Banjo Camp North - Fall Edition Sep 27-29, 2013

Mandolin & Fiddle Camp North April 11-13, 2014

Banjo Camp North May 16-18, 2014

Banjo Camp North - Fall Edition 2014 TBA

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BANJO CAMP NORTH® May 17, 18, & 19, 2013 Director: Mike Holmes Music Director: Phil Zimmerman BG Beginner Track Coordinator - Bob Altschuler OT Beginner Track Coordinator - Lorraine Hammond

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99 Class Sessions, 14 Coaching Sessions, 2 Faculty concerts, 10 to 12 Guided jams, plus Early-bird jams, Freestyle jams into the night, and all the dessert you can eat! Plus a room full of vendors. It's not too late to register, but hurry.

BCN 2013 Class Schedule

BCN 2013 Class Descriptions

Video of a class taught by Lorraine Hammond along with Alan Kaufman

Various BCN videos on YouTube

Click here to read a discussion about Hand Held Recorders

What attendees said about past BCNs

Art Edelstein's Times-Argus article

Camp photos

Banjo Camp North takes place at Prindle Pond Conference Center, a beautiful wooded setting in Charlton, Massachusetts. Registration takes place at the Hilltop Campus. There are two campuses, we will be using both. 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; Prindle Pond does not provide them. At the Hilltop campus, each building has several rooms, and each room has 2 to 4 bunk beds and a private bath. There is no smoking allowed in any of the buildings. Local accommodations are available in nearby Sturbridge for those who want to bring the family, or just prefer more privacy.

1. From Auburn near the junctions of Route 12, I-290, I-90 (Mass Pike) or I-395: Take Route 20 West for approximately 10 miles. Turn left onto Route 169...
2. From Sturbridge near the junctions of Route 131, I-84, I-90 (Mass Pike), take Route 20 East for approximately 7 miles. Turn right onto Route 169...
3. From either direction: Take Route 169 3 1/4 miles to Brookside Road (the third left turn). Turn left onto Brookside Road and go to the end of the road. Turn left onto Harrington Road. After 1 mile, take a right into Prindle Pond Conference Center.
4. For a photo of the layout of the Hilltop Campus, click here.

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.

Camp will open Friday at 12:30 PM for registration, jamming, and instruction. Registration will occur beneath the West Building in the Birch room -- look for the giant banjo. We'll have hands-on workshops, round robin demonstrations and guided jam sessions for three days, a Friday night "meet the new 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. Jamming with students and faculty invariably breaks out, and just hanging out 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.

Off site residence: Click here for local accommodations. Electric hookups are available on site for RVs or campers, but there are no on site facilities for water or waste. Local accommodations can be found in Sturbridge and the surrounding area.

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. We are not set up for novices under the age of 18.

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.

Advancing Beginners/Intermediate level will include 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.

Advanced Players, there will be added classes. In the past they have included 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.

The weekend will include approximately 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.

The "Coaching Sessions" for all campers has proved to be very popular. They are limited to 4 campers each. We'll have sign-up sheets at dinner where you will be able to pick the instructor of your choice, first come-first served. Each sheet will have room for only 4 campers. Each camper may sign up for one session only. Each camper will determine the topic and level for his or her time with that instructor, and work with the instructor individually but in the small group setting so that all can benefit from the attention given to each. All 4 students will be present for the whole period and the hour and fifteen minutes will be divided equally among those attending.

Several other workshops that have been popular in the past have included Maintaining and Optimizing Your Banjo, Playing With Others, Singing With The Banjo, Stagecraft,Getting The Most From Your Hand-Held Recorder and Recording Techniques. There will be instruction at all levels.

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

Ross Nickerson has established himself as one of the top Banjo Instructors both in the US and Internationally. Ross is the author of bestselling banjo book, The Banjo Encyclopedia, “Bluegrass Banjo from A to Z” and has written and recorded over 20 other Banjo Books and DVDs all designed to help students learn easier. As a signed artist with Pinecastle Records Ross recorded with many well- known bluegrass artists and appeared on compilation CDs with the likes of Earl Scruggs, Sonny Osborne and other top contemporary banjo players. His latest CD “Lets Kick It” features Ross with four members of the critically acclaimed band “Blue Highway”. Throughout his career Ross has always enjoyed sharing his knowledge and helping others to learn to play the banjo. His many years of experience teaching privately and and traveling the world to hold group workshops has helped him gain many unique insights into the common obstacles facing banjo students today.

