The Acoustic Kamp Store will have new items this year along with our Kamp Sling Bags, Kamp Water Bottle Holders, Kamp Kids T's, Kamp Pick Holder Key Fobs, Kamp Kazoos, Tote Bags, Koosies, Instruments, Foam Seat Cushions (a survival necessity), Embroidered Kamp Ladies Golf Shirts, Embroidered Kamp Baseball Jackets, Embroidered Kamp Fleece Jackets, Case Stickers, Colorado Case Covers and Gig Bags, Fishman Pick-ups, CD Holders, Kamp Ear Plugs and more. Along with a fresh stock of T-shirts, hats, blank cassettes, batteries, Fanny-packs, sun glass holders, coffee mugs, guitar strings, picks, Capos, Tylenol, Kamp group photos and other camp souvenirs.

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Tentative Schedule

   The schedule may differ slightly but as a whole it looks like this:

7:30am - 9:30am   Breakfast

8:30-9:30   Slow Jam Period / Tune of the Day Class / Dulcimer Class (Week Two) Kamp General Store Opens (8am)

10:00-11:55   Morning Class

12:00- 2:00  Lunch/Rest/Jam Times

1:00-2:00  Fiddle Tune Jam - Learn to Jam Class

2:00- 4:00  Afternoon Class

4:15-5:00  Break Out Sessions/ Medium Jam Period / Master Classes/ Intro to Picking Class and more

5:00- 6:30  Dinner/ Rest/ Jam / Kamp General Store Closes at 6PM

7:00 - 7:30  Open Mic. On the Main Stage

7:30-10:00  Evening Concert Series

10:30-Midnight: Open Mic. Isaac's (Food provided by the Alcoa Kiwanis Club to benefit the Children's Hospital)

10:30 PM-7:30 AM    Sleep/Jam Period

Schedule subject to slight change

Breakfast is Breakfast is Breakfast - Good food, decent coffee- 7:45-*45 is the times the college keeps adding food to the buffet style breakfast. You can fill your plates anytime during that period.

Slow Jam Period: This is a time when students can get together for controlled jam sessions. Nothing should exceed 100 Beats Per Minute or 45 Miles Per Hour.

Tune of the Day: Keith Yoder picks a tune (found in the Kamp Manual) that is written for all instruments. It doesn't matter how beginner or how advanced you are. Join this morning class.

Morning Classes: These classes are two hours each with a few minutes break in the middle. You rotate with your assigned group through the week eventually attending each instructor's class. This input from every instructor and every possible angle and direction helps to make you a more rounded player and tends to avoid the clone syndrome that many students suffer.

Lunch/Rest/ Jam: Lunch is Lunch - Good Food! Near the end of the Kamp you will be looking for rest periods. It is our intent at SK's Acoustic Kamp that you feel "whooped" by the end of the week. These are great chances to catch up on sleep, go to town and visit or jam with new or old acquaintances. Lunch is replenished on the buffet line from 12 noon until 1 PM.

Medium Jam Time with Keith Yoder/ Master Classes (Up Close and Personal Classes) - Kamp Staffers will conduct special lectures and demonstrations for this 45 minute session.

Intro to Banjo, Fiddle, Bass Classes - must supply your own instrument.

Dinner:  Dinner is Dinner - no one has ever complained about losing weight while at the Acoustic Kamps. The dinner is replenished on the buffet from 5 until 6 each night.

Each Night - Open Mic Time is a time that the students can try new material and play the big stage. Slots will be roughly Five minutes each and is available through a sign up sheet at the "Kamp General Store".

Concerts

After Concert Activities include: Open Mic at Isaacs - 10:30 till midnight / Beginners Jam 10:30 - 11:30 Bartlett / Free Jam Time and possibly Sleep Time

Open Mic Time 7:00 - 7:30 PM and Concert Start Time 7:30 PM

Every Night: Instructor Concerts with special guests.

All Kampers Orientation Sunday Night 8:00 PM

ALL Kamper and Companion Orientation by the college is the first morning of Kamp at 8:30 AM.

