Banjo Camp North 2011

 

TWO SPECIAL PROGRAMS TO BE PRESENTED AT BCN:

TONY THOMAS - An Introduction to Black Five String Banjo Playing: This presentation combines lecture, banjo playing, banjo teaching, video, field recordings, the voices of Black banjoists,   and Black musical examples from Count Basie to Chuck Berry to introduce essential concepts of traditional Black banjo playing.  The focus is on Dink Roberts from North Carolina and Gus Cannon from Mississippi, as well as on Virginia players Josh Thomas, Rufus Kasey, Leonard Bowles, Naomi Bowles, Irvin Cook, and John Lawson Tyree.   The common approach Dink, Gus Cannon, and Irvin Cook use to play the song "Old Blue" will be taught as a key for players to explore this tradition in their own playing.

MARC FIELDS - The Banjo Project: The Story of America's Instrument: A special preview screening of selected scenes from the upcoming PBS documentary, The Banjo Project: The Story of America's Instrument with the filmmakers, Emmy-winning producer Marc Fields and co-producer Tony Trischka (who needs no introduction in the banjo world).  Narrated by Steve Martin, The Banjo Project  traces the instrument's 350 year odyssey from its African roots to the present, featuring contemporary masters such as Pete Seeger, Earl Scruggs, Bela Fleck, Taj Mahal, Mike Seeger, Bill Keith, Buddy Wachter, Don Vappie, Abigail Washburn and the Carolina Chocolate Drops.  Production on this epic began in 2002, and since then we've shot over 350 hours of interviews and performances, with over 80 players, historians, collectors and builders. Editing will be finished in time for a Fall 2011 broadcast.  Tony and I are pleased to be able to preview the work in progress for Banjo Camp North attendees and then discuss your comments. For more about The Banjo Project, please visit our website at www.thebanjoproject.org and join us on Facebook

Classes List

 

Beginner Tracks:

 

LORRAINE HAMMOND & MARTIN GROSSWENDT: OT Beginner track series:

 

Novice/Beginner/fresh start track (five sessions) - Here’s the chance to play old-time banjo for the first time, or dust off the case that was at the back of the closet, take out that lonely banjo, and start fresh. We’ll be frailing in no time and moving on to chords and melodies.

 

Advancing Beginner pick up w\here you left off last time or refresh what you’ve been doing for a while.  Add new skills.

 

BOB ALTSCHULER

      1. Bluegrass beginner track, 5 sessions.

1.       Getting Started Part 1:foundations of playing bluegrass banjo, including banjo anatomy, tuning, usingpicks, correct playing and hand positions, reading tablature, basic chords and playing rolls and a slide.

2.       Getting Started Part 2: review of Part 1, more basic rolls, essential left-hand techniques including slides, hammer-ons and pull-offs, a basic two chord song and practice exercises.

3.       Review of the Foundations of Bluegrass Picking -- Putting It All Together: review of Parts1 and 2 plus additional playing techniques, timing, practice exercises, a threechord song and an overview of bluegrass banjo styles.

4.       Bluegrass Rolls and Left-Hand Techniques for Beginners: explore the most useful rolls and left-hand techniques that create licks. Bob will guide you in playing slides, hammer-ons, pull-offs and chokes added to basic rolls to create the licks and patterns that form the basis of Scruggs-style playing.

5.       Basic Backup and Chord Shapes: foundation and theory of backup, from simple techniques using barre chords and basic rolls to an overview of moveable "F" and "D" chord shapes, vamping, hand position and tone. This session will provide the tools to start playing effective backup right away.

2. What Can I Play When I Don't Know theSong?- Up the Neck: A key topic for all player levels is what to play without a pre-arranged break. Here’s a layered approach for "faking" and building breaks on the spot, from basic chords with rolls to adding licks, phrases and melody notes. Bob will help you put into practice licks and techniques you already know, plus up the neck moveable licks to enable you to quickly create breaks. (B-I)

 

REGULAR CLASSES:

 

STEVE ARKIN

  1. Melodic blues licks to spice up your BG solos - Hot, bluesy, and little-known licks invented by Steve or learned from such friends as Bill Keith, Allen Shelton, Bobby Thompson, Marty Cutler, and Pete Wernick. This class will show you how to do them—and when to use them. (I/A)
  2. The key ingredients of clawhammer to back up a fiddle or to play strong solo tunes - How to lock in with a fiddler and make great music by paying attention to the five key ingredients of clawhammer banjo-- rhythm, tone, melody, texture, and ornament (I).
  3. The power of 3-Finger Clawhammer - How using both your index and middle fingers in your clawhammer playing increases your right-hand agility and get more speed, accuracy, agility, tonal variety, and percussive punch. (A)
  4. Bill Monroe’s evolving view of the banjo's role in bluegrass - As the “father of bluegrass,” Bill Monroe is clearly viewed as the gold standard in determining the boundaries and requirements for the complete bluegrass banjo player.  But Monroe’s preferences actually evolved over the years.  Former Blue Grass Boy Steve Arkin provides an overview of Bill’s changing taste and points out the unchanging principals that spanned the tenures of such diverse players as Stringbean, Earl Scruggs, Don Reno, Bill  Keith, Steve Arkin, Butch Robbins, and others.
  5. OT and BG Fiddle and Banjo Duets – Banjo and fiddle is a match made in heaven!  What does it sound like for BG and for OT?  How are they different? What do they have in common? What are some ideas to help you out? With Reiner, Molsky (Demo)
  6. Bluegrass (Scruggs) for OT Players – Class is intended for people with knowledge of left hand who want to learn some of the right hand basics and approaches to BG banjo.
  7. Coaching Session - Whatever you’re working on, wherever you hope to go, whatever obstacle confronts you (in bluegrass or old time), this session will help you to move past the sticking points and progress toward your banjo goals.

 

RILEY BAUGUS

  1. Southern Clawhammer Techniques: This class is based on various techniques that one would hear other players using, either on recordings or in person, in several styles of clawhammer banjo. Banjo playing is like using language to communicate. All our vocal conversation is improvised. I hope to teach you how to improvise with the "words" or techniques on the banjo. Once a vocabulary is built from various techniques, it is easier to figure out what you're hearing and how to play it. We will include techniques for hearing a tune in a jam and figuring out what to do with it, by exploring some of the possibilities we have to work with on the banjo. How to listen will be one of the big topics in the workshop. I/A
  2. Clawhammer Banjo From Scratch, (Secrets Revealed): This is a class that will show you how to start playing clawhammer from the very beginning, dispelling myths and revealing secrets used by clawhammer banjo players all over the world. It will deal with the basic rhythm for the right hand, using the left hand for a melody and some of the  basic techniques that make clawhammer banjo unique. B/I
  3. Dock Boggs' Country Blues: In this class we will work on the finger style of Dock Boggs, from Norton, VA. Rather than try to teach several tunes in this style in one class, we will delve deep into the one tune, Country Blues, and work out the method that Dock used to play it, and how to create that lonesome, mournful sound that he was able to achieve.
  4. Clawhammer Repertoire from the Southern mountains: During this workshop, I will provide as many tunes as possible for the purpose of visual and audio absorption. This is more lecture/demo than hands on, but is great if you'd like to see and hear several tunes played and take home a good recording of them at both slow and up to speed, speeds. I will work mostly with Round Peak style tunes, but there will be others as well, such as tunes from Oscar Wright from West Virginia, Buell Kazee from Kentucky and more. Bring a recording device and ears ready to listen.
  5. Round Peak Banjo: What is Round Peak Style? Where does it come from? What tunes do they play and can I learn to do it? These questions and many more will be answered in this workshop by Paul Brown and Riley Baugus. Paul and Riley will teach about the style, who they learned from, what makes it different than other clawhammer styles, and best of all, they'll teach a tune in the Round Peak Style. With Brown (I-A)

 

JANET BEAZLEY

  1. Tasteful Backup to Bluegrass Vocals, for intermediate players wanting to explore the various elements of supportive, tasteful backup playing
  2. Sing on the Chorus: intro to bluegrass harmony singing
  3. More Sing on the chorus: intro to bluegrass harmony singing
  4. Technical tuneup: honing Scruggs fundamentals with fun & grueling exercises
  5. Top Ten Scruggs Licks: how & where to use them
  6. Good tone & timing from the start

 

DICK BOWDEN

  1. Ralph Stanley style compared and contrasted to Earl Scruggs style (I-A))
  2. Deep Dive into Pike County Breakdown - 3 styles, Scruggs, Osborne, Keith (I-A)
  3. A sampling of Don Reno licks - (I-A)
  4. Earl Scruggs guitar - (All)
  5. Playing songs you know how to sing - (I-A)
  6. Coaching session

 

