The Education Directors of the Boston Bluegrass Union are proud to announce that once again, master classes will be offered the day that the festival begins, Friday, Feb. 12th.  We have confirmed Michael Cleveland on fiddle, Jesse Brock on mandolin, Marshal Wilborn on bass, Jimmy Heffernan on dobro and Greg Cahill on banjo!! We are also pleased to present a banjo fast track class for beginners that day, taught by Rich Stillman, and a mandolin fast track class for beginners taught by Tony Watt.

Class size is limited to 12- 15 participants and the classes run from  11 AM - 4 PM with a one hour break for lunch.

Fees are as follows:

By February 1st: $70, $65 for BBU members. After February 1st: $75, $70 for BBU members

See below for more detailed information on Master Classes and how to register.

Michael Cleveland on Fiddle

Considered one of the premier bluegrass fiddlers of his generation, Mike picked up a fiddle at age four, and his talent was recognized early. In 1993 he was chosen to be part of the Bluegrass Youth All Stars at the IBMA's award show. After high school Mike briefly toured with then-named Dale Ann Bradley and Coon Creek before joining Rhonda Vincent and The Rage in 2000. At the 2001 IBMA awards, Mike took his first Fiddle Player of the Year award, and shared the title of Entertainer of the Year with Rhonda Vincent and the Rage. In 2002 Mike rejoined The Dale Ann Bradley Band. That year he won the Fiddle Player of the Year award and again in 2004. Mike's first project as a Rounder recording artist, "Flame Keeper," was released in February 2002 and was chosen the IBMA's Instrumental Album of the Year. In 2004, Mike shared the Instrumental Album of the Year award with Tom Adams for "Tom Adams and Michael Cleveland Live at the Ragged Edge," an album of fiddle and banjo duets. In 2007, Mike won his fifth fiddle player award. In 2008 he won the award a sixth time, and a seventh in 2009. 

In this class participants can expect to learn: 1) Select fiddle tunes. 2) Simple to complex variations of tunes. 3) Fiddle banjo tunes (I will be accompanied by Jessie Baker of Flamekeeper). 4) Where to improvise, and where not to. and 5) Your questions. Please bring some sort of recording device with you. 

This class is limited to 10-12 students.  Please pre-pay to insure that you get a spot. Any inquiries email Michael at;  fiddle@iglou.com. Send payments to: Michael Cleveland, 5511 Stacy Road, Charlestown, Indiana 47111.

Jesse Brock on Mandolin

The 2009 IBMA Mandolin Performer of the Year, Jesse has spent a lifetime in bluegrass, starting with his family band at the age of nine, and later with national acts such as Chris Jones and the Night Drivers and The Lynn Morris Band. Jesse was an integral part of Mike's two solo CDs on Rounder, "Flame Keeper" and "Let 'Er Go, Boys!," and was Mike's bandmate for three years in The Dale Ann Bradley Band. Jesse is also a solo artist in his own right, with an IBMA award-nominated CD "Kickin' Grass" on Pinecastle Records.

This master class, for intermediate-advanced musicians, will cover • Rhythm chops • Timing • Practice structure • Equipment (Picks, Strings, Tuners, metronome ect.) • Microphone choices/placement • Technique Inhancement/Speed • Tone Inhancement • Supporting roles (on stage, studio, or in a jam) • Styles (Monroe, McReynolds, Brock, etc.)

Reserve your spot by sending an email to Jesse Brock at mandoland@comcast.net. Send pre-payment to Jesse Brock. P.O. Box 457, Portsmouth, NH. 03802

Marshal Wilborn on Bass

A native of Austin, Texas, and 2009 IBMA Bass Performer of the Year, Marshall has played with some of the great bluegrass bands including Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys, The Johnson Mountain Boys, The Lynn Morris Band, and Longview. He is also a great singer and songwriter, with songs recorded by Alison Krauss, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, The Johnson Mountain Boys, and others. Marshall also produced an instrumental album for Pinecastle Records, 'Root Five,' an IBMA-nominated collection of duets that pairs his upright bass playing with some of the best banjo players in the business. And he is an experienced bass teacher as well, having produced a set of instruction videos for the Murphy Method. Marshall lives in Winchester, Virginia, with his wife Lynn Morris.

