Mandolin
Mandolin, level 1—This is a basic mandolin class. Emphasis will be on learning to keep the basics in mind, i.e., playing a song's melody cleanly with good tone and timing. We'll learn some simple tunes, how to practice wisely, and we’ll also take an introductory look at double stops.
Prerequisites: Students should be able to play simple melodies and be able to change basic chords in time with the music.
John Reischman is an internationally renowned mandolinist whose thirty years of performing and recording includes time with the Good Ol' Persons and Tony Rice Unit. He currently leads his own band, The Jaybirds, and has released numerous critically-acclaimed albums.
John's extensive teaching experience includes music camps in the US, Canada, and England. He’s been a favorite CBA Music Camp teacher since our first year.
www.johnreischman.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, and several years of teaching regularly throughout the early ‘80s and at many festival workshops since. He taught this class last year at our camp and got rave reviews, so we’re offering it again.
www.highcountrybluegrass.com
Mandolin, bluegrass, level 3—We’ll work on refining any technique issues and/or problem areas. We’ll also focus on improvising on vocal tunes and as well as instrumentals, placing emphasis on what it takes to elevate your personal playing level and to be a more versatile player in general. This will include the execution of slides, hammer-ons and pull-offs as well as playing backup, ideas on how to use dynamics, and the art of listening to everything going on around you. We’ll discuss how your playing may differ when you’re playing in a duo or trio from playing in a full band situation, and what it takes to make yourself a “cleaner” player.
Prerequisites: Students should be familiar with and proficient at playing and changing bluegrass chop positions, know some tunes, and be able to play them at a reasonable tempo.
Alan Bibey has made a name for himself as one of the most creative and technically gifted mandolinists in bluegrass and acoustic music, after first hitting the scene in the early 1980’s as a teenager. He has been an original member of The New Quicksilver, IIIRD Tyme Out, BlueRidge and now Grasstowne. Grasstowne’sdebut project “The Road Headin’ Home” reached #1 on the Bluegrass Unlimited chart. Alan’s most recent award was being named 2007 “Mandolin Player Of The Year” at the SPBGMA Awards show. Also, in early 2004, The Gibson Company put into production The Alan Bibey Signature Series line of mandolins.
Along with 38 years of playing, Alan has 25 years of teaching experience and has taught at most of the camps and seminars across North America and beyond. He’s most likely to have been seen recently at the mandolin seminar at IBMA in Nashville, Kamp Kaufman (Steve Kaufman’s Camp in Maryville, TN), the AcuTab Bluegrass Seminar and at smaller workshops at Bluegrass Festivals all over the US and Canada. We’re happy to welcome him to his first year at the CBA Music Camp.
http://www.alanbibey.net
CBA
Home | About the Camp | Instructors
| Schedule | FAQs
| Home
