Scholarships Available to Pete Wernick’s Advanced Banjo Camp

Pete Wernick has sent us a reminder that he has two scholarships to his 2013 Advanced Banjo Camp available.  

The camp will be January 21-26 in Boulder, Colorado and is geared to players in performing bands and focuses on tone, timing, “believability”, creativity, band dynamics, and performance.

Dr. Banjo’s 29th Winter Banjo Camps set for January 2013

Since offering the original “banjo camp” in 1984, Pete “Dr. Banjo” Wernick has conducted nearly a hundred of them, hosting over 1,500 students from around the world.

In January 2013 he will host his 29th annual winter camps at the Boulder Inn in Boulder, Colorado.

The camp consists of three “full-immersion” weeks: Basic Skills, Intermediate, and Advanced. Complete information is found on www.DrBanjo.com.

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."

Banjo Scholarship Winners Announced For Dr. Banjo Camp

Pete Wernick Announces Banjo Camp Scholarship Winners

Pete (“Dr. Banjo”) Wernick will host two scholarship winners at his January 2012 Advanced Banjo Camp. Jim Gabehart of Hinton, West Virginia, will attend thanks to the generosity of Stelling Banjo Works, and Jordan Alleman of Portland, Oregon is the recipient of donations received at last January’s annual Banjo Camp concert. Jim and his wife lead a band that plays throughout the east, and Jordan, 18, will start studies at Berklee College of Music in the fall.

Lonesome River Band and Steve Martin to appear on The Late Show with David Letterman November 11, 2011

Sammy Shelor celebrating Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass

The Lonesome River Band will perform with Steve Martin next week, November 11, 2011on The Late Show with David Letterman.  The performance is in celebration of Sammy Shelor’s  Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass award as recently announced.  The Steve Martin Prize is chosen by a who’s who list of talents including Steve Martin, Earl Scruggs, Pete Wernick, Tony Trishchka, Bela Fleck and more.

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.

Bluegrass Pioneer & Hall Of Honor Member Carlton Haney Passes Away!

Front Page Bluegrass News has just learned of the passing of Carlton Haney, a bluegrass pioneer, festival promoter and booking agent.   Some will say he invented the bluegrass festival as we know it today.

Haney passed away this afternoon, March 16, 2011 at Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital in Greensboro, NC following a stroke on March 3. He was 82.

A spokesman for Citty Funeral home in Reidsville, NC confirmed his passing. Funeral arrangements are still in process and probably won't be finalized until tomorrow afternoon. Final arrangements will be posted on the funeral home's website at: www.CittyFH.com

The "Eternal Annual Heaven Memorial Bluegrass Festival in the Sky" has just begun, now that our old buddy Carlton is there to run it. - Martha Adcock, 2011

Haney who became interested in bluegrass after a teenage crush on Bill Monroe's daughter, Melissa was inducted into the IBMM Hall of Honor in 1997.

Carlton Haney talks with Lester Flatt and Mac Wiseman

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For any who might know Carlton Haney, there is a group on Facebook called 'Carlton Haney's Bluegrass Festival'. It is an open forum where pictures, videos, comments, conversations, etc. are posted about this era of bluegrass.

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.”

Closet Bluegrass Pickers Discover the Joys of Jamming!

Dr. Banjo, Pete Wernick

Pete Wernick Method jam classes are springing up across the country and beyond!
                                                                      
The classes introducing aspiring musicians to the pleasures of playing bluegrass music with friends and neighbors. A fast-growing network of instructors trained and certified by Pete Wernick (“Dr. Banjo”) is now using his time-tested method to help inexperienced players learn how to be part of a bluegrass jam.

As of mid-January, 15 teachers nationwide and in Australia have been certified and successful classes have been held in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Wyoming, and Maryland. More classes are currently scheduled for Virginia, Colorado, Massachusetts, Arizona, and Australia, with anticipated additional locations throughout 2011. Response has been strong, with an average of 16 students per class including a sellout in Wyoming with 26 students.

“Many people want to start playing bluegrass, and don’t realize at first how easy it can be,” says Pete, who pioneered the approach of developing jam skills both in a class setting and in coached small groups. “They think they need to learn how to solo first, but actually simple rhythm playing comes first, and opens the door to jamming. The first rung of the ladder is very close to the ground.”

Pete says, "Almost everyone who picks up an instrument aims to be more than a good ‘closet player,' and to play music in a group. But music teaching rarely covers jamming skills. People may go to a jam and find themselves frustrated as they’re not properly prepared to join in.  Our students are jamming on the first day, and by the end of the program they are fully able to jam on their own."

Having started jam teaching in the 1990's, Wernick has hosted over 50 camps and created three jamming DVDs. His certified teachers receive written and video training in the Wernick Method with personalized support, publicity and promotion, and assistance and oversight in scheduling, the registration process, and the evaluation process.

Bluegrass teachers wanting to learn more about the Wernick Bluegrass Method and how the certification process works can visit www.DrBanjo.com and click on the "Teachers" button. Students can click on “Classes” or the “Jamalot” page.

Front Page Bluegrass for week of Dec. 27, 2010

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A new facebook page is designed for anything bluegrass.  It's A Bluegrass Life is a project of Banjo man Lee Marcus and anyone with a bluegrass story can upload and share.  Bluegrass bands can use the page for extra promotion.
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Oklahoma's Rockin' Acoustic Circus has been picked by Elmore Magazine as The bluegrass group to watch in 2011.  The story is featured in the JAN/FEB 2011 edition.
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Lonesome River Band is looking for a new Mandolin Player.  Auditions are being conducted through the bands website at LonesomeRiverBand dot com.
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Valerie Smith and Liberty Pike have added smart phone applications to their list of ingenius marketing strategies.  Look for ValerieSmith on the itunes applications page.
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Dr. Banjo, Pete Wernick has announced dates for his annual winter banjo camps in Boulder, CO.  More information can be found at Drbanjo.com
that's  D R  - banjo dot com
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The Grascals' guitar man Terry Eldridge has announced his engagement although no wedding date has been set.  The lucky lady is miss Catherine Lundy of Delaware.
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Tony Trischka and Steve Martin are teaming up for a major television documentary called "The Banjo Project"  donations are accepted at the project website: The Banjo Project dot O R G.

Dr. Banjo - Winter Banjo Camps

Pete Wernick’s 27th Annual Winter Banjo Camps January 2011 in Boulder, CO

Renowned banjo player and teacher, Pete “Dr. Banjo” Wernick will offer his Winter Banjo Camps January, 2011, at the Boulder Inn in Boulder, Colorado. Each of the three “full immersion” weeks is geared to different experience levels. Pete’s camps are the longest running bluegrass music camps, offered annually since 1984. For complete information, visit www.DrBanjo.com.


“I’m proud to have started the first banjo camps,” says Wernick. “The concept has really caught on, and we still are unique in offering a 6-day full immersion program, in the dead of winter, when outdoor distractions are at a minimum!”