The workshop will be designed for the beginner to advanced bluegrass upright bass player, and will include the following: 1)  Holding the bass; 2)  Right hand; getting a good "pull"; 3)  Left hand; 4)  Timing and the metronome; 5)  The physically demanding bass; warm up excercises with the metrinome; 6)  Length of notes and why; controlling the length of note with the left hand; 7)  The "walking" bass line and 8)  Slap techniques.

Please send payment to Marshall Wilborn, PO Box 2324, Winchester, VA 22604

Jimmy Heffernan on Dobro

Back by popular demand, dobro legend Jimmy Heffernan will join the master class faculty at the Boston Bluegrass Union's 25th Annual Joe Val Festival. An accomplished player since the 1970's, Jimmy spent years as a session musician and toured with Larry Sparks, Joe Diffie and others. Jimmy also has recorded his own albums and, most recently, released a highly acclaimed project - the Resocasters - with Mike Auldridge and the late Hal Rugg. Among dobro players, Jimmy is known as one of the best teachers in the business. He is on the faculty of ResoSummit, the "all dobro, all the time" camp in Nashville started by Rob Ickes.

Jimmy will have instructional materials and other dobro goodies for sale as well.  Jimmy's classes are recommended to players of all levels.

The class is Friday, February 12, 2010 the first day of the Joe Val Festival in Framingham, MA. Class limited to 12, from 11 AM - 4 PM with a 1 hour break for lunch. Jimmy will have instructional materials and other dobro goodies for sale as well. Reserve a spot (or get more info) by emailing:  jimmyheffernan@comcast.net . Follow up with a check to: Jimmy Heffernan, 522 Third Ave., Haddon Heights, NJ 08035

Greg Cahill on Banjo

The class is open to all players but will be aimed at intermediate to advanced students.  The primary focus of the class will be to help players create their own solos and compositions and how to play backup behind vocals and other instrumental solos. The concepts of improvisation and integrating the use of various banjo playing styles will be a key element of this presentation.

Creating Banjo Solos - We will study various intros and endings in different keys and positions and then learn how to find the melody and create a solo for vocal and instrumental selections.

Overview of Scruggs, Melodic and Single String Styles - This discussion will include basic chordal theory and how the common styles employ that knowledge. Playing basic scales will lead into creating licks and tunes in different keys.

Improvisation and Ensemble Playing - This segment begins with how to interchange licks and passages from tunes and songs with similar chord progressions and leads to learning how to transpose solos to different keys and positions.

Principles of Playing Backup - Here we will learn how to make transitions from solo to backup playing and how to play backup behind the common bluegrass instruments and behind vocal selections.

Mike Kropp will host this master class for Greg. Please contact Mike for registration details at banjokropp@cox.net; he will be pleased to answer your questions. Make checks payable to Greg Cahill and send to: Mike Kropp, PO Box 724, Wyoming, RI 02898                      

Rich Stillman   Bluegrass Banjo for Beginners - Fast Track!  

Indulge your dreams of being a bluegrass banjo player with this one-day course. The fast track is designed for total beginners or people who have struggled to learn from a book. The course will include four 45-minute group lessons and supervised practices. By the end you should have enough of a foundation in the bluegrass banjo style to play a simple tune or two and to continue learning on your own or with an instructor. 

If you don't have a banjo, let us know when you preregister at least a week in advance, and we'll try to get you a loaner for the day. Sorry, we can't do the same if you register later than that.

Rich Stillman is a long-time Boston-area banjo teacher, player and contest winner. He currently plays with Southern Rail.

To register: contact Rich at  stillman@waystation.net

Tony Watt - Bluegrass Mandolin for Beginners - Fast Track!

This mandolin fast track workshop is geared towards total beginners, or those who would like a review of the fundamentals. You do not need to have previous experience playing (or even listening to) bluegrass, and you don't need to be able to read music. In this one-day workshop we'll learn the basics of bluegrass mandolin, both rhythm and lead. We'll begin with bluegrass chop chords and then quickly get into playing lead on the mandolin. The primary goal is to provide you with a strong foundation of the skills needed to play bluegrass mandolin and participate in bluegrass jams.

Students should bring a playable mandolin, a pick, and a three-ring binder and pen (handouts will be provided). If you don't have a mandolin, let us know when you preregister at least a week in advance, and we'll try to get you a loaner for the day. Sorry, we can't do the same if you register later than that.

Tony Watt is an award-winning guitar and mandolin player and teacher. You can learn more about his teaching and performing on his website www.theoriginaltonywatt.com

To register: contact Tony at  tonywatt@gmail.com