Master Songwriting Class to be Taught by Claire Lynch

To call Claire Lynch a first-class songwriter is a serious understatement.  We once said that if Ms. Lynch had been born a hundred years ago she could have stopped old A.P. Carter from tramping the hills looking for good material for the Carter Family to record – meaning that she could just write all they needed and we believe they’d still have produced the enormous catalog of wonderful songs.  Of course that’s much like going back in time and meeting a direct ancestor whom you then influence to the degree that you are never born.  None the less, suffice it to say that the caliber of Ms. Lynch’s songwriting, albeit influenced by the Carters and everyone afterwards,  still has that cut-to-the-bone, I-know-exactly-how-you-feel type of emotion crafted into every line.   

We can only imagine what it may have been like to work with A. P. Carter as he collected material and subsequently crafted it into any one of those great Carter Family songs.   So,  to see a post in the Boston Bluegrass Union Newsletter regarding an upcoming Songwriting Class taught by Ms. Lynch may be about as close as one could get.  

Songwriting taught by Claire Lynch
The songwriting class with Claire Lynch will cover tips and information for writing a solid song. Some subjects covered will be line construction, focus, lyric relation to melody, rhythm and rhyme, the re-writing process and simplicity of communication.

Additionally, Claire will offer insights on staff writing for a publisher, pitching your songs and business aspects of songwriting. Students will be allowed to present their songs for helpful comments and constructive criticism. Q&A and group discussion will also be encouraged.

Long recognized and praised as a creative force in acoustic music, Claire Lynch is a pioneer who continually pushes the boundaries of the bluegrass genre. The current Claire Lynch Band is a powerful juggernaut, a quartet that has the innate ability to perfectly interpret the beauty, subtlety, and genre-defying sophistication of Claire’s music.

Claire’s career is fittingly bookended by two IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year awards:  in 2010, in recognition of her current work with the Claire Lynch Band, and in 1997, for her influential work with the Front Porch String Band, and as a solo artist. Claire was nominated for the 2011 IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year Award. As a songwriter, her tunes have been recorded by such luminaries as Patty Loveless, The Seldom Scene, Cherryholmes, Kathy Mattea, the Whites and Stephanie Davis.

For registration, email Claire: clairelynchband@gmail.com

Michael Cleveland To Teach Fiddle at Conservatory!

Jeff Guernsey's Conservatory of Music is very proud to announce that Michael Cleveland has joined the staff for 2012 offering Master classes to intermediate and advanced fiddle students.

Classes will take place on Tuesdays throughout 2012. The Conservatory of Music is located at 1120 Spring Street in Jeffersonville, Indiana.

To schedule lessons, please call the conservatory at 812-284-4428. For more information on Jeff Guernsey's Conservatory of Music, please visit their Facebook page.

Cumberland River Band Announces New “Sonny Dean” Scholarship!

The Cumberland River Band and The Cumberland River Academy of Bluegrass and Appalachian Music are proud to announce the The organization  and the band have  partnered in creating the"Sonny Dean Scholarship." The scholarship is named after band member Jamie Dean’s father, Sonny Dean, who was a significant musical influence and mentor to Jamie along with CUMBERLAND RIVER band members, Joey Jones, Dustin Middleton and Jamie Stewart while growing up in Harlan, KY. The band recently added new member Brad Gulley to the line-up.  Additional information on this scholarship will be announced soon.

For more information on The Cumberland River Academy, please visit their website.

RockyGrass Instructors Announced for 2012.

Each July RockyGrass sets aside 5 days to bond deeply with bluegrass music: to carefully consider the art of the mandolin chop, to dissect the anatomy of a G-run, to sing a stronger tenor harmony, to carve a mandola neck from a block of wood. For dedicated bluegrass pickers, these 5 days are the culmination of a winter of woodshedding and daily dreams of bluegrass heaven along the St. Vrain River.

For the 5 days of the RockyGrass Academy, bluegrass music comes deeply alive: closing the circle with our bluegrass heroes and friends, sharing music together from dawn until deep into the July night.

