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The Boston Bluegrass Union sponsors and supports instrument and vocal classes for beginners to advanced, taught by our region's best bluegrass musicians.
Upcoming Classes by Tony Watt (guitar and mandolin)
This summer Tony Watt will be teaching four classes for adults and teens through the Boston Bluegrass Union's Bluegrass Academy. He will be offering three introductory courses for lead guitar, mandolin (both rhythm and lead), and bluegrass jamming (for all instruments). He will also be offering an intermediate/advanced level course for mandolin and guitar jointly. Here is the listing of classes by day and time:
1. Every other Monday at 7 pm (starting July 19th):Intermediate/Advanced Soloing for Guitar and Mandolin
2. Every Tuesday at 7:30 pm (starting July 20th): Directed Slow Jam Class (for all instruments)
3. Every other Wednesday at 7 pm (starting July 21st):Introduction to Lead Flatpicking Guitar
4. Every other Wednesday at 7 pm (starting July 28th): Introduction to Bluegrass Mandolin (rhythm and lead)
The class price varies by course, and each is limited to 8 participants. Below are some quotes from students in Tony's previous classes, and complete descriptions of each class. You can find out more about Tony on his website www.theoriginaltonywatt.com. Please e-mail Tony at tonywatt@gmail.com to sign up or if you have any questions.
****************************************
Quotes from students in Tony Watt’s previous Bluegrass Academy classes:
"While I have studied bluegrass for a while, I have not taken a lesson or workshop yet where the concepts were so clearly laid out."
"The handouts are great and the mp3's are a nice asset."
"Tony's enthusiasm for the music and for the teaching process is infectious and will inspire any student to become a better picker."
"I feel the amount of new material each week was great. It was beneficial to be grouped with appropriate skill levels and work on the tunes."
"Overall this has been the best group or workshop format class I've taken."
1. Intermediate/Advanced Soloing for Guitar and Mandolin
Instructor: Tony Watt
Starts Monday, July 19th at 7 pm in N. Cambridge, MA
Level: Intermediate/Advanced
This course will meet every other Monday from 7 until 9:30 pm, starting on July 19th. The course consists of five 90 minute sessions on July 19th, August 2nd, 16th and 30th, and September 13th. The cost is $125 for BBU members, $135 for non-members, which includes a BBU membership. Classes will be held in North Cambridge, a half mile from where Rt. 2 hits Cambridge at the Alewife T station. It is only a 10 minute walk from Alewife, and there is also plenty of meter-free, permit-free parking (but please be advised that traffic can be very heavy heading outbound on Mass. Ave. and on Rt. 16 during rush hour).
The class is intended for guitar and mandolin players who already know how to solo on at least a few fiddle tunes and vocal tunes, but would like to expand their repertoire and their variety of soloing ideas.
For instance, if you feel comfortable taking solos on most of the songs in my Intermediate Jam Session (more details at http://www.theoriginaltonywatt.com/teaching.html#jam%20sessions), then you should be well prepared for this course. In this course we will cover new songs, soloing ideas, and licks, therefore you should consider bringing a recording device of some sort. Please note this class meets immediately before my Intermediate Jam Session, and students of this course are encouraged to sign up for that jam as well.
To take full advantage of this course, students should already be able to take solos on at least a few fiddle tunes and vocal tunes. You don't need to know how to read music, but you should have some ability to play basic bluegrass rhythm and lead. Students should bring a playable mandolin or guitar, a pick, a capo (for guitarists), and a three ring binder and pen (handouts will be provided). Students are encouraged to bring a recording device of some sort, but it is not required. Enrollment is limited so please e-mail me as soon as possible at tonywatt@gmail.com if you are interested or have any questions.
****************************************
2. Directed Slow Jam Class
Instructor: Tony Watt
Starts Tuesday, July 20th at 7:30 in N. Cambridge
Level: Beginner/Intermediate
This course will meet every Tuesday from 7:30 - 8:45 pm, starting Tuesday, July 20th. The course consists of seven 75 minute sessions on July 20th and 27th, and August 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st. The cost is $135 for BBU members, $145 for non-members, which includes a BBU membership. Classes will be held in North Cambridge, a half mile from where Rt. 2 hits Cambridge at the Alewife T station. It is only a 10 minute walk from Alewife, and there is also plenty of meter-free, permit-free parking (but please be advised that traffic can be very heavy heading outbound on Mass. Ave. and on Rt. 16 during rush hour).
The class is open to all bluegrass instruments, both rhythm (backup) and lead (soloing), and is geared towards beginner and intermediate musicians who are interested in learning how to play with other musicians. We will focus on the basics of bluegrass jamming such as keeping time, non-verbal communication and jam etiquette. The primary goal is to provide the students with the skills and experience needed to participate in bluegrass jams.
There are no prerequisite songs, and you don't need to be able to play leads on your instrument, sing, or read music. However students should be able to play melodies and/or backup parts (i.e. be able to switch between chords comfortably). Students should bring a playable instrument and a three-ring binder and pen (handouts will be provided). Enrollment is limited so please e-mail me as soon as possible at tonywatt@gmail.comif you are interested or have any questions.