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How to Pick your Placement Level

Our Kamp is more an instrumental technique learning music camp than a strumming and back-up music camp. We are going to train you to play solos and melodies on your instrument, as well as back up and rhythm techniques. Keep this in mind as you choose your level. A guitarist with 30 years strumming and singing would still be considered a high beginner with no real "picking" experience.  A violinist with 20 years of classical experience may still be barely an intermediate "Fiddler". Just because you have played your instrument for many years, does not qualify your proficiency level to be an advanced level. Please be accurate for your level. Do not jump into a higher class because you want to see what is going on there. As soon as you ask a question you bring the class to your level. This is good if the instructor is not being tough enough, but it is bad if you are below the level of the class. Be accurate. Thanks

Beginning Class Level One: True beginners need to know nothing. The student level ranges from never had touched an instrument before (be sure to bring one) to being able to strum a few chords but may not really know what to do with them. No music theory or music reading skills required whatsoever! You will also stay with the same teacher the entire Kamp. No class rotations. You will have a blast and get yourself ready to be at least in the beginners class for the following year.

Beginners:

All Instruments:  Should know basic open chords, 3-8 chords at least: G. C. D. A, E and maybe F. Maybe also their minor counterparts. Should be able to strum and change chords easily and steadily. Should know 2 to 12 simple songs, playing them by using single notes. Quarter notes good for the melodies. A knowledge of reading tablature is a huge plus, but not necessary. Should be able to tune their instrument by ear or with a tuner, put on the picks if used, know which string is which (first, second, etc) and the names of the strings.

Fingerpickers and Banjo Players: Should know a couple of basic rolls, (Forward, backward, alternating thumb). Banjo—should be able to play ONE song all the way thru, preferably  Cripple Creek or Boil Them Cabbage.

Fiddlers: You can play 1 octave scales such as A and D. You know some songs and fiddle tunes at a slow to moderate tempo. You are concentrating primarily on playing in tune, getting good tone and controlling the bow. You may know the basic shuffle bowing (Long short short, LSS)
 

Mandolin and Flatpickers: Should be comfortable using the pick, basic chords, Should know 2 to 12 simple instrumental songs, playing them by using single notes. Quarter notes good for the melodies. but do not have to be up to speed.

Old Time Banjo Pickers: (but not new pickers)- Have some experience with the right hand Clawhammer technique and understand that it is NOT the same as Fingerpicking. Helpful to know a few chords in G tuning.

Bass: You can play an alternating bass line (root-fifth) on easy songs using mostly open strings. You’re just starting to get a good solid bass sound. You can hold a somewhat steady rhythm while playing the bass line. You’re learning to damp the strings after hitting them
 

Intermediates:

All Instruments: All of the above plus… Should be able to comfortably play chords, some scales and be able to get a good sound from the instrument. Understand the use of a capo. Should be becoming aware of the instrument's role in a group situation and be asking questions such as: "How do I backup another musician or singer?" or "How do I play solos up the neck? " or "How can I learn to play faster?"

Fiddle: You can play at least a single octave major scale in common keys A, D, G, C, F. Some of these scales in minor keys. You are comfortable using the full bow. You can play some double stops. You can play slurs and slides. You use drone strings. You are somewhat comfortable using your 4th finger. You have good rhythm and intonation and have played with other folks some. Play at least  10-20 instrumental tunes from memory
 

Flatpickers and Mandolins: Plectrum users should be able to play some fiddle tunes using appropriate alternating strokes at a moderate tempo. Understand movable chords. Transpose chords from one key to another. Play some tunes with variations. Play at least  10-20 instrumental tunes from memory. You can recognize I, IV and V chord patterns. You know minor seventh chord and diminished chord forms. You play well with others and are used to jamming
 

Fingerpickers: Should be able to keep alternate bass going during a tune, should know first position chords and understand how they translate up the neck. Play at least  10-20 instrumental tunes from memory. Should be able to play several solo pieces instrumentally. Not just a roll style back-up for singing like Dust in the Wind etc. More like Freight Train, Alice's Restaurant, etc in Travis style or the like.

