JAM CAMPERS DISCUSSION LIST Over 300 former jam campers from all over the U.S. and Canada exchanges stories, queries, and advice on a discussion list. The jam campers discussion group is open to anyone who's attended a jam camp or has signed up for one -- or is seriously considering signing up. Tom Gilbert, our list master, will welcome you and explain all. Email Tom Gilbert at root5bassman@yahoo.com LETTERS FROM SOME HAPPY CAMPERS! Pete and Joan, As I sit down to compose this note, my mind is filled with wonderful memories and music of last week. I have seen comments from previous jam campers on your website. A common theme is "life changing experience". Allow me to join that chorus. If only I could put into words the range of emotions I feel. I am elated and proud that I went to Jam camp, sorrowful that it's over and grateful to both of you for the service you provide. I certainly hear music differently and I hear life differently. The bluegrass world is a much better place because of you. You both do a wonderful job!!!! Well, gotta go, a couple of friends are coming over to jam....can't wait to show them some of what I have learned. T.F., Virginia Pete and Joan, Who would have thought that 3 days in May would have made such a difference in my musical life. My closet pickin' days are over. It's a month after jam camp and my enthusiasm for bluegrass music, playing it with others, and improving on the banjo has never been higher. Your teaching techniques and constant encouragement elevated the efforts of everyone there. And what a great group of people to get to know. "I never met a picker I didn't like", or something like that. I would do this again just to get together and play with such a nice, and diverse, group of people. And I loved your
performance on Friday. My CD collection will soon have "Pete and
Joan" in it. Pete, Just wanted to pass along a story about jammin' at Steve kaufman's camp. It just shows what your jam camp can do. The first day here I was talking with a fiddle and mandolin player from Lexington, MA and he said get your banjo & let's pick. Got my banjo and met him in front of the dining hall around 6:45 am... breakfast is at 7:30. We started picking and it was obvious that he was a much better player than I am but we were having a good time. Up walks Butch, another Mandolin player, and he starts picking. We're doing these fiddle tunes I've never heard of but I can hear the chord changes and to a banjo player they all sound alike, anyway. I'm faking some breaks and doing backup just fine... making some mistakes but no train wrecks, when this guitar player, Steve, comes up. I'm thinking, "Great, I can watch him for the chords". We start playing again and I'm more comfortable 'cause I can watch the chords. Then Steve starts flat picking and I realize he's pretty good too. It gets even better... ANOTHER mandolin player walks up...Roland, older,short guy with a beard. He starts really ripping some songs. As you can see, no other banjo players are clamoring to get into this jam...I'm keeping my head above water and just trying to keep up and not mess up too bad. Now it's close to 7:30 and a kids soccer camp is coming over for breakfast...all 200 of them. Yes, they stop to listen to the music...am I intimidated? NOT ME...I'm just trying to follow the chords and keep up. Breakfast time comes and the jam breaks up and I go into the dining hall. One of the people I'm having breakfast with says "wow, you must have been nervous playing with those guys". Not me 'cause I had no clue as to who those players were. I asked him who they were...all instructors at the camp: Butch Baldasari - mandolin You know what a basket case I was 6 months ago playing with 2 or 3 people. But I could do some passable jamming with this quality of player because of the jam camp. People don't know what it will allow them to do. Just wanted to say thanks again... Dave P., Massachusetts |