• Traditional Bluegrass Banjo Track at 2016 Monroe Mandolin Camp

    Nashville Bluegrass Band's Alan O'Bryant will lead a banjo track at the 2016 Monroe Mandolin Camp, focusing on the 5-string banjo and its role in Bill Monroe's Music.Nashville Bluegrass Band's Alan O'Bryant will lead a Traditional Bluegrass Banjo Track at the 2016 Monroe Mandolin Camp, focusing on the 5-string banjo and its role in Bill Monroe's Music.

    Nashville, Tenn. — The Monroe Mandolin Camp, in its second year under Mike Compton's direction, will feature for the first time a Traditional Bluegrass Banjo Track led by Nashville Bluegrass Band's Alan O'Bryant.

    Held September 14-18, O'Bryant's banjo sessions with run concurrently with tracks in Monroe- and old-time mandolin styles.

    The Grammy Award-winning banjo player and vocalist will lead sessions that feature the influence Monroe' music had on the banjo and will not only cover some of Bill's instrumental tunes for the banjo over the years, but also how the banjo contributed as a backup instrument in the classic bluegrass ensemble of guitar, mandolin, fiddle, bass and banjo.

    A long-time friend to the Monroe family, O'Bryant is an excellent and experienced teacher and will coach.

    The course is intended for intermediate and advanced. This is NOT a beginner course, but an intensive look at the inner workings of traditional bluegrass banjo. What constitutes an "intermediate" banjo player is that they can tune the instrument, they are proficient in right and left hand technique (know basic rolls for three fingers, etc.), have a repertoire of a couple of dozen tunes, and can play in several keys.

    The Traditional Bluegrass Banjo Track will be limited to an intimate size with a maximum of 15 students.

    About the banjo track Mike Compton said, "Considering our mission at MonManCamp’16 is to further understanding and appreciation of Monroe style bluegrass we decided that we will begin to round out our program by offering instruction in the other bluegrass instruments. So, in addition to the Monroe-focused mandolin instruction MonManCamp'16 will offer a Traditional Bluegrass Banjo Track that will feature the influence Monroe’s music had on the banjo, the '5th Child' of Bluegrass.

    "The banjo is essential to the bluegrass ensemble and there were a number of highly skilled musicians that made huge contributions to the sound of the music. The MonManCamp’16 Banjo Track will not only cover some of Bill's instrumental tunes for the banjo over the years, but also how the banjo contributed as a backup instrument in the classic bluegrass ensemble of guitar, mandolin, fiddle, bass and banjo."

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