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Educational
Projects:
Adult Education
Joe Val
Kids Academy
Kids
Jams
Bluegrass
in the Schools
Boston Front
Porch
Artist
Seminars
Contact
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Bluegrass
Academy Classes
For more information
on current offerings please check the schedule.
The
Complete Curriculum
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Guitar |
Rhythm Guitar Lab
Advancing Rhythm Guitar
Flatpicking Guitar Lab
Soloing Concepts for Guitar |
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Mandolin |
Mandolin
Lab |
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Banjo |
Banjo
Lab (beginning)
Banjo Lab (advancd beginners)
Banjo Lab (intermediate) |
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Voice |
Bluegrass
for Singers |
All
Instruments |
Slow
Jam
Directed Slow Jam |
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Fiddle |
Fiddle
Lab
Fiddling for the Advanced Beginner |
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Boston
Bluegrass Academy:
Class Descriptions
Mandolin
Lab
Level: Beginning/Intermediate
Location: TBA
Whether their bluegrass
is Traditional or Contemporary, Progressive or Standard, mandolinists
have at least one thing in common: their technique, sound and
approach is highly indebted to Bill Monroe. We'll study the elements
of the Monroe sound, and trace developments in bluegrass mandolin
to more contemporary styles of playing as well. Students will
develop a conceptual approach to playing on standard bluegrass
tunes, in order to get beyond memorized licks and solos.
Bluegrass
Banjo
Instructor: Rich
Stillman
Level: Beginning/Intermediate
Location: Woburn
Contact
instructor
Beginner's class: The class will focus on developing an
understanding of the fundamentals needed to play bluegrass banjo:
hearing chord changes, basic backup, working out simple solos,
playing with other people, learning the bluegrass standards.
Beginners-Plus class: The class will assume some fundamental
knowledge of the banjo and will build on a basic understanding
of the instrument to introduce the skills needed to play in jam
sessions and in beginning bluegrass bands: working out simple
solos, basic backup, learning the bluegrass standards. Intermediate
class: This class is targeted at students who can learn tunes
from tablature and prepares them to play with other people. Some
topics: advanced backup, working out breaks, playing in other
keys, and other topics as time allows. We may even get into harmony
singing!
Rhythm
Guitar Lab
Instructor: August
Watters
Level: Beginning/Intermediate
Location: Brookline
Contact
instructor
Although rhythm guitar
playing is often underestimated, it's really a very deep, challenging
and rewarding skill. The lab will begin by addressing basic technical
issues such as posture, pick angle, and hand position. These
often require reconsideration by guitarists coming to bluegrass
from other styles. The next step is to learn the strumming patterns
and bass runs most often used in bluegrass. These rhythmic patterns
will be demonstrated with a discussion of the techniques required
to play them effectively. Web support will be used to reinforce
classroom learning.
Bluegrass
for Singers:
Style
and Harmony
Instructors: Nancy
Harrowitz & August Watters
Level: Intermediate/Advanced
Location: Brookline
Contact
instructor
This class has two main
components:
1) Singing Technique: How
to enhance vocal health, performance, and enjoyment, and produce
characteristic bluegrass sounds.
2) Harmony singing method:
a thorough and easy-to-understand method for generating harmony
vocals in the bluegrass style.
We'll listen to influential
bluegrass singers and vocal groups, and analyze familiar songs
to enhance our understanding of the interrelation between harmony
and melody. Students will learn how to create their own harmony
parts!
Flatpicking
Guitar Lab
Instructor: August
Watters
Level: Intermediate
to Advanced
Contact
instructor
This flatpicking class
will focus on repertoire and technique, as we look at fiddle
tunes common in the tradition of bluegrass guitar as well as
vocal tunes. Special attention will be giving to developing timing,
endurance and interpretative skills. Crosspicking, fingerboard
comprehension, and soloing concepts will be introduced, to reduce
reliance on rote learning, and empower the student to create
more and different textures to match different tune styles.
Bluegrass
Slow Jam
Instructor: George
Chapman
Level: Beginning
Location: varies
The Bluegrass Slow Jam is a series of eight (8) Bluegrass Slow
Jams with a focus on learning jamming etiquette, when and how
to take breaks, and playing back-up. It's geared primarily for
pickers with limited experience playing with other Bluegrass
musicians, but all levels of players may attend. All traditional
Bluegrass acoustic instruments are welcome.
There will be educational
focus on chord structure, transitioning between chords, chord
progressions, anticipating chord changes, changing keys, adlibbing
breaks, and following unfamiliar songs. Participants should be
familiar with how to tune their instrument, how to make basic
chords, and want to have fun making music.
Cost: $80 for eight weeks;
minimum commitment $60 for any six meetings
Directed
Slow Jam
Instructor: TBA
Level: Beginning/Intermediate
Location: TBA
Many beginning players
have had the experience of going to a jam session, but not being
comfortable playing because of the fast tempos, or not knowing
the tunes. This jam is an opportunity to build the musical and
social skills necessary for jamming. Basic music theory will
be presented, as it is helpful to understanding the tunes. Students
will get individual feedback to help build confidence and skill.
This is a chance to play the tunes you've been working on in
a fun and supportive environment!
Directed
Slow Jam - Rhode Island
Instructor: Paul
Dube
Level: Beginning/Intermediate
Location: Rhode Island
Contact
instructor
phone: (401) 886-3076 - days, (401) 647-3105 - evenings
The Bluegrass Academy goes
regional with this section of the Directed Slow Jam, taught by
Paul Dube in Rhode Island. Paul has taught Slow Jam workshops
at both Grey Fox and Joe Val Festivals, so check it out!
Fiddle
Lab
Instructor: TBA
Level: Beginning
Location: TBA
No experience with the
fiddle (violin) required - although participants must have access
to a working fiddle and bow. The course will cover :
* Tuning the instrument
* Holding the fiddle and bow
* Basic fiddling bow strokes
* Building a fiddling repetoire
* Playing tunes in alternate tunings
* An overview of basic fiddling technique
Fiddling
For The Advanced Beginner
Instructor: TBA
Level: Beginning/Intermediate
Location: TBA
For those who have had
some past classical violin experience or have had some exposure
to fiddle playing. The course will cover:
* Developing a basic oldtime
fiddling repetoire.
* How to participate at bluegrass/oldtime jams
* Building a basic library of Oldtime and Bluegrass CDs to listen
to
* Introduction to basic bluegrass fiddling technique
* the bells and whistles of fiddling style
Classes * Schedule
* Instructors * Objectives
* Contact
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