BCN-FE CLASSES 2011

BCN Fall Edition 2011 Class Schedule - 09/12/11

BCN Fall Edition 2011 Final Class List - 09/12/11

Mandolin Track Information

PREVIOUS YEARS

BCN Fall Edition 2010 Class Schedule

BCN Fall Edition 2010 Class Descriptions

Click here to read a discussion about Hand Held Recorders

What attendees said about BCN2010 and earlier BCN's.

Art Edelstein's Times-Argus article

Camp photo

Description of Banjo Camp North - Fall Edition

Banjo Camp North Fall Edition (BCN-FE) is a weekend-long celebration of the 5-string banjo in both old time and bluegrass styles! World-class banjoists make up our full-time and "adjunct" faculties. We always invite top flight fiddlers and guitarists to teach about playing with other instruments and jamming, and to be on hand to help make those all-night jams something special, plus we will emphasize banjo and fiddle duet playing.

We have assembled an outstanding staff with several new teachers including Murphy Henry -- developer of The Murphy Method of banjo BG instruction, John Herrmann -- world renowned OT banjo player and teacher, and Pete Kelly, whose credits include an IBMA Instrumental Album Of The Year and other major accomplishments. Returning are Tony Trischka, Steve Arkin, Riley Baugus and our Beginner Track coordinators, Bob Altschuler and Lorraine Hammond. The rest of the staff is made up of regulars whose teaching has received praise across the spectrum of beginner to advanced players.

Banjo Camp North Fall Edition takes place at a new site; after 10 years in the same place, BCN-FE will be held at Prindle Pond Conference Center, a beautiful wooded setting in Charlton, Massachusetts. There are two campuses, we will be using Hilltop primarily. Buildings are heated, so you don't have to worry about our unpredictable New England weather, but you must bring your own towel, pillow, blanket, and linens or a sleeping bag; this campsite does not provide them. Each building has several rooms, and each room has 2 to 4 beds and a private bath. There is no smoking allowed in any of the buildings. Single rooms and local accommodations are available in nearby Sturbridge for those who want to bring the family, or just prefer more privacy. 

Meals: Meals are provided as part of the tuition package, and vegetarian meals are available. Dinner will be served promptly at 6 PM Friday. The meals schedule for the rest of the weekend will be announced in the program book at camp time.

Off site residence: will be posted as soon as we can, also RV accomodations, if any.

Camp will open Friday at 12:30 PM for registration, jamming, and instruction. Registration will occur starting at 12:30. We'll have hands-on workshops, round robin demonstrations and guided jam sessions for three days, a Friday night "meet the faculty concert," a formal concert Saturday night, and lots and lots of time for jamming and getting to know each other. Our resident instrument specialist will be there from 12 PM on Friday and all day Saturday. Lecture-demonstrations about banjo history and setup will be offered. Instrument vendors and makers, plus recordings, accessories and books will be on sale in our market area. Attendees are encouraged to bring banjos and other instruments for sale or trade. Camp ends at about 3:00 PM on Sunday

Thursday night lodging is available for those traveling a long way, whether driving or flying to BCN. Since people arrive at widely different times, only housing, no food, is available, but hanging out and jamming invariably breaks out, and it is a nice, relaxing time between the work-a-day world and the intensive training at BCN. Our goal is learning -- but having a good time doing so.

The Beginners' Track provides instruction for absolute beginners (those who haven't played before), and those who can play a little bit, but still can't play with other people or pick out tunes on their own. Click below for more information.

Advancing Beginners and Intermediates will find classes geared to their levels and needs. Advancing beginners may still only play a few phrases and chords, but they have some basic banjo experience. In general intermediates know some tunes but aren't able to play up to speed yet. They are still working on rhythm. They may already read tab or notation, but can use help playing by ear and learning to arrange a tune or song on their own.

Classes at the Advancing Beginners/Intermediate level in the past, have included Learning To Play What You Hear, Playing Slow Tunes, Choosing Your Next Banjo, Introduction to Modern Bluegrass Style, Old Time Banjo, Translating Fiddle Tunes To The Banjo, What To Do When Another Instrument Has The Lead, Accompanying Singing, and many more. At Banjo Camp the emphasis is on using tab minimally - just to get you started playing.

For the Advanced Players, there have been added classes such as Arranging Tunes or Songs For The Banjo, Introduction To What It Takes To Be An Effective Sideman, Playing For A Living, Playing And Composing For Commercials, and more.

