For those of you coming to Banjo Camp North later this month, here’s a list of my six classes. (The list on the BCN website is a little out of date as of today.) I’ll also be doing a “coaching session,” in which we’ll work on whatever you want to work on. See you there!
Music Theory Basics for Bluegrass - A little understanding of music theory can help you learn songs faster and have more fun at jam sessions. We’ll cover several basic topics (and look at the practical uses of each one) including: What is a key and how do I figure out the key of a song? What is the form of a song? How do I refer to chords by numbers and why should I care? For beginners and above.
Improve Your Left Hand Accuracy and Dexterity - In this hands-on workshop we’ll review the principles of good left-hand technique, then spend the majority of the session working through a set of exercises (tablature and standard notation provided) that you can incorporate into your practice routine at home. For advanced beginners and above.
Getting Better On Your Own - Whether you have a teacher or not, most of your improvement takes place while you are practicing on your own. In this workshop we’ll cover methods and tips for scrutinizing your own playing and putting together a plan to get better at the things you want to get better at. For advanced beginners.
Using the Amazing Slow Downer - The Amazing Slow Downer software (www.ronimusic.com) is an incredible tool for learning new material and practicing. We’ll look at its capabilities in general and a few tricks for banjo players. This demo is for those who have not used this software before. For all levels.
The Style of Jimmy Martin’s Banjo Players - From Sonny Osborne to Tom Adams, many of the great bluegrass banjo players went through Jimmy Martin’s boot camp, The Sunny Mountain Boys. We’ll cover the main aspects of “Jimmy Martin style” banjo including the accented forward roll, the distinctive bluesy backup licks from “Ocean of Diamonds,” and, the single-string licks on “Hold Whatcha Got.” For intermediate players and above.
The Organized Sideperson - As sidemen and sidewomen, we’re often called to fill in at the last minute. We’ll cover practical tips that will help you learn new material quickly, play your best at each show, and contribute to a fun and successful show. For advanced players, or, really, anybody who plays in a band or wants to.
