List of Classes

Upright Bass (level 1, 2, and 3), Cary Black: This class will focus on ways to develop efficient, comfortable technique, with emphasis on playing in tune and with precise timing. We'll learn the role of the bass in several roots music styles, listening for the appropriate note choices, and learning how to find them in various locations on the fingerboard. We will study when and how to include passing tones, neighbor tones, arpeggios, and scale runs to make our bass parts more dynamic and supportive.

Bass Guitar (level 1, 2, and 3), Cary Black: Here we address the special challenges involved in making the electric bass blend well in acoustic music settings. While learning the role of the bass, we will feature concepts and techniques specific to the bass guitar, and apply them to roots music styles including folk, bluegrass, country, blues, and swing. Topics will also include instrument setup, amplification, and acoustic “etiquette.”

Musicianship for Bassists (level 3 and 4; upright and electric bass; open to audit for anyone), Cary Black: We'll look at some ideas for expanding our musical horizons, to enhance our enjoyment and progress as bassists. Areas we'll work on: practical applications of chord/scale theory; hearing chord progressions; ensemble skills; rhythm and syncopation; chart notation; walking bass; and soloing.

Banjo

Banjo, the Next Step (Level 2, Beginner), Mark Johnson. This course is designed for (1) people who are just starting out, (2) who have started playing the banjo and stopped out of frustration, and (3) those who might be afraid that they’re not good enough to hang with the rest of the class. Mark says “it’s all about having fun and realizing that it is not as hard as you think.” The course features the basic skills necessary that you need to develop to play the banjo well. Basic left hand techniques like hammering on and pulling off a string. Basic right hand techniques like how to place and hold your right hand and how to anchor the ring and pinky fingers. He’ll also cover the three basic right hand rolls, basic rhythm (vamping) and timing and tone concepts, basic chord forms in the key of G, and common tunes to help pull it all together.

Banjo Techniques (Level 3, Intermediate), Mark Johnson. This class will cover a host of techniques designed to improve your playing. It will cover a range of topics from simple passing tones, to the major and minor and 7^th chord patterns up and down the neck. You’ll learn the three basic roll patterns and use them to play on the “inside strings,” and Scruggs licks in the keys of G, C and D, how and when to use them when playing a lead banjo and when playing backup banjo. And most importantly: you’ll learn about playing banjo with great timing.

Advanced Banjo (Level 4, Advanced), Mark Johnson. The advanced banjo player will explore the concepts of good musicianship (good listening skills) and the Five Ts: Taste, Touch, Tone, Timing and Tuning. You’ll cover playing with other instruments and vocalists in a band setting, and also in a jam setting when there is more than one banjo playing. You’ll learn how to play solid backup banjo behind another banjo player who is playing a lead, and you’ll cover harmony and counter melodies. And you’ll have fun doing it.

Fiddle

Intro to Fiddle (Level 1, Brand New Player), Marianne McTigue. Learn the basics of playing the fiddle in this course designed for beginners. You’ll learn to hold the fiddle and bow, how to tune the instrument, and how to produce good tone. Then we’ll move on to single octave scales, controlling longer bows, the standard shuffle, and simple fiddle songs in the keys of D and A. You’ll also learn the basics of note reading.

Getting into Fiddling (Level 2, Beginner), Paul Anastasio: Paul will cover the basics of how to hold the fiddle and bow. You'll learn about leverage as it applies to bowing and the vital importance of a loose wrist on the bowing arm. From the beginning, we'll unlock the mystery of where the notes in chords are found on the violin fingerboard. Simple tunes will be taught in a way that allows you to really understand how tunes are built over chords. Paul will also explain how to read music and teach some secrets about learning by ear as well. He'll give you a great diagram that shows you where all the major chords are on the fiddle. You'll find this class a great way to take your technique past where it is today.

Appalachian Fiddle (Level 2, Beginner), David Coe. Learn to play old time Appalachian fiddle like you grew up in those other mountains to the east of the Rockies. This course will cover the basics of bowing, using drone strings and double stops, and how to get that elusive old time feel that makes your fiddling sound authentic. David will teach old time technique using specific fiddle tunes that will not only teach you how to properly play mountain fiddle but broaden your store of commonly played Appalachian tunes. Bringing a recording device is recommended though not required.

Irish Fiddle (Level 3, Intermediate), David Coe. This course will focus on the jigs, reels, hornpipes and polkas that make up the dance music of Ireland. While learning some great Irish tunes you will cover the basics of style and how to make your fiddling sound more Irish. The daily lessons will cover bowing, the proper use of ornaments, such as rolls, crans and bowed triplets, and also how to use melodic variations to keep your playing interesting yet traditional at the same time. In addition, you will learn basic etiquette for joining in an Irish session and how to get the most out of this invaluable learning experience. Bringing a recording device is recommended though not required.

