Group Classes

BLUEGRASS JAMMING CLASSES

Jeff offers Bluegrass Jamming Classes throughout the year in and around Nashville, as well as two and three day camps and workshops at festivals across the country.   These classes are a great way for students to learn the ins and outs of playing music with other people, and to check their skills in a real time jamming situation.  For Many people who already have a background in music and some experience on their instrument, these classes are a way to improve their playing while meeting like minded people in the community who share their interests.  These classes focus on teaching people a variety of skills that are required for playing music with other people.  While they focus on the genre of Bluegrass music, most of the skills taught are necessary to play any genre of music and are easily transferable to other types of music. They are structured to be fun and laid back and to emphasize the joy that comes from playing music with other people.  Bluegrass Jamming Classes focus on teaching students all the skills they need to successfully play Bluegrass music together in a group including: 

Hands-on learning in large and small groups

Learning many bluegrass standards

Full ground rules and etiquette of typical jams

How to find melodies, fake solos, carry a tune, sing harmony

Tab/note reading skills not needed or used

Understanding, low-pressure, time-tested teaching!

Only four chords needed, G, C, D, and A

Gentle tempos! Mistakes expected

How to lead songs and how to follow new songs

Ear skills taught and emphasized

Group and individualized instruction on backup skills

Upcoming Bluegrass Jamming Classes

The Fall semester of Bluegrass jamming classes begin in September 2021, and are forming now!  Click on the links below to learn more about the upcoming classes!  

Upcoming Festival Classes, Camps & Workshops

Jeff will be running workshops and festival classes of varying lengths throughout the year.  Keep an eye on this page for new dates and locations as they are added!  

3 Day Jam Camp

11AM-1 Pm ThuRsday, Friday and Saturday

Join Jeff for a three day Jam Camp at the John Hartford Memorial Festival. We'll meet for two hours each day of the festival for a mini-jam class where we'll cover all the important skills you need to go into the campgrounds and start picking!  (Festival ticket required)  Join us for one day or all three! 

Jeff will be joining other instructors to offer a special series of Jamming Skills and singing workshops for all instruments. Midwest Banjo Camp is entering its 15th year and draws students from all across the globe to learn from some of the best musicians on the planet! There are classes in Banjo, Tenor banjo, Mandolin, Flatpick and Fingerstyle Guitar, and Bass.    

Nashcamp is a world renown music camp in music city itself, Nashville TN. Limited class sizes allow students to receive intensive instruction on Guitar, Mandolin, Banjo, Bass and Voice. In addition every students performs in an instructor coached student band and performs on the stage of the world famous Station Inn on the final night of camp! Jeff will be offering jam skills electives, leading jam sessions and coaching student bands!

Past Camps and Workshops

Jeff is honored to have be one of the first two recipients of the Wintergrass Education Fellow Award.  This award seeks to bring accomplished educators from outside the Seattle area to contribute to the Wintergrass education initiative and to help spread its educational innovations and models throughout the country.  Jeff will be teaching at the Youth Academy as well as offering two workshops in jamming and singing during the festival.   

3 Day Jam Camp

11-1 Pm ThuRsday, Friday and Saturday

Join Jeff for a three day Jam Camp at the John Hartford Memorial Festival. We'll meet for two hours each day of the festival for a mini-jam class where we'll cover all the important skills you need to go into the campgrounds and start picking!  (Festival ticket required)  Join us for one day or all three!