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10th ANNIVERSARY BANJO CAMP NORTH® May 14, 15, & 16, 2010 Director: Mike Holmes Music Director: Phil Zimmerman

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BCN 2009 Class Schedule

BCN 2009 Class Descriptions

BCN 2009 Staff Bios

2008 BCN Camp Photo

Camp photos.

Banjo Camp North 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 have invited several fiddlers and guitarists to demonstrate playing with other instruments, and to be on hand to help make those all-night jams something special. In response to previous attendees requests, we have added a few fiddle classes for both Bluegrass and Old Time, plus we will showcase double banjo and banjo-fiddle duet playing.

Camp will open Friday at 12:00 PM for registration, jamming, and instruction. Registration will occur in the Adult Center 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.

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 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.

For the Advanced Players, there will be added classes in 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 includes about 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 will be repeated. They include titles like Maintaining and Optimizing Your Banjo, Playing With Others, Singing With The Banjo, Stagecraft, and Recording Techniques. There will be instruction at all levels.

Banjo Camp North takes place at a beautiful wooded lakeside setting near Groton Massachusetts. Cabins are heated, so you don't have to worry about our unpredictable New England weather.

Cabins: The cabins each have 3 or 4 rooms, and each room has 2 or 3 bunk beds. Each cabin also has 2 bathrooms and one shower. Separate women-only cabins are available. Cabins are far enough away from the playing/jamming areas so that quiet at bed-time won't be a problem. But then again many of you won't want to sleep, anyway! There is no smoking allowed in any of the buildings and no alcohol allowed on the camp site. Local accommodations are available for those who want to bring the family, or just prefer more privacy. The tuition fee will be adjusted for commuters.

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: Click here for local accommodations. Electric hookups are available on site for motor homes, but there are no on site facilities for water or waste hookups.

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

Eric Weissberg has been a major force on the bluegrass and folk scene and a ubiquitous presence on the studio scene for more than four decades. A founding member of the The Greenbriar Boys, he then joined The Tarriers in 1959, recording and touring worldwide for six years. As a top New York studio musician Eric has done over eight thousand sessions - jingles, movie tracks, and records - playing banjo, guitar, fiddle, among others for such diverse artists as Doc Watson, Barbra Streisand, Bob Dylan, John Denver, Willie Nelson, Neil Diamond, The Talking Heads, and Bruce Springsteen. He has performed with Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Symphony. His recording of Dueling Banjos, the soundtrack from Deliverance, earned him two gold records and a Grammy. Lately Eric has reappeared on the live scene singing and picking.

Casey Henry graduated from the University of Virginia, and set to work on her first banjo CD, Real Women Drive Trucks. Casey has played with Uncle Earl, the Jim Hurst Band, Tim Graves and Cherokee, June Carter Cash, and Tennessee Heartstrings. Casey's writing has been published in Bluegrass Unlimited, Banjo Newsletter, Bluegrass Now, Women in Bluegrass Newsletter, and Pickers in a Jam, the newsletter of the Banjo in the Hollow Club. Casey also gives banjo lessons in Nashville. She can be heard on many of the Murphy Method instruction DVD's where she and her mother, Murphy Henry, specialize in teaching beginners and more advanced playing styles. Casey is shown here at the Grand Ole Opry in 2009.

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.

Bill Keith is a renowned explorer of the frontiers of banjo picking and of the instruments' harmonic potentialities. Bill Keith probably invented the three-finger picking style known as "melodic" banjo. He first came to international attention in the early 60s when he played and recorded with Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys. He co-authored the original Earl Scruggs banjo instruction book and record, and he has also authored several other banjo instruction books, including the first ones ever published in French and Italian. He has recorded several albums for Rounder, Green Linnet and Hexagon, and he has toured widely throughout North America, Western Europe Japan and Australia. He devised and - through the Beacon Banjo Company - still markets the famous tuning pegs that bear his name.

Janet Davis was born and raised in Houston, Texas. Music was always an integral part of her family life. She showed a keen, early interest in stringed instruments, particularly those involved in folk and bluegrass music. Janet is equally adept on both Dobro® and 5-string banjo. Her books are popular worldwide. She has written numerous best selling books for the 5-string banjo as well as dobro, several of which are listed by Mel Bay as "Best Sellers." She has been a columnist with Banjo Newsletter for 25 years. Janet Davis Music Company is celebrating it's 27th Anniversary this year. At BCN Janet will teach backup banjo and up-the-neck work and help with the beginner's track.