Adam Hurt has been deemed a "banjo virtuoso" by the Washington Post. He has fused several traditional old-time idioms to create his own elegantly innovative clawhammer banjo style, since his introduction to the instrument at age eleven in his native Minnesota. A respected performer and teacher of traditional music, Adam has played at venues such as the Kennedy Center and conducted banjo workshops around the country and abroad. Since moving to southern Appalachia in 2002, Adam has placed in or won most of the major old-time banjo competitions, and he has claimed several state banjo and fiddle championships. Adam's music can be heard on multiple recordings.

Casey Henry has been playing banjo for eighteen years and teaching for fifteen of those. Her first professional music experience was playing bass with her parents’ band at age 14. Throughout high school and college she played banjo with several local and regional bands. Since moving to Nashville ten years ago she has appeared with June Carter Cash, Jim Hurst, Pat Flynn, and played on the Grand Ole Opry with Michael Martin Murphey. Casey has played with the bands Uncle Earl, The Dixie Bee-Liners, Tennessee Heartstrings, and her own group Casey & Chris and the Two-Stringers. She has taught three instructional DVDs for The Murphy Method and appeared in numerous others. Her banjo CD, Real Women Drive Trucks continues to garner praise. She writes a monthly column for Banjo Newsletter magazine.

Steve Arkin grew up in New York's legendary music scene, playing both old-time and bluegrass. In 1964 Steve played banjo with Bill Monroe, who was quoted in James Rooney's book, Bossmen, naming 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, most recently with 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. He was featured in a Feb. 2006 Banjo Newsletter cover story. Steve remains one of the few banjo players who is highly proficient in both bluegrass and old-time banjo styles.

Rich Stillman is a long-time veteran of the Boston bluegrass scene, 1983 New Jersey bluegrass banjo champion and six-time winner of the Lowell, Massachusetts banjo contest. He has been playing banjo for over 25 years and has performed and recorded with bluegrass bands Southern Rail, WayStation, The Jersey Travelers, and The Bogus Family. He currently performs with Boston-based Southern Rail. Rich has been on staff of BCN almost since the beginning and is one of the most respected, highly thought of, and best prepared teachers. He teaches privately in the Boston Area.

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.

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.

Lorraine Hammond, Old Time Banjo Track coordinator for BCN, 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.

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.

Bruce Stockwell has been playing bluegrass banjo since 1968 and began teaching in the 70's. By age 16 he had won banjo contests, recorded his first album and opened for Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, John Hartford and many others. In the late 70’s he worked with Phil Rosenthal and Mike Auldridge as Old Dog. Since the 80s Bruce has performed with brothers Barry and Al in various acoustic/electric formats. In 2005 he won the Merlefest Banjo Contest. And in 2008 a NH Arts Grant led to the formation of Hot Mustard, a double banjo bluegrass band with wife Kelly and NH couple Bill Jubett & April Hobart. Bruce teaches and does occasional session work in addition to his perforormance schedule.

Howie Bursen is best known for his gravity-defying, triplet-filled, fiddle-tune variations and is certainly one of today's foremost practitioners of clawhammer banjo style. He has taught clawhammer at the Maryland Banjo Academy, Common Ground and the California Traditional Solstice Festival, and his eclectic recordings contain quite a number of stellar clawhammer solos. Speaking of eclectic, Howie is also an excellent singer, song-writer and guitarist, and he makes his living as manager and head wine-maker for a Connecticut vineyard. His new album is titled Banjo Manikin.

Phil Zimmerman took up the guitar in high school during the folk scare of the sixties. A concert by the New Lost City Ramblers introduced him to old-time and early bluegrass music. With Mike Seeger as role model, he 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. 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 since 2006.

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.

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.

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.

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 performed 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 has taught mandolin at Common Ground on the Hill and won 2nd place in the Old Time Banjo competitions in both Clarksville, TN and at the Lowell Banjo & Fiddle Contest -- 25 years apart and he didn't improve a lick.

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.

Others TBA...

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