Pete Wernick's 28th Anniversary Winter Banjo Camps set for January 2012

The original “banjo camp”, the first event billed as such, was in 1984. Since then, renowned banjo player and teacher, Pete “Dr. Banjo” Wernick has conducted 86 banjo camps, teaching over 1500 students from almost every state and many foreign countries. January, 2012 he will extend this string at the Boulder Inn in Boulder, Colorado. Each of the three “full-immersion” weeks is geared to different experience levels. For complete information, visit www.DrBanjo.com.

“I am always excited to offer a 6-day program, plenty of time to have fun and get lasting results," says Wernick. "Full immersion in a focused situation helps create breakthroughs, in both novice and advanced players. Everyone gets feedback from me and individualized help.”

Jan 2-7, 2012: Basic Skills. A "safe" situation for inexperienced and closet players. Includes: creating basic solos, worked-out and improvised, backup pointers, beating timing problems, practice tips and standard licks. All Pete’s camps include lots of jamming, with everyone participating.

Jan. 9-14, 2012: Intermediate. For pickers who can create a solo and have jamming experience. Focus is on good timing and tone, creating 'believable' solos, practicing for maximum progress, gaining speed, knowing the neck, backup approaches and techniques.

Jan. 16-21, 2012: Advanced. For pickers with experience in performing bands, the emphasis is on "the pro sound"--timing, tone, bringing out the best in each song, backup and lead, expanding creative choices for both left and right hands, and performance skills. The week includes a one-on-one session with Pete and a class performance with Pete January 20, in support of the Banjo Camp Scholarship fund.

Through the generosity of Stelling Banjo and others, Pete offers scholarships to deserving Advanced players who would otherwise have difficulty affording the camp. Scholarships have an application deadline of December 10. More information: http://www.drbanjo.com/camps-banjofaq.php#scholarships.

“I can’t thank you enough for your expertise and wonderful teaching skills! You’ve helped me ‘see the light’, it was a (banjo) life-changing experience! My banjo playing is gonna rock!”  -- A.H., Maryland / Advanced Camp, 2011
“I have learned an immense amount of info and am already rolling away.”  -- George Smith, Wyoming / Intermediate Camp, 2010
“Pete has an uncanny ability to zero in on areas each picker needs to work on."  -- D.S., Wisconsin

Two New Steve Kaufman Books Now Available

My First Banjo Picking Songs
Level: Beginner
This fun and easy bluegrass banjo book and CD takes you from the very beginning. Beginning with an introduction to the instrument, the book teaches you basic banjo technique such as three-finger rolls, how to read banjo chord charts, playing back up, and hand placement, setting the foundation for the repertoire found in the book. Featuring classics such as "Boil Them Cabbage Down", Cripple Creek" and "Tom Dooley", this book will get you playing in no time! Music presented in tablature.

Broadcasting Bluegrass Couple Lead Workshop at IBMA Conference!

Renowned radio show hosts and members of the Florida State Bluegrass Band, Ernie and Debi Evans go national in 2011.
The broadcasting DUO recently accepted an invitation from the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) to lead and conduct the “Internet Broadcasting—Audio and Video Streaming” seminar this year at the World of Bluegrass convention in Nashville, TN.

Making Music Magazine Features Bluegrass in July Issue

For anyone seeing an authentic bluegrass band for the first time, the unique instrumentation, driving tempos, soulful harmonies, and fierce, piercing tenor singing can be a lot to take. The sharp suits and masterfully virtuosic musicianship defy any “hillbilly” stereotype of its southern Appalachian roots, and it’s hard to disagree that ace bluegrass musicians are among the best of any genre.
Making Music staff writer, Jason Borisoff, also a member of the Salt City Ramblers of Syracuse, NY. has a feature article in the July issue of Making Music Magazine called “The Lonesome Language – A Helpful Guide to Bluegrass Music.

Jam Class - The Art of Jamming - Pt III

Jam Class - The Art of Jamming  - Pt III  from Dr. Banjo's Certified Jam  Class Instructor Mark Miracle in Phoenix.

Read Part 2         Read about Jam Classes

Mark writes: 

This weeks Jam Class was a workout for everyone, including me. After more than a few minutes in discussion with my students, it became clear that each was going to have to work hard over the next 5 hours of instruction and jamming. All of the folks, however, showed a great deal of patients and willingness to overcome the hurdles that lay before them. In short - finding and successfully playing a melody.