Coaching Sessions in which students can receive personal, one-on-one critiques on such subjects as technique, tone, and taste from professional performers will be offered. As always, the full range of classes, beginner to advanced, will be offered and the Coaching Sessions will be available to all levels for anyone who needs some extra help.

The weekend will include at least 120 class hours plus guided jams at all speeds and levels. After each evening program there will be plenty of time for free jams, again at various levels. Most of the classes are hands on, practical learning situations. A few are demonstrations or mini-concerts, but even in these classes the intention is for you to take something away that you may want to learn or speak with the instructors about later. You are encouraged to bring a recording device of some kind.

Several other workshops that have been popular may be repeated. They include Maintaining and Optimizing Your Banjo, Playing With Others, Singing With The Banjo, Sound Equipment, and Recording Techniques. There will be instruction at all levels.

Click on the underlined instructors' names to jump to more information about each one.

Murphy Henry co-founder (with her husband Red) of The Murphy Method teaches banjo, guitar, mandolin, fiddle, and ukulele. She's been teaching almost as long as she has been playing. Murphy grew up singing in church and taking piano lessons. She learned how to play guitar during the folk boom, but soon settled on the banjo as the instrument for her. Now based in Winchester, Va., Red and Murphy run The Murphy Method, with Red handling the technical side (editing and duplicating videos, laying out the newsletter, shipping orders, and a multitude of other tasks) while Murphy handles the creative side (developing and teaching the videos and DVDs) and gives live lessons in Winchester. Murphy is also hard at work a book on for the University of Illinois Press to be titled, Pretty Good For A Girl: Women in Bluegrass.

Tony Trischka has been identified with expanding the boundaries of the instrument and how it is played, ever since his first book, Melodic Banjo appeared in 1973. He has written several other books including Hot Licks for Bluegrass Banjo and (with Peter Wernick) Masters of the 5-String Banjo, & has been a frequent banjo columnist for many magazines. He has many instructional recordings to his credit, and been on faculty at instructional camps nationwide. He has recorded eleven solo albums, appeared with the bands Skyline and Country Cooking on another nine, and was also featured on perhaps a dozen other duet, anthology and special project recordings.

Steve Arkin grew up in New York's legendary music scene, playing both old-time and bluegrass in bands with Jody Stecher, David Grisman, Maria Muldaur, and others. In 1964 Steve played banjo with Bill Monroe, who named him "The best backup banjo player I ever heard." An early exponent of melodic bluegrass banjo, Steve introduced his mentor Bill Keith to Bobby Thompson and his account of that meeting has been widely published. Steve has won many banjo contests and played in many bands and the highly-praised old-time band, Troublesome Creek. Steve has taught both bluegrass and old-time banjo for five decades--his students have included Marty Cutler, Bob Dylan, Roger McGuinn and Tommy Makem. Steve is proficient in both bluegrass and old-time banjo styles.

Bob Altschuler, BCN Beginner Bluegrass Track Coordinator since 2003, and is a performer, teacher and writer. He records and performs with the Dyer Switch Band; his playing has been heard on National Public Radio and on radio and TV commercials. An in-demand instructor for over 35 years, he teaches privately and at workshops. Bob's many articles and online instructionals have appeared in the webzines Mel Bay Banjo Sessions and Angie's Banjo Silver Strings. and in Banjo Newsletter, the May 2011 issue of which featured a profile article about him. Gene Senyak’s 2008 book, Banjo Camp!, has a workshop chapter by Bob and includes articles by other Banjo Camp North instructors. Tailored instruction, patience, humor and "going the extra mile" to help students learn are hallmarks of his very popular teaching style.

Pete Kelly has played and taught bluegrass and acoustic music for three decades. As an alumnus of The Dale Ann Bradley Band and Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper, his recording credits include the IBMA's 2006 Instrumental Album of the Year, Michael Cleveland's Let 'Er Go, Boys! and Bluegrass Now magazine's 2006 Album of the Year, Dale Ann Bradley's Catch Tomorrow. From 2002 to 2006 he wrote a column for Banjo NewsLetter called "Jimmy Martin Banjo," which explored the playing of many of the great banjo pickers who have been part of Jimmy Martin's band, theSunny Mountain Boys. In addition to private lessons, Pete has led workshops at festivals throughout the U.S. and U.K.

