Acoustic Music Camp - Dallas Texas - August 7 - 9, 2008

Acoustic Music Camp is three days of fun and learning in a friendly, supportive environment. We offer classes in three finger banjo, flatpicking guitar, mandolin, Bluegrass and Texas fiddling, and Bluegrass style, clawhammer banjo, harmony vocals, songwriting, bass, and Djanjo style guitar. We have a world-class faculty who, along with being great musicians and teachers, are great people.

We try to limit class size to 10 students per teacher but some classes may be larger. Depending on the breakdown of students enrolled, we are offerring one to three levels for each class.

Currently mandolin and guitar with have two classes and three finger banjo three. For fiddle, dobro, etc. all levels will be taught in each class unless we have high enough enrollment on a given instrument to justify adding an additional teacher.

Classes are a hands-on affair. You will not just listen to a lecture but participate by playing along with the teacher. During this "organized noodling" the instructor is giving individual attention to each student. To keep this from being a noisy, chaotic affair, please do not play while the instructor is talking. Also, when playing during exercises, do not play so loudly that your neighbor cannot hear comments from the instructor.

Like in tennis, the best way to get better is to play with people better than you are. Each day will include a 60 minute instructor led jam. Each instructor will take a different level of jam (Advanced, Intermediate, Beginning or Slow) and choose tunes, tempos and keep the jam in-line and fun.

Each student will receive a zippered music bag with strings and other goodies... There will also be a free drawing for Intelli-Touch tuners, Coffee Fool coffee, GHS strings, etc. You must be present to win.

Please check out FAQ page for more details and
questions about Acoustic music Camp.

Beginner Level: You can be brand new to the instrument but it helps if you know a few basic open chords and should be able to change chords fairly easily. Being able to read tablature and/or written music is helpful but not required. The ability to tune your instrument know which string is which is helpful. Having one or more tunes you can play all the way through at a slow tempo would be great.

Intermediate Level: All Beginner level skills plus be able to play several tunes from memory, easily change chords, know some scales and be able to get a good sound from their instrument. Understanding how to use a capo and some know of playing in different keys is a plus.

Advanced Level: All the above skills and be able to play many tunes at band tempos and some ability to improvise solos. Some understanding of music and chord theory is helpful plus the ability to learn tunes by ear. You should be able to play with your head out of your instrument being aware of the players around you and providing the support and the give and take that makes playing music really enjoyable experience for everyone involved.