Ray Alden
Round Peak Fiddle-Banjo Duets
The sound of the fiddle and banjo, based on the repertoire of Round Peak, North Carolina as played by Tommy Jarrell, Fred Cockerham and Kyle Creed. We’ll feature live demonstrations and older recordings of tunes, along with memories of time spent with these great rural musicians.
Ray Alden, Brad Leftwich (Presentation: all levels welcome)
Five-String Banjo Duets: Clawhammer and Bluegrass
The place where clawhammer and bluegrass banjo meet provides musical common ground and repertoire for a great time. The instructors will demonstrate and improvise in this increasingly popular form mixing clawhammer, old-time finger-picking and bluegrass style. The instructors will play old-time tunes in bluegrass style and vice versa—the possibilities are endless. Players of all persuasions are invited to join in!
Alden, Carlin, Hermann, Kiphuth, Kropp, Rossi (Workshop; all levels welcome)
Techniques for Learning Banjo Tunes
This class will explore techniques for learning tunes and songs on the banjo when one is alone. Students are encouraged to share their learning styles and any equipment they might use in this process.
Ray Alden, Martin Grosswendt (Advancing beginner-Intermediate)
Using the Banjo to Accompany Songs
Techniques for creating banjo accompaniment to songs. The instructors will provide some printed lyric sheets for some songs and encourage students to bring some lyrics to their own favorites.
Special Banjo Requests
This class will focus on advance requests from students for specific tunes, playing techniques or info on banjo set-up. Students should communicate directly with Ray via e-mail to make requests before camp. Ray will tailor the class to students’ requests. You can reach Ray at: <rgamusic@bestweb.net>
Ray Alden (All levels welcome)
Mac Benford
Fiddle Tunes of Norman Edmonds
This great fiddler from Galax, Virginia was the master of complex simplicity. The class will focus on clawhammer techniques which capture the nifty embellishments which he added to his wonderfully simple tunes.
Mac Benford (Intermediate-Advanced)
Catch 'Em on the Fly
Tips, hints and strategies for learning new tunes during jam sessions. There’s no need to feel hesitant about jumping into a hot session just because you may not know the tunes! (Advancing beginner-Intermediate)
Old Time Picking Styles for Three-finger Pickers
A class for Bluegrass pickers who wish to get some old-time sounds from their three-finger rolls.
Mac Benford (Intermediate-Advanced)
Easy Clawhammer Classics for Beginning Players
Mac will teach a selection of fun, easy tunes from the Old Time Canon.
Mac Benford (Advancing beginners)
Learn the shocking finger-style and clawhammer secrets of the Dixie Dewdrop. Songs, too. Hot dog! Mac Benford (Intermediate-advanced)
Howie Bursen
Old Time String Band Encounter I: Hey, Let's Make a Band!
In Part I of this class, we’ll join with other campers and experienced instructors to form off-the-cuff combos and receive coaching on playing in an ensemble.
Howie Bursen, John Rossbach, Jane Rothfield (Intermediate-advanced)
Old Time String Band Encounter II: Hey, We Made a Band!
In Part II of this class, we’ll come back with our now-rehearsed bands to perform and get a constructive critique from our instructors and fellow campers.
Howie Bursen, John Rossbach, Jane Rothfield (Intermediate-advanced)
Getting All the Notes: Advanced Melodic Clawhammer
The whole tune is there—if you want it. We’ll take a close look at the concepts, techniques and tricks that go into interpreting a specific tune or two.
Howie Bursen (Advanced)
Clawhammer Tricks
Sneaky techniques for both left and right hands to take your playing to the next level. Includes a tab sheet of a tune with lots of tricks incorporated.
Howie Bursen (Intermediate-advanced)
Bursen and Kaufman: Banjo-Fiddle Duets
Howie Bursen, Alan Kaufman (Presentation; all levels welcome)
Get That Slappin’ Happenin’
Get the basic technique of clawhammer down. You’ll go home with tab of a simple tune and a whole bunch of tricks to help you get that wonderful sound. Howie Bursen (Advancing beginners)
The Great Divide Returns: Melodic Bluegrass and Melodic Clawhammer
It’s bluegrass! It’s old-timey! It’s banjo! Who knew? Using fiddle tunes as a common ground, two expert practitioners of these styles demonstrate their similarities and differences.
Howie Bursen, Alan Munde (Presentation; all levels welcome)
Bob Carlin
Bob will share some of his opinions and techniques for good right- and left-hand technique.