Rich Stillman has been playing the banjo for thirty-five years, and has extensive performing and recording credits, including more than ten CDs with bands like Southern Rail, Adam Dewey and Crazy Creek and The Bogus Family. He founded WayStation, a bluegrass band that broke new ground in the fusion of bluegrass with other acoustic music styles, and has appeared on bluegrass, folk and rock studio recordings for various New England artists. As a teacher, Rich has helped hundreds of students -- in private lessons and workshops -- learn to play or improve their playing skills. Rich is 6-time winner of the Lowell Banjo Contest and one of his long-term students is the current New England Bluegrass Banjo champion. Rich authored a chapter of the book "Banjo Camp", published in 2008 by Sterling Press. Rich teaches at the Music Emporium in Lexington, MA, The Real School of Music in Burlington, and at his studio in Winchester. He is also available internationally through Skype.

David Kiphuth began playing banjo and guitar 40 years ago. Although his bluegrass roots run the deepest, his musical loves include many forms. Dave has a unique playing style that combines melodic lines with a driving rhythm in yet another approach to 3-finger banjo. When not playing, he is an artist and illustrator. Linda Schrade has been singing and playing guitar for 35 years. When performing with husband David, her wonderful voice is beautifully complimented by his playing. They live in Saratoga Springs with their daughter, Allison. Linda is the owner of SARATOGA BEADS, a store in Saratoga Springs.

John Herrmann has traveled the world playing old-time music for over thirty years. He plays fiddle with the New Southern Ramblers but has performed with many bands, including The Henrie Brothers (1st Place at Galax, 1976), Critton Hollow, The Wandering Ramblers, One-Eyed Dog, and the Rockinghams. Equally at home on banjo, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, and bass, John is known as the “father of Old-time Music” (in Japan!) and as the originator of the slow jam. He has been on staff at numerous music camps from coast to coast and has completed several European tours with dancer Ira Bernstein. John Lives in Asheville, NC.

Riley Baugus represents the best of old time American banjo and song. His powerful singing voice and his expert musicianship place him squarely in the next generation of the quality American roots tradition. Riley first came to music through his family. Starting on the fiddle, Riley quickly moved on to the banjo, building his first instrument from scrap wood with his father. From there, Riley has made his own path, building in-demand instruments, and performing and teaching at camps and festivals around the world. Riley's banjos and voice can be heard in the Academy award winning Cold Mountain, where they also needed an authentic acapella ballad singer. A whirlwind Hollywood experience ensued, culminating in a place on the star studded "Great High Mountain" tour. In 2008, a call from T-Bone Burnett put Riley back in the studio, this time as a contributor to the Grammy award winning Album Of The Year, Raising Sand starring Alison Krauss and Robert Plant.

Martin Grosswendt has played banjo since 1968. Known as a musician’s musician in a variety of genres, he also plays guitar, Dobro, mandolin, and bass, and is a powerful singer. He is a veteran of countless recording sessions and produces recordings for other artists as well as his own. His first album, Dog on a Dance Floor, was released on the Philo label in 1980; his most recent recording is Call and Response, a collection of pre-war acoustic blues released in 2004. Martin has performed and taught at festivals and at WUMB’s Summer Acoustic Music Week and has been a Master Artist’s assistant at the Augusta Heritage Workshops.

Bill Evans is well-known within the bluegrass banjo world as a player and teacher. A former member of Dry Branch Fire Squad, Bill currently tours nationally with Peter Rowan, John Reischman, Tony Trischka and with his solo historical concert The Banjo in America. In addition, he is the author of a monthly instructional column for Banjo Newsletter and has produced instructional books and videos with Sonny Osborne and J.D. Crowe for AcuTab Publications and Homespun Tapes. He has taught at the Augusta Heritage Center, Camp Bluegrass and Nashcamp bluegrass instructional camps.

Mike Kropp is New England's premier 3 finger style banjoist. As a member of Northern Lights for 17 years, he has recorded CD's on Flying Fish, Red House and Prime CD. Since the 1960's, he has performed and recorded with artists ranging from Vassar Clements & Peter Rowan, to Don MacLean and Jonathan Edwards. Described as a "master banjoist", Mike is fluent in all styles of five string banjo, ranging from folk, old time, and classic style to traditional Scruggs and modern newgrass styles. Mike has taught banjo for over thirty years, and he has participated in workshops at festivals across the country.

