Lovers of the great American musical genre, bluegrass, can sharpen their musical skills and learn from the best at the annual bluegrass camp at Ghost Ranch Education and Retreat Center in Abiquiu New Mexico. The structure of the camp consists of class time with professional instructors, the formation of student bluegrass ensembles and climaxes with a concert.
The Classes
Six instruments are represented at the bluegrass camp. Receive intensive classes on guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, bass, and clawhammer banjo. This is the basic instrumentation found in all bluegrass music. Of course other instruments like accordion, harmonica, and dobros make appearances in bluegrass music and plenty of time after class is devoted to jam sessions at the campgrounds and cabins around the ranch.
Vocalists learn effective ways to get more out of their vocal range through classes on choosing the right key and working through the ever present fear factor that goes along with being onstage. Learn the nuances of lead and backup singing and of course get in lots of practice and critique time.
Blue grass has its own unique stage technique using only one microphone. A style developed in the early days of the music and continued by purists today. Early bluegrass musicians were purely acoustic, the one microphone method was adopted around 1920. Learn the technique of breaks, positions and distance from the best in contemporary blue grass music.
The Music
Bluegrass is an American Art form originating in the Appalachian region of the United States. A distinctive combination of the music of the English, Irish, Scottish, and German immigrants blended with African American influences it first accompanied dances like the gig and reel. The name bluegrass is attributed to Bill Monroe. Born in Kentucky he formed a band in 1938 calling it the Blue Grass Boys. In 1945 he added Earl Scruggs on banjo, guitarist Lester Flatt, and fiddler Chubby Wise to his band. Monroe's distinct musical style both vocally and instrumentally is the soul of what we know today as bluegrass music.
The Camp
The brain child of Colorado resident Patty Meneley, Bluegrass Camp is held annually at Ghost Ranch. Meneley says "I was a college staffer at Ghost Ranch and I have a love for this music". Combining those two things the Bluegrass Camp and Concert is a huge success for the community and the musicians who attend. Held in the beautiful setting of Georgia O'Keeffe country in the shadow of Cerro Pedernal Mountain, you can hike and enjoy the scenery of Northern New Mexico and hear some great music at the Annual Ghost Ranch Bluegrass Camp.
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