Classes

Jamming Class

Keith Yoder Jamming Class
Let’s Jam with Keith Yoder – If you are brand new to jamming or would like to feel more confident in a jam session – this class is for you.  Open to all levels of players of guitar, banjo, mandolin, bass, dobro, and fiddle.   Expect to play a lot and have a great time as we learn together.  Learn your role in a bluegrass jam.  We will cover etiquette, dynamics, backup, and playing in a way that supports the music.  My job is to help you be as comfortable as you can be while learning to play with others at a higher level.  Looking forward to a great time!

Scott Napier – Mandolin

Scott Napier - MandolinA native of southeastern Kentucky, Scott Napier picked up a mandolin as a teenager and has hardly set it down since. Scott began his professional career in 1996 as mandolinist with bluegrass legend Larry Sparks. There were many highlights in his ten years as a Lonesome Rambler, including a tour of Japan, The 4th of July Celebration at the Washington Monument, a Prairie Home Companion taping, “Alison Krauss and Friends” special on G.A.C. TV, a mandolin endorsement from Gibson, several album recordings, and many performance appearances on The Grand Ole Opry. After leaving the Lonesome Ramblers, Scott spent a year touring with International Bluegrass Music Association award-winning female vocalist Dale Ann Bradley and appeared on her 2006 release “Catch Tomorrow.” Around the same time, Scott was also a member of the house band for many episodes of the PBS series Woodsongs Old-Time Radio Hour in Lexington, KY. Scott was then recruited by Grammy award-winning artist Marty Raybon to tour the country as part of Marty’s band, “Full Circle.” Scott appeared with Marty for his album “This, That, and the Other” in 2009. Following the death of The Lost and Found band’s mandolinist, Dempsey Young, Scott received a phone call from bandleader Allen Mills asking if Scott would fill in Dempsey’s absence in the group. Scott was honored to take on the role of helping The Lost and Found complete their 2009 album, “Love, Lost and Found,” on which Dempsey had recorded half of the material, and Scott finished the rest. Scott continues to play with The Lost and Found today, as traveling allows.

In 2010, Scott recorded and released his first full-length solo album, “All Out Front,” showcasing twelve tracks, ten of which are Napier originals. “All Out Front” was well-received and featured a stellar back-up band of Michael Cleveland, Kent Blanton, Clay Hess, and Josh McMurray, with special guests Bobby Osborne, Dale Ann Bradley, Marty Raybon, Don Rigsby, and others. In 2012, bandleader Mike Scott of Mike Scott and The Nashville Band as Scott to join them for a twelve-day tour playing bluegrass music in Israel; Scott notes this as a highlight moment of his career, and it remains one of his favorite travel experiences thus far. In 2014, Scott accepted a full-time teaching position at Hazard Community and Technical College’s Kentucky School of Bluegrass and Traditional Music (KSBTM) in Hyden, KY, where he is still employed today as Associate Professor. At the KSBTM, Scott teaches classes in bluegrass music history, songwriting, and ensemble directing, as well as private lessons on both mandolin and guitar. Working closely with Bobby Osborne through the KSBTM, Scott started the Bobby Osborne Mandolin Roundup in 2017, an annual one-day mandolin camp bringing two-dozen students of all ages from around the country to Hyden for the opportunity to learn personally from Bobby, Scott, and other guest instructors.

In 2018 and 2020 Scott was nominated by the International Bluegrass Music Association for their Mentor of the Year award. In addition to his busy teaching schedule, Scott continues to freelance as a player, filling in with various bands for both in-person appearances and recording projects. He also offers private lessons and continues to write songs almost daily. Scott is endorsed by Gibson mandolins, Weber mandolins, GHS Strings, and BlueChip Picks.

 

Slow Jam

Slow Jam is designed for those wanting a group playing experience where all the songs use only the G, C, and D chords, and the tempos are slow. The songs are lead by faculty who will provide a Slow Jam Songbook and a wonderful, warm, and encouraging charm as you develop your musical skills. The slow jam meets every evening after the concerts.

Songwriting

Songwriting

Wil Maring - Songwriting / Bass
Elliott Rogers

Wil has become a highly acclaimed songwriter, a winner of the prestigious Merlefest songwriting competition and a Kerrville NewFolk finalist. She has performed on the Grand Ole Opry and NPRs Whaddya Know program, in addition to touring extensively in Europe and Japan.

