has a room where I could teach. That is only a half hour to 45 minute drive one way (depending on weather and traffic) so it's a little more doable.

Of course the students would have to travel, but I had the impression that some people were willing to do this. I think I read once that Gail Hought teaches classes this way - students actually travel to her, and she teaches them.

If I were teaching horsehair braiding, I would also have to supply the hair... but that is not a problem at all. However supplying the lacing for leather braiding seems a little overwhelming, unless they were buying from the local Tandy. Or I could get parachute cord, *much* cheaper...

[rcsaddles]

I teach braiding classes and workshops as much as I can. I will be teaching a basic braiding workshop in Sheridan, Wyoming at the 20th Rocky Mountain Leather Trade Show. Not exactly what the dates are I will teach but the week of the 12th of May.

If you want more information on teaching or thoughts, should we keep going here or anyone can e-mail me at rcsaddles@yahoo.com and put teaching in the subject so I know to not call it spam.

[bluesman1951]

I am in Albuquerque and I would be interested in this . Bill

[HorsehairBraider]

Hi Bill - nice to know there might be local interest! Most of the people who contact me live out of state, some even live in different countries! It seems there is a need for braiding teachers.

[NMGizmo]

I would be interested in a class as well, although I'm one of those total beginners. However, I would still like to attend and learn as much as possible... lol. Oh, and I'm in Tijeras, NM - so a local girl as well!