PAUL BROWN

  1. Turn On Your Ears - This one-on-one chance to play banjo with Paul on the fiddle will help move your musicianship to a new level. The small group setting and a safe, welcoming environment with clear ground rules give you the chance to leap forward. This class was born at BCN. Find out what’s made it so special. Limited enrollment.
  2. Virginia-North Carolina Fiddle Tune Repertoire for Banjo - Hang out with Paul for a session featuring some of the wonderful tunes he learned from old master fiddlers in northwest North Carolina, southwest Virginia, and West Virginia. Figure out some nice banjo parts, and add to your tune-learning toolbox.
  3. Become an Old Time Finger Picker in One Hour! - Want to start finger picking and don’t know how to get going at it? This often hilarious BCN favorite class will unlock Secrets of the Universe, and give you the tools you need to move right along in the coming year.
  4. Round Peak Banjo: What is Round Peak Style? Where does it come from? What tunes do they play and can I learn to do it? These questions and many more will be answered in this workshop by Paul Brown and Riley Baugus. Paul and Riley will teach about the style, who they learned from, what makes it different than other clawhammer styles, and best of all, they'll teach a tune in the Round Peak Style  With Baugus (I-A)
  5. Old Time Fiddle and 3 Finger Bluegrass Banjo Duet Style - This is the place where Old Time and Bluegrass Fiddle and Banjo meet in the 1950’s. Early bluegrass bands included many tunes from the old time repertoire. Mike and Paul will demonstrate some of these tunes and this style of playing. Mike will teach “Cricket on The Hearth” and back up styles for “Leather Britches”. Other examples including vocal tunes will be presented. The synergy of the banjo accompanying the fiddle in a Scruggs based roll style will be emphasized. Both banjo lead and accompaniment will be presented. Join us for this hands on class! With Brown (I-A)
  6. Coaching Session

 

HOWIE BURSEN

1.       Making the Jump to Double Thumbing - UNLEASH THAT THUMB! We’ll get that steady rolling clawhammer, and then move on to adding those sweet notes which pop out when you learn to double thumb. It’s easier than you think! (I)

2.       Banjos and Ballads -Before that pesky Appalachian dulcimer came on the scene, we have evidence thatthe banjo was a vocal accompaniment instrument of choice in the SouthernMountains. For many of us it is still the instrument of choice. With L. Hammond(All)

3.       GettingAll the Notes: Clawhammering Your Way up the Melodic Path - Once you can double thumb, the wholetune is there - if you want it. We’ll take a close look at an easy tune or two.(I)

4.       GhostFingers: Getting the Most Expression from the Fewest Notes - A Great Wise Man once said “If youplay too many notes, each one is worth less.” We’ll look at situations whereless is more. Being musical is our aim. (I-A)

5.       Banjod’Amore:  Love Songs on the Banjo:  The 5-string banjo as an instrumentof Love!

6.       Coaching Session

 

JANET DAVIS

  1. Introduction to  3-Finger Melodic Style Bluegrass for fiddle tunes - How anyone can play a song in the melodic style using scale patterns (B)
  2. Surviving a Bluegrass Jam – The skills you need to feel comfortable playing in a bluegrass jam are very different from the skills you use when learning a tune from tab: how to hear chord changes, playing in all keys using the capo, how to use vamping, roll patterns and the “In The Mood” licks to create great sounding backup and how to fake a solo on a song you don’t know.  with Evans (All)
  3. Up The Neck Back Up - with Evans (I-A)
  4. Again! The great signature licks used for fills and tags will be presented. Learn the right way to play them a la Earl, J.D., Sonny, et al. Here’s your chance to learn the licks of the pros. With Nelson (I)
  5. Finding the Melody Notes the Easy Way (AB-I)

BILL EVANS

  1. Learning the Fingerboard: Where Melodic and Single-String Meet - (A)
  2. Right Hand Essentials: Hand Positioning and Roll Patterns, (B)
  3. Practice Strategies for Adult Learners – (All)
  4. Fiddle Tunes Simplified (using Scruggs style to work up breaks) – (I-A) with Stockwell
  5. Surviving a Bluegrass Jam (All)

 

BENNETT HAMMOND

  1. RockaFolky Two-Finger OT Picking - It’s easy, it’s a little different, and it’s very versatile.
  2. Making It Up As We Go: Song and Tune Accompaniment - Rhythmic commentary and harmonic repartee
  3. Making It Up As We Go: Improv and Composition - Leap before you look, Location is Everything, Right-hand Drive.
  4. Only Three Chords Up the Neck - Or why we don’t need no stinking capo
  5. EZ Two-finger OT fiddle tunes in D without a capo - And without retuning!