Dobro

Dobro Classes

Jimmy Hefferman - Dobro

Jimmy teaches a “hands on” class and promotes questions from the students. Backup playing, scales and the use of scales. Blues licks playing without a capo as well as creative uses of the capo are all covered. You will leave class sure of what to practice to dramatically become a better player.

Jimmy spends time with each student looking for problems that hold the student back. All of the information is placed in the context of popular Bluegrass, Country and Blue tunes.

 

Vocals

Vocal Classes

Dede Wyland - Vocal Class

VOCAL (all levels)

Good bluegrass style singing is dynamic, enjoyable and central to the sound. In this vocal class you will learn basic vocal techniques that will allow you to deliver a song with greater ease, confidence and conviction!

You’ll learn:

  • Basic vocal technique for better tone quality, range and vocal ease.
  • The characteristics of bluegrass style singing – timing, phrasing and ornamentation.
  • Bluegrass harmony.
  • How to learn and emotionally connect with a song.
  • Projecting your voice – the right way!
  • Finding your key.
  • Repertoire.
  • Lots of singing and more!

 

Come and join us!

Bass

Bass Classes

Anne Luna - Bass
Wil Maring - Songwriting / Bass

BASS (all levels)

Students will work to develop a “bluegrass way” of bass playing. Proper setup and technique will also be emphasized.

Fiddle

Fiddle Classes

Nate Lee - Fiddle / Mandolin
Gretchen Priest - Fiddle / Jamming
Robert Bowlin Guitar / Fiddle

FIDDLE (two levels, please choose one)

Beginning – For students with limited or no experience on the fiddle. Important techniques, proper form, and basic scales will be emphasized.

Intermediate/Advanced – All aspects of bluegrass fiddling will be covered including bow techniques, playing in tune, soloing, backup and fiddle tunes.

Mandolin

Mandolin Classes

Robert Bowlin Guitar / Fiddle
Tim May - Guitar
Elliott Rogers

Steve Smith’s skills and topics he will be covering at camp.

I’m looking forward to getting back to Camp Bluegrass again this year and having the chance to work all levels of aspiring mandolinist.

With those just starting out I’ll work on developing good left and right hand fundamental technique. Ease of playing makes it more fun and is always big step towards learning chords and melodies quicker. Pentatonic scales and basic melodies will be used in class. (Handouts available)

For the intermediate and advanced players we’ll use chords and a scales to build melodies and improvisation on your own level with tools including pentatonic and blues integration and a positional playing. We’ll also pick up some new chord voicing along the way and use those shapes to find melodies and improv soloing ideas. (Handouts available)

Guitar Classes

Guitar Classes

Robert Bowlin Guitar / Fiddle
Tim May - Guitar
Elliott Rogers

GUITAR (three levels, please choose one)

Beginning – For guitarists with little or no experience, this class will concentrate on pick direction, hand position, basic chord changes, rhythm patterns and Carter style lead playing.

Intermediate – Flatpicking lead guitar is one focus of this class. Topics include scale fingerings, passing chords, improvisation and special effects. Advanced rhythm guitar skills are also stressed.

Advanced – A continuation of the intermediate topics with emphasis on getting a professional sound, solo development and other special topics.

 

Tim’s skills and topics covered in his flatpicking class. 

In the flatpicking guitar class we will focus on the tools you need to be a complete guitar player from rhythm to soloing. We will look at bass runs, alternating bass ideas, and how to effectively use dynamics to create a variety of moods for any song from breakdowns to waltzes. We will explore the mysterious world of improvisation and how to implement a simple approach to playing any song by looking at the chords and playing the chord itself (arpeggios) and a major scale (seven notes). Blues found its way into bluegrass, and we’ll look at how to incorporate major and minor blues, with examples from our heroes like Tony Rice and Doc Watson. In an attempt to be successful like banjo players, we will look at how crosspicking (mimicking a three-note banjo roll) can enhance a song and will dive into how players like George Shuffler, Norman Blake and Clarence White approached it. We’ll also introduce techniques for creating and enhancing solos for any song/tune we might encounter: tremolo, harmonized scales, ‘neighbor notes’, folded scales and more: lots of fun to be had, lots of playing time!