Dr. Banjo Cuts Back on Colorado Jam Camps!

We received a note from Pete Wernick that Colorado folks and nearby pickers who have been considering attending one of his specialized "Jam Camps" need to get in gear and decide fast.

Due to the upcoming new album release from Hot Rize and the accompanying touring schedule, Pete says he'll have little time and his "schedule won't have the usual lulls that allow me to host local jam camps."

Dr. Banjo Jam Classes Big In Europe

Pete Wernick, sometimes better known as Doctor Banjo, has announced a record-setting number of new WERNICK METHOD JAM CLASSES for the European Market.

Up to 2000 folks for 200+ classes have signed up in  Switzerland, France, Germany, Ireland, Czech Republic, and 30+ of the United States.

Pickin’ In The Pines to Offer Dr. Banjo Jam Camp

Do you bring your instrument to a festival but feel shy about taking it out and actually playing with other people? You are not alone, even if it sometimes feels that way!

For years Pete Wernick, Dr. Banjo, has been helping closet pickers start jamming, playing real bluegrass at slow speeds, and learning the ear skills and ensemble skills that are hard to pick up on your own.

New Jam Camp Scheduled for September in Virginia

Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion and Virginia Intermont College have teamed up to offer a Bluegrass Jamming Camp Sept. 18-20, 2013 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the college.

Veteran banjoist Gilbert Nelson will use the Wernick method, made famous by "Dr. Banjo" Pete Wernick, to teach the ins and outs of bluegrass jamming.

First-Ever All-Europe JAM CAMP in Prague a Success In Any Language!

Pete Wernick (Dr. Banjo) introduced his Bluegrass Jam Camp to Europe March 22-24, with twenty-four pickers from seven countries converging for three days on the Hotel Svornost in Prague, Czech Republic.

Having taught camps throughout the U.S. since 1980, Wernick saw this first Jam Camp in Europe as a forward step for bluegrass teaching.

Pete Wernick’s Gettysburg Jam Camp in Photos

2013 Gettysburg Jam Camp VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

All Photos courtesy of Ted Lehmann

Pete Wernick's MerleFest Jam Camp to Host Two Young Scholarship Winners from North Carolina

Pete Wernick announces two youngsters from western North Carolina as scholarship winners for his Bluegrass Jam Camp in Boomer, NC:

Liam Purcell, 10, of Deep Gap and Kinsey Green, 14, of Boone are both multi-instrumentalists, immersed in bluegrass through families who value this tradition. Pete says, “It's good to see local kids learning the local music, and we're very glad to be able offer them this additional opportunity.”

Scholarship Available for Dr. Banjo’s Jam Camp Pre-MerleFest!

Pete Wernick tells us of the availability of a full scholarship to his 2013 Jam Camp in Boomer, NC.

The camp, open to pickers of all bluegrass instruments, runs Monday through Thursday, April 22-25, immediately prior to MerleFest.

It offers both basic skills and intermediate tracks. Camp qualifications are just the ability to tune one's instrument and change smoothly between G, C, D, and A (basses and fiddles need to know the notes in each chord).

Pete Wernick–Dr. Banjo-Expects Sell-Out at First European Jam Camp!

JAM CAMPS TO CELEBRATE 15th ANNIVERSARY!

Pete Wernick, who originated Bluegrass Jam Camps at Merlefest in 1999, will celebrate in late April hosting his 15th annual camp there.

Just a month earlier, March 22-24, he will introduce his jam camp to Europe, taking over Prague's Hotel Svornost for three days to host pickers from over eight countries, England to Slovakia. Camp registration, half-full as of early February, is expected to sell out in advance.

Dr. Banjo 2012 Jam Classes to Follow a Strong Start in 2011

Pete (“Dr Banjo”) Wernick's latest project, Wernick Method Jam Classes, got off to a strong start in 2011. By year’s end, the 500th student registration was received, with 38 classes completed. Emailed student evaluations for all classes showed highly positive ratings for "fun", "learning" and "worth the money" -- all Wernick Method goals.

"This year we established the method and our procedures, creating the structure as we went along," says Pete. "A lot is in place now, with classes in over 20 states, and we're ready to grow another step by involving more teachers."

Wernick-Method Bluegrass Jam Classes and Camps Stepping It Up!

Pete Wernick (“Dr. Banjo”) has a goal to introduce as many people as possible to the pleasures of playing bluegrass music with friends, family, and even strangers. Since 1999 he has taught over 1,000 at full-immersion 3- and 4-day Bluegrass Jam Camps across the country. Last year he stepped up his efforts by launching the Wernick Method Bluegrass Network, training and certifying qualified teachers to offer jam classes in their own communities. 

The first five completed classes, in Maryland, Wyoming, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, drew an average of 15+ students and received strongly positive student evaluations. Another 12 classes are scheduled for spring of 2011 in Nevada, Massachusetts, Arizona, Virginia, Texas, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Colorado, Wisconsin, and Queensland, Australia.

The classes teach such skills as how to follow and learn new songs in a jam, faking solos, finding melodies by ear, leading songs, and the informal ground rules and etiquette used in bluegrass jams worldwide. “It’s mostly just common sense, but people who have only played music by themselves ‘in the closet’, or for one other person, often start off bewildered,” Wernick says. “Between the first session and the later ones, there’s a huge gain in confidence, and typically these folks will now be jammers for life.”