 

LORRAINE HAMMOND

  1. Novice/Beginner/Advancing beginner track. with Grosswendt
  2. Banjos and Ballads - Before that pesky Appalachian dulcimer came on the scene, we have evidence that the banjo was a vocal accompaniment instrument of choice in the Southern Mountains. For many of us it is still the instrument of choice.

 

MARTIN GROSSWENDT

1.        Beginner/fresh start track - Here’s the chance to play old-time banjo for the first time, or dust off the case that was at the back of the closet, take out that lonely banjo, and start fresh.  We’ll be frailing in no time and moving on to chords and melodies.

  1. Blues on the Banjo - The Banjo--it's for more than fiddle tunes! Let's look at how the instrument has been used in the past and might be used in the future to play that most xpressive of American musical genres.  (All/Demo)

 

CASEY HENRY

  1. Fancy Up-the-neck Scruggs-style Backup – Learning the licks and then putting them into a song.
  2. Vamping and Beginning Backup
  3. Playing in the Key of C - getting around in C position without re-tuning.
  4. The capo: It’s your friend - Learn how to use it!

5.       Learn a Tune by Ear - which tunewill depend on who shows up to learn it!

 

MIKE KROPP

  1. Doug Dillard’s Tunes and Style - Doug Dillard was a profoundly influential banjoist during the 1960’s and 70’s while he performed and recorded with The Dillards. Several of Doug’s original tunes (“Hickory Hollow”, “Banjo in the Hollow” and “Doug’s Tune”) will be presented, along with his  important solos in “Dooley”, “Ground Hog”, “Polly Vaughn”. Discussion of Doug’s style with demonstrations, as well as tablatures for some of his signature tunes and licks will be taught. With Munde (I-A)
  2. FOLK BANJO STYLES - The Pete Seeger Grimoire - Mike will demonstrate and teach the essential folk styles fostered by Pete Seeger and other giants of the Folk Era of the 1950’s and 1960’s. Demonstration of the long neck Pete Seeger banjo and the various landmark styles from Pete’s book will be taught.  Up-picking, double thumbing, and various strums will be shown. If you have the “How to Play the Five String Banjo” book by Pete Seeger, bring it with you! (I-A)
  3. Intro to Clawhammer and Old Time Finger Style for Bluegrass Players – The basics of Clawhammer style and tunings will be presented. Mike will also teach popular tunes from the OT repertoire in 2 and 3  finger old time style. These tunes are common in clawhammer  and OT fingerstyle. This class will bridge the gap and open the door to a rhythmic and syncopated format that will enhance your approach to playing fiddle tunes both in OT and Bluegrass style. Tunes included are Over The Waterfall, Angeline The Baker, Arkansas Traveler, Pretty Polly, Ground Hog, Cripple Creek, etc. (I-A)
  4. Old Time Fiddle and 3 Finger Bluegrass Banjo Duet Style - This is the place where Old Time and Bluegrass Fiddle and Banjo meet in the 1950’s. Early bluegrass bands included many tunes from the old time repertoire. Mike and Paul will demonstrate some of these tunes and this style of playing. Mike will teach “Cricket on The Hearth” and back up styles for “Leather Britches”. Other examples including vocal tunes will be presented. The synergy of the banjo accompanying the fiddle in a Scruggs based roll style will be emphasized. Both banjo lead and accompaniment will be presented. Join us for this hands on class! With Brown (I-A)
  5. Bluegrass Fingerboard and Picking Secrets - Fresh ideas for approaching and playing solos and backup. Lots of food for thought here to find your own voice as an instrumentalist and keep from the stagnation caused by playing tunes exactly as others play them. Learn to think “out of the box”. Here’s a chance to expand what you already know by using standard techniques in new settings. Discussion of left hand chord theory will be applied along with new ways to use the standard rolls you already know. Mike will use “Turkey Knob” and other tunes to guide you to some new places. Bring some of your tunes that need spicing up to class and we’ll work hands on to expand your knowledge. (I-A)
  6. Banjo Duets - Explore playing note-for-note harmonies with another banjo. Using examples from their experiences writing and arranging banjo duets Learn how to take any familiar tune and add a harmony part or two. With Stillman (I-A)

 