Bob Carlin (All levels)
This class will explore the African and African-American roots of the banjo. Bob will demonstrate, talk about and teach some of the pieces that demonstrate these roots. The class will include songs and tunes from Joe, Odell and Nate Thompson.
Bob Carlin (Intermediate-advanced)
Early minstrel banjoists documented their tunes and playing styles in a number of books first published in the 1850s and early 1860s. Bob will demonstrate tunes from the era and teach some tunes as well.
Bob Carlin (Advanced)
Alternative tunings allow the banjoist to play melodies more easily and to evoke different moods. Bob will hand out his list of twenty-five of these tunings, and teach tunes in a number of them as well.
Bob Carlin (Intermediate-advanced)
A demonstration of how to back-up and play with a fiddle, learn tunes from a fiddler, or "jam" with unknown musicians on unknown tunes.
Bob Carlin, Brad Leftwich (Presentation; all levels welcome)
Martin Grosswendt
Dock Boggs Banjo
An introduction to Dock Boggs' compelling three-finger modal style.
Martin Grosswendt (Intermediate-advanced)
Lorraine Hammond
Banjo Women
Strong songs and tunes by and about strong women.
Lorraine Hammond, Janet Davis, Jane Rothfield (Presentation; all levels welcome)
Does your heart leap into your throat at even the idea of singing in a teeny little voice from the back of a crowd? Then this workshop is for you. Come and find your courage and your voice with a group of like-minded souls. Don’t just dream—dare to sing!
Lorraine Hammond (All levels)
Ballads on the Banjo
The banjo is a great instrument for accompanying songs of any type, but especially well-suited to the ballad. We’ll listen to several talented players (and singers) who use clawhammer and finger-style banjo to accompany classic ballads from the United Kingdom and the United States. Tunings, tempos and arranging will be covered.
Lorraine Hammond, Howie Bursen, Staff (Presentation; all levels welcome)
John Herrmann
Explore the banjo style of Round Peak legend Tommy Jarrell. Though Tommy was best known as a fiddler, he was equally at home on the banjo and contributed much to the Round Peak banjo lexicon. This class is directed primarily at players who are past the novice stage and can find their way around the instrument a bit but have not yet developed a knowledge of the styles of individual players.
John Herrmann (Advancing beginner-Early intermediate)
Jamming with a Focus: Round Peak Tunes
Banjo-Fiddle Duets: Speed Dating for Fiddle and Banjo
This two-session workshop will pair off fiddlers and banjoists to develop their playing (and listening) skills under the direction of two seasoned pros. We will need an even number of participants for each instrument.
John Herrmann, Brad Leftwich (Intermediate-Advanced)
Clawhammer Master Class: Supporting the Fiddler
An acknowledged master of the craft will discuss how to tailor your playing to provide powerful back-up for southern dance fiddling.
John Herrmann (Advanced)
Alan Kaufman
Waltz Like A Pro
Fiddlers—learn some beautiful old-time fiddle waltzes from the repertoire of Henry Reed and J. P. Fraley. Geared toward intermediate and advanced fiddlers. No knowledge of higher neck positions or vibrato required.
Alan Kaufman (Intermediate-Advanced)
Jamming with a Focus: Old Time Southern Stringband Repertoire
Bring along your instruments (and some 'shine) and play along with a spirited old time southern string band 'til the reve-nooers come after us and give us hell.
Alan Kaufman, Jane Rothfield, Martin Grosswendt (all levels welcome)
The Fiddle Doctor Is In
Dr. Alan Kaufman, our resident fiddling internist, will be glad to meet with any fiddlers to offer an instructional diagnosis, as well as prescriptions for better fiddling technique and other indispensable over-the-counter advice.
Dr. Alan Kaufman, Ph.(iddle)d (All levels welcome)
Brad Leftwich
Using Your Thumb in Unaccustomed Ways
Variations on the so-called "Galax" lick and other cool clawhammer techniques that require you to get your thumb out of its rut.
Brad Leftwich (Advancing beginner-intermediate)
Let’s look at the two-finger technique common to Grayson, Carroll and Surry Counties. It's fun, its not hard, and it's good backup for songs and other slower pieces.
Brad Leftwich (Advancing Beginner-Early intermediate)
Round Peak Clawhammer
Learn some of the licks that made banjo heroes Fred Cockerham, Tommy Jarrell, and Kyle Creed sound so cool!
Brad Leftwich (Intermediate)
Introduction to Fretless Banjo
It has more to do with knowing the tricks than having unusual talent.