Bluegrass Fiddling (Level 3, Intermediate), Paul Anastasio. Bluegrass is a blend of old-time fiddling and country music, gospel music blues, swing and more. It was invented in the 1940s by such folks as Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs and Ralph and Carter Stanley. Approaching everything we learn with the understanding that chord knowledge is vital, we'll explore some basic bluegrass vocals and instrumentals. Once we know the basic chords to the tunes, we'll explore how we can vary the melodies to instrumentals, harmonize these melodies and play behind vocalists in bluegrass style. Paul will give you the tools to create your own improvisations, not only in bluegrass but in other styles as well.

Advanced Fiddling - Bluegrass and Swing (Level 4, Advanced), Paul Anastasio. Almost all of the finest players in bluegrass and swing styles really know their chords. In fact, jazz violin pioneer Joe Venuti said "you have to know chords." Players who don't know chords may be able to throw a strong bluff, especially on tunes with simple chords. However, when push comes to shove, those who really understand how chords are built, how they connect with each other and how melodies fit over chords will find themselves way ahead of the game. Both bluegrass and swing also have their own distinctive bowing styles which help to color solos. Bluegrass uses the Georgia shuffle while swing improvisations are often filled with what is called "too-eem bowing." Paul will teach these and more. You'll learn some tunes, but, more importantly, you'll learn what's really going on in the music we play.

Guitar

Intro to Guitar (Level 1, Brand New Player), Julie Davis: For anyone who is ready to start with no previous experience playing guitar. We’ll cover tuning, chords, basic strums, introduction to what different styles are about, and a solid understanding of how to begin and where to go from here.

Intro to Fingerpicking (Level 2, Beginner), Doug Smith: You’ll learn basic picking patterns and get your right hand going. You’ll start with basic bass/chord, bass/arpeggio patterns with your thumb and fingers, and you’ll be amazed to make some very beautiful music from techniques that are within your grasp. Doug will work with you on making your strings ring clearly, clean articulation, good rhythm, and many more fundamentals that will benefit all aspects of your playing. You should know the chords G, C, D, A, E, F, Em, Am and Dm.

Guitar, the Next Step (Level 2, Beginner) Tim May: You can get around some chords, but transitions can still be a bit, um, exciting. Tim will show you tips for moving easily from one chord to the next. He’ll also help you establish good right and left hand techniques and show you how to achieve the best tone. You’ll look at some basic rhythm techniques, including shuffles and waltzes. You’ll also get an introduction to basic lead melody playing.

Rhythm Guitar Techniques (Level 2, Beginner) Stephen Bennett: As your ability to grab chords progresses, you finally have some time to concentrate on that which really puts style into your playing: your right hand. There are many strum techniques that will really spice it up, such as the boom-ching, the down-up strum, arpeggio patterns, muting and various timed accents you place on certain parts of your strum. This is where you really get to define your own style!

Bluegrass Guitar (Level 3, Intermediate) Tim May: Bluegrass is a hard-driving style that really challenges your playing; if you can play it, you can play several other styles more easily. Tim will show you some left and right hand workouts that will improve your lead playing and prepare you for the wonderful world of improvisation. You’ll also explore the concepts of crosspicking and double-stops, and learn to add a little spice to the way you approach solos for vocal songs.

Intermediate Fingerstyle Guitar (Level 3, Intermediate), Doug Smith: In this course, you’ll expand on normal pattern picking, play some more advanced arpeggios and add melody notes, and possibly venture into the Travis pattern. Doug will have exercises to help you develop your techniques in the right hand, and scales for left-hand finger independence. You’ll also look at ways of identifying technical roadblocks, and of isolating and improving your technique.

Soloing for Intermediate Guitarists (Level 3, Intermediate), Raul Reynoso: Raul Reynoso: you can play some chords and have played some tunes, but haven’t really ventured into the world of soloing. In this class, Raul will get you started on improvisation. You’ll work on learning the chord tones and passing tones which are available based on the harmonic context (the chords). Raul will discuss building a library of ready-to-play riffs that you can work into your playing. It’ll be hands-on and you’ll have a chance—if you want—to try out your riffs in a low-pressure, mistake-friendly environment.

Maybelle Carter-Style Leads (Level 3, Intermediate), Carol McComb: Maybelle Carter’s distinctive guitar lead style is surprisingly easy and very satisfying to play. We’ll learn at least a dozen Carter Family songs with lead breaks, starting out with easy leads and then making them more complex by varying the rhythm and adding more melodic movement.

Beatles for Fingerstyle Guitar (Level 3, Intermediate), Stephen Bennett. This will be a study in putting together good, playable arrangements of some classic Beatles songs. Candidates for arranging will be Yesterday, Hey Jude, and Eight Days a Week, but there are many more; you’ll help decide. You’ll also be part of Stephen’s guitar orchestra; you’ll learn your own part in an arrangement, rehearse and perform it with the rest of the ensemble.