JIM MILLS

  1. Traditional Kick-offs, Lead-ins, and Endings - these are three of the most important parts of any song. If you are expected to kick off a song, lead into a banjo break in the middle of song or "take it home", then these parts should stand out and be absolutely solid. Tips from an expert! (I-A)
  2. "Ground Speed" -  a great Earl Scruggs tune that is seldom played with the correct syncopation. (I-A)
  3. Pedal steel-type string bending effects - as played on “How Great Thou Art” as recorded on my "Bound To Ride" CD. (A)
  4. "Foggy Mountain Special" - illustrating big band influences of Earl's youth with this jazzy, big band, swing-feeling tune. (I-A)
  5. Less is Best - "economy of movement" in both the left and right hand will greatly improve your playing, featuring Sally Gooden, Cumberland Gap, and Sally Ann. (I-A)

 

BRUCE MOLSKY

  1. Tips & Tricks for Keeping Solid Time - What do you do between the melodic phrases in a tune to keep it moving along and in time? Explore some ways of creating rhythm and "filling in the blanks" in the music.
  2. Hobart Smith's Wabash Blues - Hobart Smith put his own unique stamp on everything he played. Wabash Blues is a great piece in an unusual minor tuning. We'll deconstruct it to see what makes it tick.
  3. Improving Learning-By-Ear Skills - So many tunings, so little time!  Using them changes mood, feeling and timbre. With well over 100 tunings documented, the possibilities are limitless.
  4. Old-Time Fiddle – Come pick up a few tunes and tips.
  5. OT and BG Fiddle and Banjo Duets – A great pairing of instruments!  What does it sound like for BG and for OT?  What are some ideas to help you out? With Arkin, Reiner (Demo) 

ALAN MUNDE

  1. Review of Rolls andExamples – B/I
  2. Roll Logic – rolls and how they are used. I/A
  3. Creating Solos to Songs – (I-A)
  4. Doug Dillard’s Tunes and Style - Doug Dillard was a profoundly influential banjoist during the 1960’s and 70’s while he performed and recorded with The Dillards. Several of Doug’s original tunes (“Hickory Hollow”, “Banjo in the Hollow” and “Doug’s Tune”) will be presented, along with his  important solos in “Dooley”, “Ground Hog”, “Polly Vaughn”. Discussion of Doug’s style with demonstrations, as well as tablatures for some of his signature tunes and licks will be taught. (I-A)
  5. The Melodic Style – fiddle tunes   I/A

 

GLENN NELSON

  1. Banjo Care and feeding:  How to get the most out of Your banjo - We discuss banjo setup, maintenance & modifiable factors that affect its tone and playability.  Bring your banjo! (All)
  2. The Great Bluegrass Lick Lexicon Returns Again! The great signature licks used for fills and tags will be presented. Learn the right way to play them a la Earl, J.D., Sonny, et al. Here’s your chance to learn the licks of the pros. With Davis (I)
  3. Beginning Chord Studies: Arpeggios and Re-naming Chords – A look at the all-important chord!   How to use it, abuse it, substitute it and rename it! Use more chords/arpeggios to icrease your knowledge of the fretboard and more importantly, create better music. Tri-tones, Altered chords, Dominant chords will be discussed as will great sounding and more importantly, easy to remember substitute chords. Add some spice to your playing! These concepts will be discussed within the context of familiar tunes (I-A)
  4. Beginning Single String Style - Get off to a good start playing single string style banjo. Beginning scales, arpeggios, good technique, appropriate tone, chords, etc. will be discussed.  Single string style, also known as Reno style banjo is a great way to augment your playing and to help you improvise melodically in all keys. (I/A)

 

DAVE REINER

  1. A Fiddler’s Bag of Tricks - There’s no silver bullet, but these can take your fiddle playing to the next level I *really* wish I had known this when I started out... (B-I)
  2. Chords for OT and BG Fiddlers - Backup, doublestops, harmony, breaks — demystifying theory (B-I)
  3. OT and BG Fiddle Bowing Workshop – Patterns, accents, and techniques to make your tunes come alive (B-I)
  4. OT and BG Fiddle and Banjo Duets – A great pairing of instruments!  What does it sound like for BG and for OT?  What are some ideas to help you out? With Arkin, Molsky (Demo)
  5. Banjo players – Play with a live fiddle player! - Try out the tunes of your choice (any level) with a supportive and friendly fiddle player (B-A)

 