Phil Zimmerman developed his multi-instrumentalist chops as a solo performer, and has won regional contests for bluegrass and clawhammer banjo, guitar and mandolin. He’s a founding member of Connecticut’s ground-breaking eclectic string band, Last Fair Deal.. For ten years, Phil played mandolin and sang lead with Connecticut’s premier traditional bluegrass band, Traver Hollow. Phil also performs Old-Time music in Heroes of Tradition, a duo with Stacy Phillips, and recently he joined with Phil Rosenthal (of Seldom Scene), and Bruce and Kelly Stockwell to perform Bluegrass as North By Northeast. Phil is the Music Director of both Mandolin Camp North and Banjo Camp North, and has taught mandolin and banjo workshops at the Joe Val Festival in 2006 through 2011.

Dick Bowden is one of the leading traditional bluegrass banjo pickers in New England. Starting in 1966 with The Bowden Family and The Fort Knox Volunteers, Dick helped establish bluegrass in his home state of Maine. He was a bench member of Joe Val's New England Bluegrass Boys, and played 5 years with Herb Applin's Berkshire Mountain Boys. Moving to New York in 1989 Dick played guitar with The Case Brothers - Martin & Gibson (two recordings) for 10 years, and currently leads The Old Time Bluegrass Singers (two recordings) from his home in Connecticut. He played banjo on fiddler Joe Meadows' final CD in 2001. Dick has published several articles in Bluegrass Unlimited, and awaits publication of an article on the complete repertoire of Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys 1946-48. At BCN Dick will teach, among other things, the Ralph Stanley style and about playing in a band context.

Lorraine Lee Hammond is an internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter and folk instrumentalist. Perhaps best known for her Appalachian dulcimer playing and recordings she is also a gifted player and teacher of the 5 string banjo, Celtic harp, voice and most recently the mandolin. Lorraine teaches locally at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education where she also produces an annul spring dulcimer festival, and is also a featured teacher and performer around the country at venues including The John C Campbell Folk School, Puget Sound Guitar Workshop, Summer Acoustic Music Week, Augusta Heritage program and Kentucky Music Week. She performs and records with her husband, finger-style guitarist Bennett Hammond.

Mike Holmes (camp director) is best known as publisher of Mugwumps Magazine (now Mugwumps Online). He is the former chairman of the National Council for the Traditional Arts, a director of the National Folk Festival, and is widely regarded as an expert on the history of American stringed instruments. Mike has performed acoustic music on the North American and international circuit, he has served as back-up musician on the recordings of several traditional musicians. Mike estimates that he has taught over 500 people to play old time banjo, privately & in adult education classes. He won 2nd place in the Old Time Banjo competition at the Lowell Banjo & Fiddle Contest.

Mike Rivers has played old time music since 1960. He perfomed with the Greasy Run Toad Trompers, one of the first of the eclectic string bands who played a mixed bag of Southern, Northern, Western, swing, ragtime, and Celtic music on string band instruments. As a recording engineer and producer, Mike has recorded albums of various artists for Folkways, Folk Legacy, Rounder, Troubador, Flying Fish, among others. He has run concert sound for the Smithsonian, National, and Lowell Folklife Festivals. Mike will teach backup guitar and conduct seminars in sound production and recording. His How To Get The Most From Your Hand-Held Recorder class is offered early on Friday and is a favorite among camp attendees.

Alan Kaufman has performed Old Time Music for more than 30 years. A fine player on mandolin and guitar, Alan is author of Beginning Old Time Fiddle published by Music Sales. He currently is responsible for starting and leading well-received Old TIme Music jams in the greater Boston area. At camp he will teach mandolin, primarily with the novice and beginner track, repertoire, and lead jamming sessions. Alan will also teach Old Time mandolin, using fiddle tunes and duet-style playing in the Monroe and Blue Sky Boys tradition, among others.

Glenn Nelson, resident instrument specialist, has been building, restoring and repairing instruments for 20 years. Glenn and his wife Barbara started Mockingbird Music in Berlin, Massachusetts, where they build custom stringed instruments and specialize in the repair and restoration of vintage instruments. Glenn currently teaches five string banjo and performs with "Wide Open Spaces" and "Acoustic Planet" encompassing world music, folk, jazz and bluegrass. At BCN he will be available to do minor setups & repairs on site, and to accept instruments for more extensive work. Charges will apply for materials and time spent. Glenn will also participate in some jazz and modern playing workshops.

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