Arranging for Fingerstyle Guitar (Level 4, advanced), Stephen Bennett. This will be a more detailed look at putting together arrangements for fingerstyle guitar solo. You’ll learn to make sound musical choices in chord voicing, voice leading, bass lines, what notes to leave out, keeping it playable, and how much is enough. You’ll also be part of Stephen’s guitar orchestra; you’ll learn your own part in an arrangement, rehearse and perform it with the rest of the ensemble.

Soloing for Advanced Guitarists (Level 4, Advanced), Raul Reynoso: Raul Reynoso: this is an extension of Soloing for Intermediate Guitarists, and is our only class that requires audition. You’ll look at some more techniques such as sweep picking, arpeggios, and more patterns that you can incorporate into a variety of situations.

Advanced Fingerstyle Guitar (Level 4, Advanced), Doug Smith: in this class, you’ll work on some more complex pieces, get new ideas for right- and left-hand articulations, including tapping, and explore more “outside” tonalities. You’ll also take a good look at technical barriers that are keeping you from hitting your next level.

Advanced Flatpicking (Level 4, Advanced) Tim May: Tim will give you some workouts that will improve your speed and clarity. You’ll study advanced crosspicking and left hand techniques to help you move up and down the fingerboard more efficiently, as well as improve your improvisation skills.

Mandolin

Intro to Mandolin (Level 1, Brand New Player), Dave Firestine: We will cover all the basics: listening, rhythm, relaxing, how to hold the mandolin comfortably, holding the pick, tuning, pick direction, rhythm, fun ways to practice, playing finger friendly chords, left and right hand technique and coordination, more rhythm, and playing (music) with others. The goal for each student will be different according to his or her needs. We will seek out bad habits and destroy them, and we will learn Dave’s First Rule of Rhythm, and the Universal chord.

Mandolin, the Next Step (Level 2, Beginners), Radim Zenkl: This is for players who know a few chords, can strum along with a few songs and can maybe play a few melodies. We'll look at a few easy standard bluegrass and fiddle tunes, and work on switching back and forth between lead and back up as one would in a jam situation. We'll also look at some exercises for the right and left hands to help with tone, rhythm and volume.

Irish Mandolin Techniques & Tunes (Level 3, Intermediate), Dave Firestine: In this class we will explore the mystery of playing Irish tunes on the Mandolin. We will work mainly with jigs and reels as we learn about picking techniques, Irish ornaments, and what makes an Irish tune sound Irish. We will learn the standard picking patterns for jigs and reels, many ways to play “triplets” and even more ways to have fun with these great melodies.

Intermediate Mandolin (Level 3, Intermediate), Radim Zenkl: We'll look at some standard bluegrass songs and learn how to play melodies using “position playing” and double stops. We'll move these positions to various keys to give you a better knowledge of the fingerboard and more flexibility in coming up with melodies on the spot.

Advanced Mandolin (Level 4, Advanced), Radim Zenkl: You'll learn ways to more fully exploit the mandolin in its dual roles as a solo and accompaniment instrument. Topics covered, skill levels permitting, will be improvisation and creating variations to common tunes, exercises for improving tone, volume and speed, and some theory-based exercises (knowledge of music theory is not a prerequisite). We'll also talk about ways of practicing to make the most of your time.

Other Stuff

Singing for People Who Think They Can’t (All Levels), Julie Davis: If you are the one they told not to sing in elementary school or simply if you've never had any vocal training and question your own singing, this class is perfect. Basics of how we sing, improving your pitch and tone, strengthening your voice, and expression. And don't worry, nobody will be put on the spot and individual coaching will be available.

Harmony Singing (All Levels), Carol McComb: Learn the basics (and then some) of singing country and bluegrass harmonies in duets, trios and quartets. We'll start with songs that have typical harmonies and and we'll learn some where the harmony is a bit more off the beaten path. You'll learn how to identify intervals, how to get a good blend, how to do country and bluegrass vocal ornamentation, plus how to sing in country and bluegrass styles. Expect to do plenty of singing!

Songwriting and Tunesmithing (all levels), Julie Davis: Everyone has songs inside them and everyone's creative juices can get stuck at times. Learn skills to help you get your ideas flowing and to say what you want to say in songs that have unforgettable melodies with equally memorable lyrics. Learn how to get that hand in glove fit between your melody, lyric, chords, rhythm patterns and style. We'll do some writing in teams and on our own, with gentle critiquing in a supportive environment. Bring a spiral bound notebook, pencil or pen, and a way to record your song ideas this week at camp (tape recorder, MP3 recorder, etc).

Learning Tunes by Ear (Level 2 and up), Pat Japenga: The goal of this class is to improve your ability to learn a tune by ear, whether you have never tried to do so, or you have some proficiency at it and want to get better. We will start by playing simple tunes that you already know, but may not have tried to play on your instrument. We will progress to harder tunes, including some that you probably have never heard before. Along the way, we will discuss what goes on in your brain when you’re reading music vs. learning by ear, talk about stumbling blocks and how to get around them, and demonstrate techniques for continuing to improve your skills.