Classes from the great Barry Mitterhoff still available!
Dennis E. Powell
I work with Jorma Kaukonen's Fur Peace Ranch here in southeastern Ohio,
and I've just learned that there are still a few openings in workshops of
interest to mandolin players, bluegrassers, and players of old-times music
late in the summer and this fall.
It's important to note that Fur Peace Ranch is *not* a fantasy camp.
Students arrive on Friday and go to work with their instructors at once;
there are classes Friday afternoon and evening, Saturday morning and
afternoon. There is a big concert in the Fur Peace Station Concert Hall on
Saturday night (to which students get free tickets and preferred seating),
then classes again Sunday morning and afternoon, before the student
performance -- an open mic where those who want to can show off their
licks -- and, often, classes on Sunday night. Finally, there's a review
session on Monday morning.
The food is great and the accommodations are great. It's no surprise that
more than three quarters of Fur Peace Ranch students have been there
before, some dozens of times.
This year, more classes have been added for bluegrass players. If these
fill up, there will be even more of a bluegrass accent in coming years, so
I'm especially interested in letting out the word!
Here are the bluegrass-interest classes that are still open to those who
are quick:
WYATT RICE, the great bluegrass guitarist (and brother of Tony), will be
teaching the intricacies of rhythm guitar the weekend of August 24. This
workshop will teach advanced and fundamental rhythm techniques including
cross picking, syncopated rhythms, passing chords, chord substitutions and
inversions. A variety of right hand patterns combined with left hand
technique along with bass runs will be taught. Here's a chance to learn
from a real master.
JOHN McEUEN, who you know as the legendary banjo player who helped found
the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, will teach banjo techniques for better guitar
playing (and better banjo playing, too) in his workshop the weekend of
October 26. Students will explore alternate tunings and, to round it off,
John will share his experiences and advice in using music to put food on
the table. "Hand me down that can of beans!"
Students around the world sing -- and play -- the praises of mandolin
virtuoso BARRY MITTERHOFF (who happens to tour regularly nowadays with
Jorma and as part of Hot Tuna), and a select few will have the opportunity
to learn from him at his November 9 workshop. He'll take the instrument
into bluegrass but won't stop with just that genre. Barry's workshop is
open to students with a range of experience on the mandolin.
To get more information, go to http://www.furpeaceranch.com and look
around. Then enroll -- you won't regret it!
Thanks for reading this and for stopping by.
dep