Workshops

/Events/
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Ashokan Bluegrass Camp

The Ashokan Center 477 Beaverkill Road, Olivebridge, NY

This first-ever bluegrass camp at Ashokan will include instrument-specific instruction as well as singing classes, electives, and lots and lots of jamming. The inaugural camp features some of the best in bluegrass: Tony Trischka, Claire Lynch, Matt Flinner, Becky Buller, Scott Nygaard and Mike Bub. Don’t miss this chance to learn from and jam with some of the best musicians and teachers in bluegrass music.

$345

Lowell Banjo and Fiddle Contest

Boardinghouse Park 40 French St., Lowell, MA

The 39th Annual Lowell Banjo and Fiddle Contest (Platinum sponsored by the BBU) will be held on September 7th, 2019 in Boarding House Park, in Lowell Massachusetts with workshops at 10AM, organized jams at 11AM and the contest beginning at noon.  Informal jams happen all day long.  For more details visit: http://lowellsummermusic.org/page.php?wpage=root/eventdetail.htm&Event=LSMS-E67225  

Free

FreshGrass Festival

MASS MoCA 1040 MASS MoCA Way, North Adams, MA, MA

FreshGrass is a wonderland of traditional and cutting edge bluegrass and roots music, tucked appropriately into a 19th-century factory turned 21st-century museum in the Berkshire mountains of northwestern Massachusetts. An opportunity for enthusiasts to both appreciate and participate, FreshGrass is family-friendly and brimming with the brightest talent not just on our four stages, but also in our galleries, brick-lined courtyards, and grassy fields. MASS MoCA is one of the world’s premier centers for making and showing the best art of our time. The museum’s vast galleries and multiplicity of stages — both inside and out — offer artists unprecedented opportunities to make and present large-scale sculpture, inventive theater, roots music writers, ‌and big new musical ideas that will confound expectations…and delight you.

$3 – $350

Online Rollick

The Ashokan Center 477 Beaverkill Road, Olivebridge, NY

Old-time immersion weekend ONLINE! Starts TODAY! ashokancenter.org/online-rollick-2020

$50

Fiddle Hell Online

Online MA

Our schedule and instructor list are posted at https://FiddleHell.org, and registration is open for Fiddle Hell Online, April 15-18, 2021. FHO will have 200 live workshops to learn from, 35 live concerts to enjoy, and 35 live jam sessions to join on Zoom, for fiddle, mandolin, cello, guitar, old-time banjo, and singing. All sessions will be replayable (and can be slowed down) for 3 months after the event. More than 100 instructors -- experienced & supportive teachers, and wonderful & inspiring players -- will cover Bluegrass, Blues, Cajun, Cape Breton, East European, Electric, Québécois, Gypsy Jazz, Irish, Jazz, Klezmer, Latin, Mexican, New Acoustic, New England, Old-Time Southern, Scandinavian, Scottish, Swing, Texas, and Western Swing styles. Attending FHO is not only an amazing experience, it’s a way for you to support and connect with these wonderful instructors and performers. Bluegrass instructors & performers include Sharon Gilchrist, Andy Statman, Erica Brown, Richie Brown, Margaret Gerteis, Billy Contreras, Darol Anger, Ellen Carlson, Jeremy Kittel, Alex Hargreaves, Matt Shipman, Peter Anick, Joy Adams, Andy Reiner. A few instructors in other styles include: Kevin Burke, Wendy MacIsaac, Michael Doucet, Jay Ungar & Molly Mason, Hanneke Cassel, Jake Blount, Mike Block, Cathy Fink, ... With 270 sessions + 100 instructors + 3 months of video replays, Fiddle Hell Online is of great value to players and listeners alike. Previous attendees said that their broad opportunities for learning (tunes, styles, instruments, techniques), gains in musical inspiration, and renewed connections with the community were priceless! And it's great to have a front row seat for every session. As in the past, discounts are available for seniors and young musicians, and there are further discounts and giveaways for early bird signups. Scholarships based on financial need are available. … Read More »