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 2009.

Bob Carlin is one of the best known clawhammer style banjoists performing today. He has taken the distinctive southern banjo style to appreciative audiences all over the US, Canada, Japan, Australia and Europe. A member of the late John Hartford's band, Carlin produced and appeared on six albums with Hartford on Rounder Records, in addition to three albums under his own name. He has taught clawhammer and minstrel banjo for thirty years, at workshops and camps here and abroad. Additionally, Carlin is an expert on the history of the early banjo, lecturing and writing on African roots, African-American playing styles, the early minstrel banjo and southern traditional music.

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.

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. In addition to his teaching duties, Mike will coordinate the Bluegrass track at BCN.

Mac Benford has been playing the 5-string banjo for 40 years. He was fortunate enough in his formative years to have direct contact with great players like Wade Ward, Kyle Creed, Tom Ashley, and Roscoe Holcomb - all of whom strongly influenced his playing. He came to prominence during the 70s as a member of the legendary Highwoods String Band. Later, with the Backwoods Band and the Woodshed Allstars, Mac expanded on the traditional role of the clawhammer banjo as a lead and backup instrument. His recently released Kentucky Favorites showcases his ability to successfully capture the melodic subtlety of complex fiddle tunes without sacrificing the ring and drive of the best traditional playing.

Bruce Stockwell has played 5-string banjo for forty years, performing progressive folk and bluegrass with brothers Barry and Al as the Stockwell Brothers. Two albums with Mike Auldridge and Phil Rosenthal as Old Dog introduced them to the national scene in the late seventies. Bruce is profiled in the January 2005 issue of Banjo Newsletter and won the Merlefest Banjo Contest the following spring; more recently he wrote an article for Mel Bay’s Banjo Webzine (Feb ’07). He teaches bluegrass banjo at his home in Putney VT and at Banjo Camp North.

Lorraine Lee Hammond is best known for her Appalachian dulcimer playing and recordings. She is also a fine old time banjo player, singer, and teacher. Lorraine teaches 5-string banjo, Appalachian dulcimer, folk harp, songwriting and basic music theory at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education. She also organizes two annual music festivals at the Center: The Blacksmith House Folk Festival held each November and the Blacksmith House Dulcimer Festival held each May. Since 1986 Lorrainne has performed and toured extensively at home and abroad with guitar virtuoso Bennett Hammond. They married on Thanksgiving Day 1991.

Bob Altschuler, BCN Beginner Bluegrass Track Coordinator, has been playing and teaching bluegrass banjo for over 35 years. He performs with the Dyer Switch band and recorded the American Airwaves and Family Business CDs (www.dyerswitch.com). Featured on the National Public Radio Hudson River Sampler show and radio and television commercials, Bob plays at many bluegrass festivals and concerts. He instructs students privately and in workshops, and Mel Bay "Banjo Sessions" and Angie's Banjo "Silver Strings" online magazines (www.banjosessions.com and www.angiesbanjo.com) feature his many instructional articles. He also has a workshop chapter in "Banjo Camp!" by Gene Senyak, published in 2008. Bob has continually had great feedback from many students about his teaching style and tailored instruction, patience, humor and ability to inspire and make learning the banjo fun.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 "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 where he will showcase his "Fan Fret Fingerboard" innovation.

Dave Reiner is best known as co-author of Oldtime Fiddling Across America (Mel Bay Publications), and as author of Anthology of Fiddle Styles. He currently plays fiddle and mandolin with the Reiner Family Band and with Granite Grass in and around New England. Dave is the former Wisconsin state fiddle champion and has won many contests in the Northeast. A veteran of years of giving fiddle workshops, Dave will teach from beginner levels on up with special interest in bowing patterns and accents, fiddle rags, Northeastern tunes, tune variations, twin fiddling, and unusual oldtime tunes.

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.

Dave Howard started playing mandolin, guitar & banjo in the early 1960’s starting with Old-Time & Bluegrass and has since branched out into traditional Country, Western & Eastern Swing, New England & French Canadian dance music, Honky-Tonk, and what he calls “Smoochy” songs. His versatility as both an instrumentalist and a vocalist keep him in constant demand as a utility player, and he regularly performs with Walach & Howard, The Rick Lee Trio, Please & Thank You Stringband, and Lazy Aces. His latest release is Southern Schoolhouse Rascals, and he is currently recording his first solo album.

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