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7th ANNUAL BANJO CAMP NORTH® May 18, 19, & 20, 2007 Director: Mike Holmes Music Directors: Bluegrass - Mike Kropp Old Time - Martin Grosswendt OT Beginner Track - Lorraine Lee Hammond BG Beginner Track Coordinator - Bob Altschuler

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BCN 2007 Class Schedule

BCN 2007 Class Schedule -PDF format

BCN 2007 Bluegrass Class Listing

BCN 2007 Old Time Class Listing

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 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. In response to previous attendees requests, this year we are adding a Fiddle Track for both Bluegrass and Old Time, plus we will emphasize banjo and 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 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 will be repeated. They include 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.

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.

Alan Munde From his bluegrass apprenticeship with Jimmy Martin to his 21-year stint with Country Gazette, Alan has blazed a trail as one of the most innovative and influential banjo players of all time. Alan has supplemented his recorded work with several instructional publications for the banjo, and, since 1986, he has taught Bluegrass and Country Music at South Plains College in Levelland, Texas, a program which has produced many professional musicians nationwide. In recent years, Alan has performed and recorded as a duo with his South Plains faculty colleague (and former Gazette-mate) Joe Carr. Alan's extensive body of recorded work, his instructional materials, and his work at South Plains (including the annual Camp Bluegrass) has solidified his status as one of the true gurus of the 5-string. Alan currently serves on the Board of Directors of the International Bluegrass Music Association.

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.

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.

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.

Bob Carlin 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.

Brad Leftwich is among the foremost old-time musicians of his generation. Best known as a fiddler, Brad has in fact been playing banjo longer. Inspired by his grandfather, a banjo picker from Carroll County, Va., and by his father, a singer and guitar player in the old-time style, Brad has learned much of his music from traditional musicians in the region formed by Surry County, N.C., and Grayson and Carroll Counties, VA, and in particular from Tommy Jarrell and other musicians from the Round Peak community. He has written a book on Round Peak style clawhammer banjo published by Mel Bay, and two old-time fiddle teaching videos on Homespun Tapes. Brad will teach fiddle, banjo, and dynamics of playing in a group.

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.

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.

Ron Cody began studying banjo at the age of 15, with Mike Kropp and later, Tony Trischka. He toured Sweden and Finland and currently plays with the New England Bluegrass Band throughout New England. Ron plays/endorses the Mockingbird/Nelson banjo. As a composer, he is influenced by contemporary jazz, classical, Irish, rock and folk music. During trips to Scotland and Ireland, he was able to learn many traditional melodies and approaches to the form of music. His banjo is a conduit for his compositions and his band Fretwater is a natural extension of his creativity in music, combining all of his musical experiences into one.Their most recent recording features vocal arrangements of standard jazz popular songs with the banjo as a lead and rhythm instrument.

Richie Stearns, known for his innovative, hard-driving yet lyrical clawhammer playing, is a founding member of two legendary bands: The Horse Flies, a seminal stringband in the ‘80s old-time revival, and the influential jam band Donna the Buffalo. As a member of Donna the Buffalo, Richie toured with 10,000 Maniacs and South African musician Johnny Klegg. Richie and former Horseflies bandmate Judy Hyman have also toured with Natalie Merchant. Richie plays fiddle, electric guitar, keyboards, and tenor guitar and continues to perform and record with a wide array of fine musicians. He also teaches fiddle and banjo, and tours with his wife, songwriter Jennie Stearns.

Bruce Stockwell has been playing bluegrass banjo for 37 years and teaching for 25. 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. In the 80s & 90s Bruce toured the US and Europe with brothers Barry and Al in various acoustic/electric formats, with artists from Bill Monroe to Mary Chapin-Carpenter to NRBQ, producing two CD’s, Stobro and Leave My Dreams Alone. Bruce now teaches, does occasional session work, and performs progressive bluegrass throughout New England with The Stockwell Brothers.

Ray Alden has been active in the Old Time Music community for nearly 40 years. He has taught at The Tennessee Banjo Institute, Augusta Folk Heritage Institute, appeared in concerts, workshops, and on recordings. He is best known for his pioneering work recording traditional and second generation Appalachian banjo and fiddle players and styles, for which he has received many awards, including a Grammy nomination. They include Tommy And Fred - North Carolina Master Fiddle-Banjo Duets, MountAiry USA, The Young Fogies, and The American Fogies, are just a few. His publications include Advanced Speaker Systems, Music From Round Peak and numerous articles and photographs. In addition to teaching banjo, Ray will participate in the sound and recording seminars.

Bob Altschuler, BCN Beginner Bluegrass Track Coordinator, Bob Altschuler, has been playing and teaching bluegrass banjo for over 30 years. He currently performs with the Dyer Switch and Shagbark Hickory bands, and recorded the American Airwaves and Family Business CDs with Dyer Switch (www.dyerswitch.com). Featured on the National Public Radio Hudson River Sampler show and radio and television commercials, Bob also plays at many bluegrass festivals and other venues. He has instructed students privately and in group classes, and Mel Bay "Banjo Sessions" online magazine (www.banjosessions.com) features his instructional articles. Many students have commented on Bob's teaching style, which combines tailored instruction, patience, humor and "going the extra mile" to help them learn.

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.

Martin Grosswendt, Old Time Music Director for Banjo Camp North, 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.

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.

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 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.

Jane Rothfield is an accomplished frailing banjo player and has been playing since the late 70’s. Since then, Jane has honed a distinctive rhythmic and melodic style, greatly influenced by her fiddling repertoire of mainly Old Time tunes. Jane has taught banjo for over 20 years and uses an easy going approach that allows beginner students to quickly be able to play back up and melodies to tunes. Also known for her swingy and rockin’ old time fiddling, Jane has performed and recorded since the early 1980s and currently plays with her band Jane’s Gang. Her new CD, In the Moment features many of her new compositions. Jane is based near Albany NY.

Henry "Hank" Sapoznik is an award-winning author, radio and record producer, and performer of traditional Yiddish and American music. He recently returned to old time music after a 25-year sabbatical with the 2005 production and release of a three-CD box set of legendary country music pioneer Charlie Poole for Columbia Legacy, which garnered three Grammy nominations. Hank chairs the advisory board for the Charlie Poole Music Festival, now in its 11th year, which is held in Poole's hometown of Eden, N.C. Sapoznik plays tenor guitar and banjo and sings with the Yiddish music trio The Youngers of Zion and with the old time music ensemble The Brooklyn Corn Dodgers.

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 Adam Dewey & Crazy Creek.

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. Staff Bios Contact Us Registration Directions Accommodations Message Board Boston Info PLEASE VISIT THE WEB SITES OF OUR SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS