Here’s an update from Donal Baylor’s fiddle workshop in Melbourne next month. Two space have become available due to a late cancellation. If you are interested you can contact Sean Kenan on Phone: (03) 9380 5643 or email: seankenan@hotmail.com. The workshop fee is $60.
The workshop is at Fancy Yourself Fiddling located at 316 Park St., Carlton. The workshop will run from 2:00pm to 5:00pm on Saturday 13th March.
News from Donal Baylor is that he will be presenting a fiddle workshop in Melbourne next month that might be of interest.
The workshop is at Fancy Yourself Fiddling located at 316 Park St., Carlton. The workshop will run from 2:00pm to 5:00pm on Saturday 13th March.
Workshop space is limited to a maximum of six students participating. The workshop fee is $60. If you are interested you can contact Sean Kenan on Phone: (03) 9380 5643 or email: seankenan@hotmail.com.
Sean is a great fiddle teacher for anyone in the Melbourne area. He is particularly good with adults who want to take up the instrument. Here’s a link to a recent article in The Age about him and his success with students. The Age Newspaper link
We caught up with John Werner this morning and got chatting about the coming bluegrass festival in Beechworth where John is taking the bass workshop. So for all those bottom-end folks with bad backs heading to Beechworth in vans, station wagons or simply in a sedan with the front seat wound down, a great bass workshop awaits.
Ironically, the largest instrument in the bluegrass and old-time string band line-up is often the least considered, with the focus more on the front line. Hey, and rightly so I hear you say! They’re the guys (and gals!) who are taking the melody out for walk, weaving silky instrumental skills in between tight rhythmic chops and generally taking the lead roles in tune.
However, the subtle power of rock-solid and dependable bass playing, providing the foundation for these instruments and artists to shine should never be under-estimated. I look forward to meeting up with old friends and making new ones, and welcome bassists of all levels to an informative and fun Saturday morning Bass Workshop at the Priory – John Werner.
Festival The Kelly Country Pick website has published a list of workshop tutors for this years festival.
Workshops and Tutors:
| Old Time Fiddle – Craig Woodward | Old Time Fiddle – Craig Woodward |
| Old Time Banjo – Mike Hopley | Bluegrass Fiddle – Gerry Hale |
| Bluegrass Banjo – Martin Louis | Mandolin – Nigel Lever |
| Double Bass – John Werner | Guitar – Mark Wardle |
| Dobro – Evan Webb | Auto-Harp – Graeme Fletcher |
| Cajun Dance – Margot Hitchcock | Finger-style Guitar – Brian Fitzgerald |
| Harmony Singing – Phil Parker | Ukulele – Bluegrass Soul Pluckers |
There is a fabulous weekend planned featuring concerts, instrumental and dance workshops, jam sessions, instrument displays, blackboard concerts and the Sunday gospel sing-a-long.
Visit the website Kelly Country Pick.
Cathy Moore plans to visit Australia from mid-November through to mid-December 2009 on a business speaking tour. Cathy has advised us that her itinerary will allow her to attend a few jam sessions or host a few clawhammer workshops while in Australia. The dates she’s looking at are:
Workshop topics proposed by Cathy include: syncopation/beyond bum-ditty, learning by ear, making a tune your own, or similar ideas. Or she could just jam whatever works for you.
Cathy is also planning to take in a bush dance or two while she’s here and otherwise check out the Australian music & dance scene and is open to invitations.
Cathy Moore on Myspace
Contact Cathy via her email address Email
Jim Golding the banjo meister from that irreverent bluegrass ensemble Coolgrass has offered to deliver a banjo workshop at the start of the May Pickin’ at the Piggery.
The workshop will commence at 7:00pm at the Footscray Community Arts Centre on the 9th May 2009.
Mike Compton has been reappointed as director of his 4th annual Monroe-Style Mandolin Camp to be held from 11th to 13th September 2009, in Owensboro, Kentucky.
In hosting this camp the International Bluegrass Music Museum aims is to preserve the unique, historic performance art of Bill Monroe, The Father of Bluegrass, by teaching his style of mandolin playing and songwriting to a new generation of players. There is non better qualified than Mike Compton who demonstrated that fact on his recent Australian tour. Indeed there are many wo say COmpton knows more about Monroe’s mandolin style than Mr Monroe himself.
At the Monroe-Style Mandolin Camp, students will spend three days with 6 of the finest mandolin players and 50 of the coolest mandolin students you’ll find on Planet Earth. With registration for each camp capped at 50, the camps’ intimate environment allows for ample opportunities to receive personal, hands-on instruction from each of these legends of Monroe-Style mandolin.
Full details on the International Bluegrass Music Museum’s Website
John Taylor, the disgraced former President of the Board of Directors of the National Folk Festival – more on that later – advises that on Thursday 15 January 2009, he will be conducting two workshop sessions at the Illawarra Folk School.
John will be conducting a morning session on Bluegrass for Beginners, with the afternoon session on Intermediate Bluegrass Banjo.
John says; The Beginners session will concentrate on the basics of bluegrass, looking at timing, rhythm, kick offs for tunes and songs, endings, back up and basic soloing. There will be a focus on jamming etiquette – which is the key to everyone getting the chance to participate. I’ve taken a few pointers out of the sessions of this sort that I have seen at bluegrass events – such as Mike Kear’s Safety in Numbers jam, and the morning beginners jam in the Session Bar at the National Folk Festival. If nothing else what I want to come out of it are people with a lot more confidence to join in a session, not get overawed and make a contribution.
The Intermediate Banjo session is designed for those banjophonists who have got a few tunes and/or songs under their belt, have a few rolls and licks that they can pull off and are branching out into wider techniques. This session will look at more advanced arrangements for the standard tunes as well as getting into building a worked out break for a song or tune, with the idea being to wean people away from sole reliance on tablature and stepping into playing by ear.
The Illawarra Folk School is a fantastic concept, and I am really excited about being a part of it in 2009. I’ve been to the Illawarra Folk Festival a couple of times when it was sited at Jamberoo, and I am looking forward to seeing the new venue at Slacky Flat in Bulli.
says John.
In 2008, after 3 years as Board President, John stepped down – but 2008 was not without controversy. It can be reported that on opening night 2008 NFF Security, Production Managers and assorted hangers on responded to a noise complaint from the campgrounds behind the stadium, in an area known as The Swamp. Upon attending the incident they found Chris Jacobs, Kevin Parsell, Pete Hisco, Dave O’Neill (the NFF Artistic Director) and Taylor in a high octane session. OK, it was 1:00am and Chris was belting out Blue Yodel #4, but heck, there were about 40 others enjoying the blast. Very embarrassing but, what was amusing
, said Taylor was the fact that that the complaint was about a group of youths, aged in their teens/early 20s, playing music on a ghetto blaster. We thought it quite a hoot, given that none of us is on the right side of 40
Donal Baylor will be presenting a two day Bluegrass Fiddle Workshop in Melbourne over the Australia Day weekend 2009.
Donal is highly regarded as a teacher and performer of both Bluegrass and Swing fiddle styles. Donal’s workshop will be conducted at the Fancy Yourself Fiddling headquarters 316 Park St Carlton.
Places are all taken for Donal’s workshop but if you would like to put your name down for future fiddle Masterclasses ring Sean on 03 9380 5643.
Greg Deering recently toured a number of Australian capital cities conducting workshops. I recently caught up with Jill Earnshaw from South Australia who has kindly provided the following summary of the workshop held there:
Greg made us welcome and was only too happy to answer our questions. His stories of life and banjo making showed that he has worked extremely hard to get where he is, at the top of his field. It also showed us that if at first you don’t succeed, keep on trying. That’s what he did and that’s why he is where he is today.
No questions fazed him, he just sat there telling us of his life in the music world and how he started in his early college days. He just kept tinkering away and explaining as he went. I was the only lady in the audience and I felt a little uncertain about asking questions. I was just happy to soak up all I could.
Greg wanted to demonstrate that there was no need to be afraid of:
1. Tightening the head. He actually tightened it until it cracked.
2. Taking the banjo apart and putting on a new head and getting it to the correct tension.
3. Putting on new strings, getting the bridge into the correct position.
4. Tuning the Banjo and being able to start playing .This was all done in such a short time.
I have since taken my banjo apart, which I would not have felt comfortable doing, before watching this demonstration. It has certainly made me more confident in handling my banjo and attempting to do some things myself.
It was a very interesting evening, showing us that we can service our own Banjo.
I have to say his pick holder (a cane toad bag was a real talking point).
During the evening we had a short break for refreshments and during this time we were entertained by some of South Australian music icons.
If this opportunity ever comes to Australia again, make an effort to get to see this demonstration, even if you only pick up one thing it makes it all worth while.
What a way to spend an evening.
Thank you to Derringers Music store for hosting Greg Deering
Meet the Maker while he is touring around Australia.
Submitted by Jill Earnshaw – SA
Banjo maker and master Greg Deering has concluded his Australian tour and I asked Ryan Kerr from the Musician’s Pro Shop in Brisbane to tell us about the Queensland workshop. Here’s what he wrote:
Legendary banjo maker Greg Deering presented an informative seminar to 35 enthusiastic banjo players at Musician’s Pro Shop in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley last Friday.
Travelling all the way from the USA for a whirlwind tour of Australia, taking in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide he concluded the series of workshops in Brisbane.
Greg opened with the history of his involvement with banjos, including the creation of the Deering Banjo company, the acquisition of Vega banjos and their soon to be reached milestone of 50,000 banjos crafted.
He delighted the crowd with his stories whilst stopping briefly to answer questions along the way. Greg continued with some practical advice including which picks to use, tightening, breaking and replacing of banjo heads, banjo strings plus much more.
After a short intermission, Greg showed how to put a banjo back together (after previously pulling it to pieces!). Upon completion of this, he then opened up the floor to the many attendees who brought their banjos with them, giving these instruments a once over and making small tweaks where needed. Many players then got together with their instruments to create one of the largest banjo jams we have ever seen.
From all of us at Musician’s Pro Shop, we would like to thank Greg Deering, John Mascaro of Zenith Music and all the banjo enthusiasts who attended on the night. An enjoyable time was had by all with even the most experienced players learning something new.
Submitted Ryan Kerr, Manager, Musicians Pro Shop – Qld.
Workshop in the Snowy MountainsEarlier this month the sounds of the five string banjo reverberated throughout the small New South Wales town of Numeralla, near Cooma. It was a typical cold day in the Snowy Mountains, but the locals made sure there was roaring log fire in the hall to keep everyone warm.
Seventeen banjo players brought their instruments to the quaint Numeralla community hall at 11 am for almost 12 hours of intensive bluegrass banjo instruction in a workshop conducted by well known Aussie banjo player and successful luthier, Laurie Grundy of Porepunkah Victoria. Laurie was ably assisted by mandolinist Diane Cross.
The local ladies were busy in the hall’s kitchen and provided everyone with some fantastic country cooking for an evening meal. Laurie advises that thanks must go to Peter Jackson for organizing the occasion and to Annette Schofield for the wonderful meal.
Additional reading:
Workshop featured on ABC’s ‘Into the Music’Instrument making is usually a solitary pursuit, but when professional and amateur makers gathered in Albany in south-western Australia, there was a palpable sense of camaraderie and collaboration. The weekend workshop held in February this year was part of the Perth International Arts Festival and featured world-renown luthiers Steve Gilchrist from Victoria with Paul Duff and Scott Wise from Western Australia. Read more…
National Folk Festival – Easter 2008Donal Baylor will explore tunes, solos, techniques and the classic Monroe sound of twin fiddling at this year’s National Folk Festival and part of the festival’s ever growing bluegrass music component. Donal is one of Australia’s finest bluegrass fiddlers and highly regarded as both a player and teacher.
I spoke to Donal this week and asked what is in store for master class participants at his workshop.
Fiddle players from any background at an intermediate to advanced level. It is a class for those fiddlers who are curious as to the intricacies of bluegrass but haven’t yet fully explored it. It is also for those who do have an understanding of the music, but want to significantly build on their abilities with an experienced guide.
Your fiddle obviously! – it is very much a hands-on session – pen and notepaper is also handy for any notes and personal recording devices are welcome.
My workshops focus heavily on playing and active participation by participants rather than a lecture. Throughout the sessions, participants are encouraged to ask questions and raise any issues that are relevant.
By the end of the week the participant will have a good understanding of the bluegrass fiddle style, a greater appreciation for the music and be well placed to advance further. I provide written material and a CD, recommendations for further listening and a guide to books and other useful resources.
Feel free to contact me with any queries: Donal Baylor.
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