Acoustic Music Camp - Spring Mini Camp - Arlington, Texas March 4-5, 2010

Spring Mini Jam Camp FAQs *Register today! Space is limited and the mini jam camp is filling up fast.*
What is the Acoustic Music Mini-Camp? It is a two day camp with a mixture of instruction and structured jamming. It wil be held on Thursday March 4th and Friday March 5th in conjunction with The Bluegrass Heritage Festival. In class we will try to give you the tools and tricks to kick start your jamming skills. On each day the instructors will have a hands-on classes teaching you the skills needed to be a successful jammer followed by instructor led jams. This is repeated throughout the day. Topics will include: Jam Session Etiquette, How to Use the I - IV & V Chord System, How to Use the Capo, Tunes You Need to Know, What To Do When You Get Lost, The Harmonized Scale, Basic Harmony Singing, and more. You will be emailed a pdf of several common tunes with chords that will form the basis of the jams. Other tunes will be played too. Who are the instructors? Currently the faculty is Alan Munde, Brad Davis, Gerald Jones and Dennis McBride. Depending on signups we may add more instructors and/or jam helpers. Alan Munde needs no introduction to long-time Bluegrass fans. From his early creative work with Sam Bush in Poor Richard's Almanac to his traditional bluegrass apprenticeship with Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys to his 21-year stint anchoring the landmark Country Gazette, Alan has blazed a trail as one of the most innovative and influential banjo players of all time. Along the way, Alan also recorded and contributed to numerous instrumental recordings, including the 2001 IBMA Instrumental Album of the Year - Knee Deep in Bluegrass. Alan has supplemented his recorded work with several instructional publications for the banjo, and, since 1986, Alan has taught Bluegrass and Country Music at South Plains College in Levelland, Texas, a program which has produced many professional musicians nationwide. In recent years, Alan has performed and recorded as a duo with his South Plains faculty colleague (and former Gazette-mate) Joe Carr. Alan's extensive body of recorded work, his instructional materials, and his work at South Plains (including the annual Camp Bluegrass) has solidified his status as one of the true 'gurus' of the 5-string. Alan currently serves on the Board of Directors of the International Bluegrass Music Association. Brad Davis is a talented guitar instructor and writer, Brad has been a columnist for Flatpicking Guitar Magazine since 1996 and is currently Takamines main guitar clinician, conducting dozens of music store clinics for Takamine each year. He has taught at Steve Kaufman's Flatpick Camp, Nashcamp, Camp Bluegrass, the St. Louis Flatpick Weekend, the Roanoke Bluegrass Weekend, and more. He has also produced four instructional DVDs for Flatpicking Guitar Magazine, "Flatpick Jam", Volumes 1, 2, & 3 and a book/DVD/CD course called "Flatpicking the Blues". Additionally, he has produced several instructional courses for Mel Bay Publications, including the "Blue Book of Speedpicking", and a series of instructional Ear Training CDs. Gerald Jones, founder and director of Acoustic Music Camp, is a favorite instructor at many bluegrass and roots music camps around the nation, teaching banjo, mandolin, and many special topics such as “Jam Survival Skills.” He’s a skilled player in many different styles including bluegrass, western swing, country, classical banjo and Polish war hymns. He's played on stage or recorded with with Jim "Texas Shorty" Chancellor, Vince Gill, Sam Bush, Hank Thompson, Red Steagall, Jethro Burns, Jerry Douglas, Tanya Tucker, Junior Brown and many more. The inventor of the Jones/AcousticPlus banjo pickup endorsed by Earl Scruggs, Bela Fleck, Alan Munde and many others. As a banjoist, he’s been a two-time finalist in the National Bluegrass Banjo championship in Winfield Kansas. Gerald has taught music for almost 30 years, and counts among his students Marty and Emily Erwin of the Dixie Chicks. He's the editor of Mel Bay’s bimonthly webzine Banjo Sessions, and is a frequent contributor to Joe Carr’s Mandolin Sessions. As Joe said of Gerald, “students love him because he jams a lot with them and teaches as much out of class as in!” Dennis McBride - A musical fixture in the DFW area since 1978, Dennis has been in the studio with the old Salt Creek bluegrass band, numerous local artists, playing blues piano, country and bluegrass dobro, and one track with the Dixie Chicks before they went big-time. He currently teaches private dobro and guitar lessons, and is a Veteran and a volunteer guitar teacher at the Dallas Veterans Administration Hospital. A great jam leader, teacher and a heck of a nice guy, Dennis bring his own unique insights to learing how to jam and having a joyful time while at it. Wally Kay - The owner of A Bass Place and String Shop will be joing us on bass. Wally is a great bass player and all around great guy from New Orleans. He will have many basses for sale and has graciously offered to allow students to use one of his basses at camp. What should I already know? You should be able to smoothly make chord changes on your instrument. G, C, D, & A chords are required. Em and Am & F are helpful. Strumming or playing simple rhythm patterns at a steady pase is needed. What do I need to bring? You just need yourself and your instrument. A recorder and/or camera can be helpful. Though not necessary, the Parking Lot Picker's Songbook and 2 CD set for either Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin, Fiddle or Dobro can be helpful. It's a collection of over 200 great Bluegrass, Old Time, Country and Gospel standards. Melodies are presented with standard notation and tablature along with lyrics and chords. click for more information Is lodging provided? No, but there are many fairly nearby accommodations. Most are approximately 5-10 minutes away. Many more are near Six Flags Over Texas a few more minutes to the north. We have a deal with Days Inn Arlington at 1901 W. Pleasant Ridge Road, Arlington, Texas 76015. This hotel is located just west of Parks Mall in Arlington and is somewhat older and smaller but recently renovated, with swimming pool, complimentary breakfast, and limited room for jamming. The discounted Bluegrass Heritage rate is $57.95/night + tax. To get this rate, please call the hotel directly at 817-557-5828 and ask for the special Bluegrass Heritage rate of $57.95/night. click for nearby rooms from Hotels.com Are meals provided? No (except for lunch Thursday) but there are several restaurants nearby. There is fast food within walking distance. We will provide a variety of pizzas, salad, water and tea for lunch on Thursday so we can get straight to picking after the 11am check-in and orientation. Can I bring my spouse? Yes, but only registered students may actually attend classes and instructor led jams. Is there anything for my family to do in the area? Bring the family! There's lot's to do within 30 miles of the camp. Grapevine Mills Mall, Six Flags Over Texas, Hurricane Harbor Water park, The Amon Carter Museum, Modern Museum of Fort Worth, Kimbell Art Museum, National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, Stockyards Museum, the Vintage Flying Museum and more... May I audio/video record the classes? Yes, but only at the discretion of each individual instructor. And then only in a non-disruptive manner. Are children allowed? Yes. Children under 17 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. The parent or legal guardian is not required to attend class with the student but needs at least drop off and pick their child each day. Children under 12 may be admitted on a case by case basis. Children, or any camper for that matter, must be well behaved and not disrupt classes or jams. Things to NOT Bring Alcohol, Tobacco, Drugs, Pets. No smoking is allowed in buildings South Oaks Baptist Church has graciously allowed us the use of their facilities. We are a secular organization but we respect the values of the South Oaks Church and behave accordingly. Is there an emergency contact number? Yes, call my cell phone at: 214-236-0783 When is the camp? 11am - 8pm Thursday March 4 and 9am - 5pm Friday March 5, 2010. What is the tuition for the camp? Tuition is $145. click here to register Where is the camp? 5925 US Highway 287 Arlington, TX 76017 Click for Church Website SouthOaks.org See map below.

Driving Directions From Austin Texas I-35 north to Hillsboro. At the I-35 split take I-35W to Fort Worth. Go east towards Dallas on I-20. Turn south onto US Highway 287. Travel south to the Sublett Road/Kennedale exit. (This is the first exit south of I-20) Turn left onto Sublett Road and then turn left onto the northbound US 287 service road. Continue on the service road past a McDonalds and up a slight hill, we are on the right at the top of the hill. Turn right into the parking lot and right again. Go to the back of the campus. You may unload at the east door of the Activities building then park. From Interstate 20 Get onto US Highway 287 South toward Mansfield/Waxahachie. Travel south to the Sublett Road/Kennedale exit. (This is the first exit south of I-20) Turn left onto Sublett Road and then turn left onto the northbound US 287 service road. Continue on the service road past a McDonalds and up a slight hill, we are on the right at the top of the hill. Turn right into the parking lot and right again. Go to the back of the campus. You may unload at the east door of the Activities building then park. From Oklahoma Go south on I-35 to Denton Texas. Take I-35W towards Fort Worth. At downtown Fort Worth take the 287 south. Travel south to the Sublett Road/Kennedale exit. (This is the first exit south of I-20) Turn left onto Sublett Road and then turn left onto the northbound US 287 service road. Continue on the service road past a McDonalds and up a slight hill, we are on the right at the top of the hill. Turn right into the parking lot and right again. Go to the back of the campus. You may unload at the east door of the Activities building then park. From DFW Airport From the DFW airport south exit travel west on 183. Go south on 360 to Arlington Texas. Take US Highway 287 south toward Mansfield/Waxahachie. Travel south to the Sublett Road/Kennedale exit. (This is the first exit south of I-20) Turn left onto Sublett Road and then turn left onto the northbound US 287 service road. Continue on the service road past a McDonalds and up a slight hill, we are on the right at the top of the hill. Turn right into the parking lot and right again. Go to the back of the campus. You may unload at the east door of the Activities building then park. All Acoustic music Camp activities will be held in Activity Building. (see below) Please do not enter the building on the west side near 287. This is South Oaks Baptist Church’s school and it is in session. After you turn right from the service road of 287 into the parking lot turn right again. Go to the back of the campus. You may unload at the east door of the Activities building then park.