Bluegrass Jamming Class

Taught by Tony Watt using the Wernick Method*

Sundays, 3-5:30pm - Mar 13-Apr 17, 2011

6 sessions, tuition $145

Cambridge, MA (private residence)

Tony Watt has been featured in Flatpicking Guitar and Bluegrass Now, an award-winning flatpicker who has toured in the United States and Europe, with credits including the Grand Ole Opry and Alecia Nugent's touring band. Now based in Cambridge, he leads the band Southeast Expressway and keeps a busy schedule teaching guitar and mandolin between Boston and Albany, NY. He has taught jamming, guitar, and mandolin for the Boston Bluegrass Union, and workshops and Kids' Academies at many festivals including Joe Val and Grey Fox.

"While I have studied bluegrass for a while, I have not taken a lesson or workshop yet where the concepts were so clearly laid out."

"The handouts are great and the mp3's are a nice asset."

"Tony's enthusiasm for the music and for the teaching process is infectious and will inspire any student to become a better picker."

"Tony really CARES about the quality of the course."

"I feel the amount of new material each week was great. It was beneficial to be grouped with appropriate skill levels and work on the tunes."

"Overall this has been the best group or workshop format class I've taken."

There's still time to sign up!

  • All bluegrass instruments welcome
  • No jamming experience necessary
  • You will be jamming the first class!
  • Friendly encouraging knowledgeable teaching.
  • Mistakes allowed!
  • Singing not required, but encouraged and taught.
  • Easy 2 and 3-chord songs, slow speeds.
  • Soloing not required! "Faking" solos taught.

Do you qualify? It's easier than you may think!
If you play guitar, mandolin, banjo, fiddle, bass, or dobro... you can be part of a bluegrass jam.

Only requirements:

  • You must be able to tune your instrument (electronic tuning devices welcome) and
  • change smoothly between G, C, D, and A. (Fiddles and basses need to know which notes work with which chords)

For more info or to send payment in the mail,
email rick@drbanjo.com



*
Wernick Method Classes teach real bluegrass jamming!
  • Hands-on learning in large and small groups
  • Learn many bluegrass standards
  • Gentle tempos!
  • Full ground rules and etiquette of typical jams
  • How to lead songs and how to follow new songs
  • How to find melodies, fake solos, sing harmony
  • Ear skills taught and emphasized, as in real bluegrass
  • Reading skills not needed/relevant
  • Group and individualized instruction on backup skills
  • Understanding, low-pressure, time-tested teaching

Pete Wernick ("Dr. Banjo", originator of Banjo Camps and Bluegrass Jam Camps) has created a method based on his years of experience teaching jamming.

Wernick Method teachers are certified by Pete based on knowledge of bluegrass, teaching ability, and proper use of the Wernick Method.

Practice jamming at home!

17 songs, just 4 chords and SLOW tempos. This DVD will help you prepare for your first jam class.
MORE INFO/BUY