Name: Modern Rocker
Instructor: Alexis Dolese
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Prerequisites: None

Format: 6 Day in-person course

Material: Cherry

November 2nd to 7th, 2026. 9:00am to 5:00pm daily. 

Class Description:

Join returning guest instructor Alex Dolese for this six day, in person class at the Austin School of Furniture. Build your own modern rocking chair that you can cherish for a lifetime and learn many skills in the process. Over the course of the week you will learn the fundamental concepts of building rockers, and how to build quality furniture safely and efficiently. You will utilize a wide variety of power tools to shape pieces and perform complicated joinery. In Alex’s signature style you’ll execute curved components with compound angles. Students will learn and be comfortable using a horizontal mortiser. Through an efficient and systematic approach you’ll cover topics that pertain to woodworking as a business and furniture making as a whole.

Topics and skills covered will include:

• Basic Design
• Safety and Machine Usage
• Furniture Construction Techniques
• Wood & Joinery Selection
• Angles and Designs That Make Chairs Comfortable
• Techniques of Chair Building
• Creating and Working with Curved Parts
• Joinery at Complex Angles
• Upholstery Demo

What you’ll need:

We’ll have everything you need at the school, but having your own measure and marking tools can make a difference in a good layout. If you have any woodworking hand tools that you’d like to bring along and use you are more than welcome, and if you have any questions about good entry level tools please reach out.

Required

• PPE
• Measuring Tape
• Combination Square

Austin School of Furniture has the right to cancel this class at anytime if the minimum amount of students is not reached.

See our Refund Policy here