Mandolin
Mandolin, Level 1—In this course students will each have an initial brief “diagnostic” check-in with the instructor to ensure that no bad habits are developing (mandolin related only:)). This is meant to be low stress--while the other participants are busy, each student will be asked to play something for the instructor that they are the most comfortable playing. This does not need to be a complete song or tune. Anything that adequately conveys the student’s development as a mandolinist and how the hands relate to the mandolin will suffice. Particular attention will be paid to right and left hand placement, use of the wrist and use of an alternating pick pattern.
Moving forward, rhythm playing and basic chord shapes will be discussed. Students will learn breaks/solos to a few selected standard bluegrass songs and instrumentals. The thinking process underlying the construction of breaks will be discussed. Students will move from straightforward melodies to learning how those same melodies can begin to be embellished. Embellishment will be a jumping off point for a discussion about licks and improvisation in a Bluegrass context. Basic music theory will be touched on lightly whenever useful and relevant to the material. Rudiments of technique, tone production and timing will be a steady focus throughout. Written music (tablature) will be provided. However, for purposes of ear training and to avoid developing dependence on written music, students are encouraged to rely on their ears as much as possible and refer to tablature as little as possible. To that end students are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to bring sound recorders.
Prerequisites: Students should be able to tune their mandolins, play at least one or two basic melodies and be able to change chords in time with music.
Tom Bekeny is a mandolinist, fiddler and experienced teacher who has performed throughout the U.S. and Europe for over 30 years. He was the mandolinist in Bay Area bluegrass bands such as Done Gone, Tenbrooks, and an early version of the Grant Street String Band with Laurie Lewis. Tom currently plays mandolin with the Kathy Kallick Band and fiddle with California’s premiere traditional bluegrass band High Country. He has recorded with all these groups, was featured in the Summer 2009 issue of Mandolin Magazine and has an instructional dvd on beginning mandolin (Music Star Productions). Tom also plays jazz mandolin with his trio The Missing Man Quartet and works as a clinical psychologist.
Tom was asked to teach mandolin in the Fall of 2009 at Berkeley’s new Freight and Salvage in what was the Freight’s first serious foray into music education. He was a very well-liked teacher last time he taught at our camp, and we’re happy to have him back.
http://kathykallick.com/KKB/pages/kkb.html
http://highcountrybluegrass.com
Mandolin, Monroe style, level 2—Nobody is ever going to play just like Bill except Bill. But Bill Monroe built, from the ground up, a style of playing the mandolin that forms the basis for most bluegrass mandolin playing today. During this course we’ll explore the evolution of his playing, learn some of the simpler things from the 30’s and 40’s, and also move into the bluesy era of the 50’s and beyond. Right hand focus will include the tremolo and down stroke techniques, emblematic of the style. We’ll also talk about Monroe's approach to the mandolin, not only the notes and techniques, but also the artistic aspects and musical values associated with his playing—pulling out what is in the tune, respect for the melody, and playing with power but without force.
Prerequisites: Students should be familiar with and be fairly adept at playing and changing closed chords; should be able to sustain a tremolo, and should be able to play some tunes at a reasonable tempo. Also pack your sense of adventure and curiosity about this highly creative and innovative way of playing the instrument.
Butch Waller is well known to bluegrass fans in the Bay Area and around the country as the founder and mandolin player of the band, High Country, which is now in its 40th year and long the keeper of the traditional bluegrass flame on the West Coast. High Country’s numerous albums feature Butch’s mandolin playing, as does on his own instrumental CD on Rebel Records, Golden Gate Promenade.
Butch’s teaching credentials include the Haapavesi Music Camp in Finland, the International Bluegrass Music Museum’s Monroe Style Mandolin Camp in Owensboro, Kentucky, Acoustic Music Camp in Dallas, Texas, and several years of teaching regularly throughout the early ‘80s and at many festival workshops since. He taught this class in previous years at our camp and got rave reviews, so we’re offering it again.
http://highcountrybluegrass.com
Mandolin, level 3—In this class, we will pick apart some tunes to see how the mandolin part is laid out, and we’ll spend a lot of time learning to understand the fretboard, especially above the 2nd and 3rd positions. We’ll study patterns, scales, closed position chords and chord shapes, and their different voicings and sounds. We will work a lot on developing and playing with good rhythm, and Jesse will share his own philosophy about playing music in general.
Prerequisites: You should know the basic scales, and be able to keep your instrument in tune. You should have some experience playing in jam sessions or bands, have a good knowledge of chords and chop, and the ability to play some tunes and/or solos at a normal performance tempo. You should also know how to read tab; and it’s also helpful, though not as essential, to be able to read standard notation.
Jesse Cobb grew up in a musical family where the nightly entertainment was playing music. At age 13 Jesse and the family band supplemented the family income with festival, concert and club gigs in the tri-state area of WI, MN, MI. In January of 2000 he made the move to Nashville and decided to make a go of the music business again. After working with artists such as Ronnie Bowman, LeeAnn Womack, and Opry star Mike Snider, the Stringdusters took shape and grew into a full time band playing 140 shows a year.
Jesse has taught private lessons, at music camps, (Rockygrass, Grass Valley, Wintergrass) and countless workshop stages over the years. We’re pleased to have him join us for his first year at the CBA Music Camp.
www.thestringdusters.com
