Availabe Electives
Below you will find descriptions for all the great electives we are offering during our Up Close Bluegrass Workshop.
The Big View…How It All Starts With A Song
So you’ve written songs and want to make a cd …how do you do it on your own?
Let us help you figure out the next step by making sure your first step is right! Then we will launch on the whole concept of making a project happen.
Bring two of your strongest songs being considered for your cd project to this workshop opportunity and let us start off by offering gentle critiques so you may use these two songs as an example of how to get all the songs for your project at the same level, making sure the songs are as strong as possible. It really does start as simply as that! If the songs are not ready, the rest is just wasted money.
After helping you strengthen your two songs, we will talk about tempo and subject matter needed for an interesting project. Every step on this journey of making a record is important and fun!
Next, we will be at the point of how best to record them by giving you production tips, suggestions on arrangements, instrumentation, keys, vocal approach, photography for your concept and making recommendations for studios and musicians. We will also talk about pricing and staying budget conscious for the sake of your wallet as you complete your project.
We will cover when and how to copywrite your songs, how to promote your project on a low budget, how to get it to radio on your own and how to understand touring as a means of promotion.
There will be time for questions and answers so feel free to bring in a list. We’ll be looking forward to talking with you!
Bluegrass Fiddling with Becky Buller
Join the 2016 IBMA Fiddler Of The Year for a fun, fast-paced frolic while making friends with The Ol’ Devil’s Box.
Becky will work with you to further develop your ear training, improvisational skills, library of legendary licks and standard song repertoire, technique, confidence, and much more.
Her aim is for you to leave Up Close Bluegrass feeling more empowered and equipped than ever before to enjoy any bluegrass jam you encounter.
The Unified Theory of Banjo with Ned Luberecki
1. Quantum Theory of Banjo: Building banjo solos from the ground up, beginning with the basic melody and developing it into bluegrass style banjo solos.
2. Relativistic Banjo Theory: (also called Jam Session Survival): Tips on how to join in and play authentic sounding bluegrass banjo on songs that you’ve never played before.
Bluegrass Harmony with Amanda Smith
Join Amanda for a few days of digging deeper into the joys of singing. You will sing and learn several bluegrass songs to add to your repertoire for jams. Discuss techniques to improve your singing for example…..better tone, how to strengthen your lungs and diaphragm, vibrato, and dynamics.
While learning how to sing harmony you will also understand how to sing the different parts, blending with the lead singer and staying in your lane.
Guitar with Kenny Smith
HOW TO BECOME A BETTER RHYTHM PLAYER :
We will work on holding the pick with the least amount of tension. How to bring out the strum part of the rhythm pattern. Embellish your rhythm with bass runs, G-runs and different rhythm patterns.
HOW TO PLAY ARPEGGIOS:
We will construct an arpeggio from the major scale. We will learn how to make music from arpeggios. This lesson is an important step to improvising.
FINE TUNING YOUR TECHNIQUE:
Right and left hand discipline. Tips on playing cleaner. Working on playing at faster tempos. Insights on what I practice at home and things to work on when you leave the camp to improve your technique.