****************************************
3. Introduction to Lead Flatpicking Guitar
Instructor: Tony Watt
Starts Wednesday, July 21st at 7 pm in N. Cambridge
Level: Beginner
This course will meet every other Wednesday from 7 until 8:30 pm, starting Wednesday, July 21st. The course consists of five 90 minute sessions on July 21st, August 4th and 18th, and September 1st and 15th. The cost is $135 for BBU members, $145 for non-members, which includes a corresponding book with companion CD, and a BBU membership.
Classes will be held in North Cambridge, a half mile from where Rt. 2 hits Cambridge at the Alewife T station. It is only a 10 minute walk from Alewife, and there is also plenty of meter-free, permit-free parking (but please be advised that traffic can be very heavy heading outbound on Mass. Ave. and on Rt. 16 during rush hour).
This course is intended for those who can already play bluegrass rhythm guitar, but are new to playing lead, or who have been frustrated trying to learn to play lead before. In this course we'll learn how to read tablature (tab), how to play fiddle tunes and take breaks on vocal tunes (including carter style, crosspicking, and single-string soloing), and get an introduction to improvisation. The primary focus will be on developing fundamental lead guitar skills, as well as helping students improve their practice and self-directed learning.
To take full advantage of this course, students should already have some ability to play basic bluegrass rhythm, however you don't need to have previous experience playing any style of lead guitar, or know how to read music. Students should bring a playable guitar, a capo, a pick, and a three-ring binder and pen (handouts will be provided).
Enrollment is limited so please e-mail me as soon as possible at
tonywatt@gmail.com if you are interested or have any questions.
****************************************
4. Introduction to Bluegrass Mandolin (rhythm and lead)
Instructor: Tony Watt
Starts Wednesday, July 28th at 7 pm in N. Cambridge
Level: Beginner
This course will meet every other Wednesday from 7 until 8:30 pm, starting Wednesday, July 28th. The course consists of five 90 minute sessions on July 28th, August 11th and 25th, and September 8th and 22nd. The cost is $135 for BBU members, $145 for non-members, which includes a corresponding book with companion CD, and a BBU membership.
Classes will be held in North Cambridge, a half mile from where Rt. 2 hits Cambridge at the Alewife T station. It is only a 10 minute walk from Alewife, and there is also plenty of meter-free, permit-free parking (but please be advised that traffic can be very heavy heading outbound on Mass. Ave. and on Rt. 16 during rush hour).
This class is geared towards those who have never played bluegrass mandolin before, or who have been frustrated trying to learn before.
In this class we will learn the basics of bluegrass mandolin, both rhythm and lead. We'll begin with bluegrass chop chords and a discussion of right-hand technique. We will then quickly get into playing lead on the mandolin, as we learn to play both instrumental and vocal tunes common in the tradition. In this course we'll learn how to read tablature (tab), how to play fiddle tunes and take breaks on vocal tunes, and get an introduction to improvisation. The primary goal is to provide you with the skills needed to play solid bluegrass mandolin and participate in bluegrass jams.
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. Students should bring a playable mandolin, a pick, and a three-ring binder and pen (handouts will be provided). Enrollment is limited so please e-mail me as soon as possible at
tonywatt@gmail.com if you are interested or have any questions.
Award-winning flatpicking guitarist Tony Watt has performed at
bluegrass festivals throughout the United States and Europe, on the
Grand Ole Opry, and elsewhere. He has been featured in Bluegrass Now
Magazine and Flatpicking Guitar Magazine, and toured and recorded with
Nashville-based Cages Bend, east Tennessee-based Meridian, and most
recently with Rounder Recording artist Alecia Nugent. Tony currently
performs with his band, Southeast Expressway, and with Leigh Gibson,
guitarist for The Gibson Brothers. He has taught privately for over 10
years, and now teaches courses for the Boston Bluegrass Union’s
Bluegrass Academy. He has also taught guitar workshops and Kids'
Academies at bluegrass festivals including Grey Fox, Thomas Point
Beach, Joe Val, and many more. Tony teaches guitar and mandolin
lessons in Albany, NY, Cambridge, MA, and points in-between. For more
info visit www.theoriginaltonywatt.com or e-mail tonywatt@gmail.com
*************
Banjo: Rich Stillman
Richard Stillman
has been playing banjo for nearly thirty years, including stints with a number of influential Northeast bluegrass bands, including the Jersey Travelers (four years, one album), Southern Rail (four years, two albums), WayStation (seven years, one CD) and his current band, Adam Dewey and Crazy Creek (three years, two CDs). He has additional studio recording credits with New England folk artists John Burrows and John Michaels. Mr. Stillman was New Jersey banjo champion in 1983 and the 2002 and 2003 New England banjo champion. He is a six-time winner of the annual banjo contest held at Lowell, Massachusetts (1985-1995), where he has given the bluegrass banjo workshop every year since 1996.