Brad Leftwich (Intermediate)
The Banjo Playing of Wade Ward
Wade Ward of Independence, Virginia, was master of an elegant playing style. We'll learn some of his tunes, the way he played them. You should already have command of the basic clawhammer or frailing right-hand technique, as well the drop-thumb lick and hammer-ons, pull-offs, and slides. Be sure to bring a tape recorder; I encourage you to learn by ear, so I don’t use tablature, but if you’re absolutely addicted to it, bring paper and pencil so you can write it out for yourself.
Brad Leftwich (Intermediate-Advanced)
John Rossbach
Wildwood Flower: Chord Based Lead Guitar
How to expand simple chord forms into lead breaks on the guitar.
John Rossbach (Advancing beginner-intermediate)
Banjo Picker's Field Guide to Guitar Chord Shapes
Learn to follow the bandleader or guitarist in a jam by recognizing and transposing guitar chord forms to the banjo. We’ll learn to recognize different
voicings of the same chords and what to do when the dreaded capo comes into play.
Intro to Rhythm Guitar
For players who can form some basic chords and want to start learning the art of
accompanying others.
John Rossbach (Advancing beginner-Intermediate)
Bluegrass Guitar: Different Strokes for Different Folks
We'll explore the differences in attitude and technique in using guitar to back up the different instruments and voices in a bluegrass band.
John Rossbach (Intermediate)
Jane Rothfield
Jane Rothfield (Beginner) (See also, Beginning Clawhammer Track I: Clawhammer for the Complete Novice)
Improve your Fiddling: Rhythm and Tone
This workshop is not so much tune- or style-oriented, but goes to the root of how to really play "better"—giving you the tools to play the style you want to play.
Jane Rothfield (Advancing beginner-Intermediate)
Learning to Fiddle by Ear: Making a Tune Your Own
Learn techniques for playing and learning tunes by ear, including how to
learn the core melody of a tune and then add the spice (bowing, accents,
melody, chords, and harmony) to really make the tune come alive!
Jane Rothfield (Intermediate)
Paul Sedgwick
Akonting 101: The Roots of the Banjo Revealed, Parts I
& II
Join Paul Sedgwick in exploring the African roots of the
banjo. The Akonting is the antecedent of
the modern banjo and is still played in
Hank Sapoznik
An introduction to the unique playing approach of Charlie Poole, which set in motion banjo playing as we know it today. Emphasis will be placed on closed chord positions and adaptations of classic-style picking figures. Note: Breaking your right hand in a drunken baseball mishap not required.
Hank Sapoznik (Intermediate-Advanced)
The Missing Plink: The City Roots of Country Banjo, Parts I & II
Over the course of two sessions, we will explore the history of three-finger banjo by listening to the classic recordings which led from cities in the 1890s to the pioneering first recording country artists in the 1920s. We will hear rare performances from some of the greatest finger style banjo players including Fred Van Eps, Vess Ossman, Charlie Poole, Frank Jenkins, Snuffy Jenkins and Wade Mainer.
Hank Sapoznick (Presentation; all levels welcome)
Classic Banjo: The Classic Repertoire, Parts I & II
The era which first produced classic three-finger banjo also produced cakewalks, rags and marches, all of which perfectly suited the new style. Over the course of two sessions, we will focus on learning two pieces from Kerry Mills, one of the great composers of classic era repertoire ("At A Georgia Camp Meeting" (1897) and "Whistling Rufus" (1899) and see how this set the stage for 20th century banjo.
Banjo and Fiddle Duets: Sapoznik and Herrmann
Hank Sapoznik, John Herrmann (Presentation; all levels welcome)
Richie Stearns
Old-Time Banjo Tunes
Explore a selection of great old-time tunes for clawhammer banjo.
Richie Stearns (Advancing beginner-Intermediate)
Non-Traditional Approach to Clawhammer
Richie Stearns is known as a player who has re-defined the role of clawhammer banjo in traditional music and introduced it to a number of new genres. Get his take on the techniques and sounds that can turn this old style into something very new.
Richie Stearns (Intermediate-Advanced)
Beginner Banjo for Non-Beginners: A Return to Basics to Strengthen Your Playing
A class for intermediate and advanced players that will address crucial skills for effective clawhammer playing, with an emphasis on the right hand.
Richie Stearns (Intermediate-Advanced)
Rock and Roll and Blues on Old-Time Banjo: How to Use Effects and Play Funky
How to get down and dirty on the old-time five string with a creative mind, some bad-assed technique a bit of technology.
Richie Stearns (Intermediate-Advanced)
Different Tunings, Different Strokes
An exploration of less-common tunings for clawhammer playing and the techniques to exploit them.
Richie Stearns (Advancing beginner-Intermediate)