Ashokan Center Bluegrass Camp

The Ashokan Center 477 Beaverkill Road, Olivebridge, NY

Greetings all! The Ashokan Center in NY’s Hudson Valley will host a Bluegrass Camp Aug. 8-12. Kimber Ludiker hosts a week of bluegrass instruction and jamming for guitar, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, bass, vocals and songwriting. Staff includes: Casey Campbell, Greg Cahill, Vickie Vaughn, Grant Gordy and your host Kimber Ludiker! Plus, jambassador, Tessa Schwartz. Camping, lodging and dining available. The Ashokan Center inspired fiddle player Jay Ungar to write “Ashokan Farewell,” which figured prominently in the Ken Burns PBS documentary, “The Civil War.”  https://ashokancenter.org/product/bluegrass-camp-2022/

2022 Bluegrass Camp at Ashokan

The Ashokan Center 477 Beaverkill Road, Olivebridge, NY

Kimber Ludiker hosts a week of bluegrass instruction and jamming for guitar, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, bass, vocals and songwriting. Learn from inspirational teachers hand-picked to cultivate a magical environment after a long few years of not being able to learn in person! Staff includes: Casey Campbell, Greg Cahill, Vickie Vaughn, Grant Gordy and your host Kimber Ludiker! Plus, jambassador, Tessa Schwartz!

Bluegrass Jam Camp (Wernick Method)

Lily P's Fried Chicken & Oysters 50 Binney St., Cambridge, MA

Austin Scelzo hosts a weekend of jam instruction using the Wernick Method, an inventive and time-tested pedagogy designed to build or improve confidence making music with others! All Bluegrass Instruments, all skill levels welcome. Hands-on learning in large and small groups. Understanding, low-pressure, experienced teaching from a certified teacher. Experienced Jammers are given extra challenges and can be grouped together. Make music with friends, make friends with music!

$180

JAM-uary Bluegrass Jam Camp at Ashokan

The Ashokan Center 477 Beaverkill Road, Olivebridge, NY

Austin Scelzo hosts a weekend of jam instruction using the Wernick Method, an inventive and time-tested pedagogy designed to build or improve confidence making music with others! All Bluegrass Instruments, all skill levels welcome. Hands-on learning in large and small groups. Understanding, low-pressure, experienced teaching from a certified teacher. Experienced Jammers are given extra challenges and can be grouped together. Make music with friends, make friends with music!

$250

CCM Bluegrass Band Scramble

Concord Conservatory of Music 1317 Main Street, Concord, MA

Join the CCM Bluegrass Band Scramble and become a member of a new band for the afternoon. Presented by the Concord Conservatory of Music, this event is perfect for anyone who loves bluegrass and wants to perform with other enthusiastic and experienced musicians. On Saturday, January 20th from 12:00 to 4:00 pm, accomplished banjo player and CCM faculty member, Rich Stillman, will lead the Scramble with CCM faculty and Bluegrass Jam leader, Maxfield Anderson. To create well-formed bands, individuals sign up for the Scramble and are paired with other musicians by picking names out of a hat, one for each instrument. Bandmates then have over two hours to practice and prepare songs and stage patter for a three-song turn performing for a live audience, with a professional sound system and engineer. There is no need to feel stressed; the Bluegrass Band Scramble is a competition-free zone. It is an opportunity to learn and hone skills while having fun with like-minded individuals. To reserve your spot in advance, participants can sign up and pay the $35 registration fee at ConcordConservatory.org. But if you decide to join us at the last minute, don't worry! You can still register at the door on January 20th. Join us for a free live concert and enjoy great bluegrass music! Following the Scramble, everyone is invited to attend a live and free concert at 4:00 pm. The newly formed bands will perform and we welcome the public to enjoy great bluegrass music. If you have any questions, please call 978-369-0010 or email [email protected]. Concord Conservatory of Music is the area's non-profit community music school located at 1317 Main Street, West Concord.

$35