MIKE RIVERS

  1. Getting the Most From Your Hand-held Recorder - These handy recorders are now in their fourth generation, so it's definitely time to get one or upgrade your old one. In this workshop we'll look at a range of sizes, shapes, and capabilities, discuss some fundamentals of recording, trade tips for making better recordings, and using and managing your recordings. (Demo) 
  2. Working with a PA System - It's hard to play a gig these days without some sort of sound system, whether it's your own or one at the venue. We'll discuss various system configurations (individual components, powered mixers, powered speakers) and how they're connected, and what all of those knobs and buttons do. Tips on setup, microphone choices positioning, and techniques, and keeping the stage neat and organized (Demo) 2 & 3 may be combined into one presentation, depending on.
  3. Everything Audio - Got a new recorder or are you  ooking for one? Need a new microphone or a new sound system? Do you know what all the knobs do? Got feedback? Everybody has questions about sound and recording so here's your chance to get answers. Ask me anything, and share your woes and solutions. (All)

 

RICH STILLMAN

  1. Unlocking the Power and Versatility of TablEdit - TablEdit and the free tablature viewer/player TabView are the most popular tools for the creation, sharing and playback of banjo tablature. It's possible to use TablEdit to write down almost anything that can be played on a banjo, including Scruggs tuner notes and odd tunings and capo positions. The program's ability to create practice loops can even turn it into a song-specific metronome. But TablEdit is not the easiest program to use. This class will reveal some of the secrets to using TablEdit to create your own tabs and get the best use of downloaded tabs, including special tunings, banjo effects, accompaniment and playback control. This class will focus on bluegrass banjo. (All)
  2. Better Playing Through Exercises - Most of us learned to play banjo by working note-for-note with tunes from books or DVDs. Tunes can teach some important banjo technique, but there are some skills that can be learned best (or only) through targeted exercises. I'll show you exercises to help develop dynamics, speed control and volume, and to help understand how to find notes on the neck. (All)
  3. The Humble Vamp - No, there'll be no exotic dancers in this class, only a bunch of people playing chords on their banjos. Can we really spend 75 minutes discussing the humble bluegrass vamp? Yes! There's much more to vamping than just keeping the beat. This class will start by polishing your basic vamp, and move on to all kinds of rhythmic variations. (AB-I)
  4. Banjo Duets - Explore playing note-for-note harmonies with another banjo. Using examples from their experiences writing and arranging banjo duets Rich and (xx) will teach you how to take any familiar tune and add a harmony part or two. (I-A) with Kropp.
  5. Playing down-the-neck breaks by ear - If you want to take a step beyond just playing rolls with chords for your breaks, if you want to play your own breaks instead of what you learned from tablature, you'll want to come to this session. Learn how to use the chords as a guide to find the melody, and turn that into a break of your own that really sounds like the tune. (AB)

 

BRUCE STOCKWELL

  1. Fiddle Tunes Simplified -  with Bill Evans
  2. Handling Tunes Too Slow for Rolls -  Ideas for backup and soloing at tempos too slow for effective roll-based playing (I-A)
  3. Country Boy Jazz -  You don't have to be a Berklee grad to have fun with old jazz/pop tunes.  Let's check out Bye, Bye Blues, and Little Rock Getaway (A)
  4. Playing in 3/4 Time -  Reconfigured rolls, backup moves and a couple of Earl's classic solos (I)
  5. Syncopation Appreciation -  A closer look at this subtle tool, a principle source of Earl's trademark sly swagger (I-A)
  6. Creative Bluegrass Rhythm - Varied and musical vamping can energize a band or jam and make soloists sound better (I)

 

TONY TRISCHKA

  1. Playing the Modes - How rules, rather than boxing you in, can open up exciting new vistas of compositional and improvisational expression. (A)
  2. Playing Fiddle Tunes - Each fiddle tune is it's own wonderful galaxy.  I'll discuss melodic, single string and Scruggsy approaches, playing in different keys without a capo, and playing note for note arrangements by great fiddle players and Bill Monroe. (I-A)
  3. Playing the syllables - Really playing the melody of a tune – it’s a concept a espoused by John Hartford and Earl Scruggs, a path to really refreshing your playing.  A pathway to playing in different keys without a capo, and learning how to play up the neck. (I-A)
  4. Playing Steve Martin (his music, that is) - Working through a number of his tunes to see how he takes elements we know and turns them into something uniquely his own. Yet another aspect of Steve's brilliance. (Demo)
  5. Intermediate to Advanced Back-up - Working through Earl and JD's more expansive accompaniments. (I-A)
  6. More obscure Earl Scruggs solos and tunes - from 1946 to last summer. (I-A)

 

NEW: Coaching Sessions – Whatever you’re working on, wherever you hope to go, whatever obstacle confronts you , this session will help you to move past the sticking points and progress toward your banjo goals. Limited to 5 students (All)