Folks,
Midwest Banjo Camp is fast approaching, and we wanted to remind you of all the good reasons to join us there. As of this date there are still some air-conditioned dorm rooms available, but we expect to run out of those soon. We will post this fact on the Registration Form when the a/c rooms are filled.
Midwest Banjo Camp offers highly specialized classes in bluegrass and old-time banjo taught by masters in the field. Our program features hands-on classes, demonstrations and two faculty concerts, and still leaves lots of time for jamming with your fellow banjo enthusiasts.
The entire MBC schedule for 2009 has been posted on the web site at
http://www.midwestbanjocamp.com. Here are some special features:
- LEVELS. We offer four "tracks" in both bluegrass and old-time -- novice, lower intermediate, upper intermediate, and advanced. Experience has shown that this is about the right number of levels, and you should have a relatively easy time finding one that's right for you.
- BANJO OPTIONS. We offer six or more class options per session for both bluegrass and old-time pickers -- one each in the novice track, one or two each in the lower intermediate and advanced tracks, and two each in the upper intermediate track.
- OLD-TIME FINGERPICKING. This year we are offering more classes than ever before in old-time fingerstyle banjo (2-finger picking, pre-bluegrass 3-finger picking, etc.).
- FIDDLE TRACK. This year for the first time we are running a full fiddle program. There will be one class in old-time or bluegrass fiddle during each and every class session. Students can study fiddle full time, or just sit in for a session or two.
- SPECIAL EVENTS TRACK: For those so inclined we offer classes in old-time guitar, bluegrass guitar, and bass, as well as banjo set-up. Still another special events option is joining in on jam sessions run by our faculty with our stellar camp accompanists.
- TOTAL NUMBER OF CLASS OPTIONS: With up to 15 options per class period, this represents more choice at MBC than ever before.
- JAMMING: We schedule jams after each evening concert, led by our banjo faculty and facilitated by the camp accompanists and a host of guest musicians who play such support instruments as guitar, bass, fiddle, dobro, and mandolin. These scheduled jams are at several levels: slow jams for novices, jam workshops for those who can play pretty well but just don't know how to play with others, intermediate jams (moderate tempos), and open jams (up to speed). We also offer song circles, singers' jams, etc. You can also organize your own jams: there are plenty of available spaces.
- PRE-CAMP PROGRAM. We plan to run a few events on Thursday evening (June 4) and the following morning for those students who wish to jump start their weekend of banjo immersion. We call this our "Pre-Camp Program" (last year was its inaugural run and it was a great success: roughly two-thirds of our staff and well over 100 students took part). On Thursday evening, there's a social "mixer" followed by a few faculty-led jam sessions. On Friday morning there's round-robin demonstrations, "clinics" on banjo technique and set-up, "mentoring" (teachers offering advice on various banjo related issues), and a course for total beginners called "Introducing the Banjo." There will be a small extra tuition charge this year for MBC students who wish to take part in pre-camp events; there is also a charge for lodging at the Olivet dorms on Thursday night, and for signing on to the Olivet meal plan for Friday breakfast and lunch. Pre-camp attendees are on their own for the Thursday evening meal.
Here are our particulars:
Dates: Fri.-Sun. June 5-7, 2009 (including the pre-camp: June 4-7)
Place: Olivet College, Olivet, Michigan (about 30 miles southwest of Lansing)
Times: Registration opens 11AM on Friday; Camp ends 3:30PM on Sunday (Pre-camp registration opens 4PM on Thursday)
Web site:
http://www.midwestbanjocamp.com
INSTRUCTORS:
Old-time: Mac Benford, Howie Bursen, Bob Carlin, Cathy Fink, Adam Hurt, Brad Leftwich, Ken Perlman, and Art Rosenbaum. Laura Boosinger heads up our old-time Novice program.
Bluegrass: Danny Barnes, Janet Beazley, Bill Evans, Bill Keith, James McKinney, and Alan Munde, Alan O'Bryant, Pete Wernick. Mike Sumner heads up our old-time Novice program.
Accompanists: Tom Ball (bass), Kevin Gaugier (bluegrass guitar), Peter Knupfer (bluegrass fiddle), Erynn Marshall (old-time fiddle), and Marcy Marxer (old-time guitar).
If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to contact us at
info@midwestbanjocamp.com. As usual, you can find more information, instructor bios, registration forms etc., on our web site:
http://www.midwestbanjocamp.com.
Cheers,
Ken Perlman and Stan Werbin
Directors, Midwest Banjo Camp
This special email is being sent to select Elderly Instruments customers, and we are confident you will be interested in knowing about this year's banjo camp. If you are not interested, please accept our apologies for this intrusion. If you would like to opt out of any future mailings of this sort, you can remove your email address with this form:
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