Banjo Players: Should be able to play 3-4 different rolls up to speed. Should know 1st and 2nd position chords and hopefully 3rd position chords. Should be able to interchange rolls and riffs. Should be able to play the off beat (2 and 4 beat) rhythm "Chunk" back up. You can play banjo leads on some fiddle tunes (Cripple Creek, Salt Creek, Old Joe Clark, etc.) You can play several rolls, and they’re smooth and in good rhythm. You can do at least one intro lick and one ending for bluegrass songs. Play at least  10-20 instrumental tunes from memory

Old Time Banjo Pickers: Right hand technique in Clawhammer style should be solid. Able to change chords in G tuning and double C (or double D) tuning. Must be able to play several songs and tune in each tuning. Play at least  10-20 instrumental tunes from memory

Bass: You can play comfortably in the keys of C, G, D, A and E. You’ve played with other folks a fair amount. You can play at least three major scales. You play with good rhythm. You can do some runs between one chord and the next. You can play other bass notes than the root and the fifth (such as the third) and know where to use them. You can play other rhythmic patterns besides the standard 1st and 3rd beat.
 

Advanced:

All Instruments:  Should have a large repertoire. Interested in the finer points of improvising and experiencing music as a language. Should have a basic knowledge of music theory and realize that an ever expanding knowledge of theory will open more doors to them. Should be striving for more precision and mastery of both the right hand and the fingerboard.  Should be able to learn without tablature, to improvise a little and have some understanding of playing up the neck. Should be performing in bands or solo or just on the edge of being able to do so.

Mandolin: Should be able to play solos on bluegrass songs. Have some knowledge of double stops. Should be able to jam comfortably with others. Some improvisation skills.

Mandolin according to Don Stiernberg: The advanced mandolin player should be careful not to be better than Don Stiernberg as that would intimidate Don and perhaps hamper his performance with Steve Kaufman which he looks forward to with great relish.

Fiddle: You learn new tunes quickly (by sight reading or by ear). You are comfortable with 3rd position, and may also play in 2nd, 4th and 5th positions. You can back up others in a jam using double stops and chops. You can improvise some leads. You play well with others and are used to jamming at a pretty fast tempo. You play (or can play) double shuffle bowing and Georgia shuffle bowing. You can play a variety of stylistic ornaments like trills, rolls, slides, and drones with 4th finger slide. You are comfortable playing in most keys. You’re an experienced jammer or performer. You can play well at a fast tempo
 

Fingerstyle: Always keep alternate bass, even with hammers and pulls both on and off the beat, play (and maybe understand) chords up the neck, be familiar with two or more styles (e.g., jazz and country, or folk and blues), should have some ability to improvise while playing solo. You can work out fingerpicking arrangements including bass lines and treble harmonies.

Old Time and Bluegrass Banjo: You are an experienced jammer or performer. You play melodic leads comfortably and at a variety of speeds. You can play with dynamic control. Your rhythm is rock-solid. You can improvise on most any tune or song.
 

Bass: Your rhythm is rock-solid. You’re an experienced jammer or performer. You understand the theory of the chords you’re backing up. You’re comfortable with many different styles of playing. You can play a walking bass in all keys using closed-position notes.
 

All instrument categories:  Should be extremely comfortable with their instrument. Should be able to improvise somewhat melodically in most keys without the sole use of pentatonic or blues scales. Be a theme or melody player with continuity. Should have comprehensive ideas on how music fits together. Should play with compassion and feeling for those around them trying to keep up.

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The Band Scramble

Each Friday

9:30 AM Main Stage

During each week we hold a very special contest - The Band Scramble Contest. Through the week you will notice 6 envelopes hanging in the Kamp Store. They are labeled Guitar, Mandolin, Fiddle, Dobro (tm), Bass, Banjo, Vocal and Misc. You pick up a slip in the store and fill in your name and drop in the slot of your choice. Then on Friday night we close the registration and take one paper out of each envelope at a time to form the Band. Saturday morning, outside the Main Stage you find your name on a poster indicating your band mates. You then have 45 minutes to arrange your songs.

The intent of the contest is by no means to determine the best players at the Kamp. The intent is to get new friends together and force them to come up with one vocal and one instrumental tune in an arrangement. They also need to come up with a catchy band name that will set them apart from the other Band Scramblers. This is an incredible learning experience. You will learn how to focus. There will only be one round. The songs are to be no longer than 3 minutes each and can be your choice. The prizes are unbelievable. Some of the prizes in the past have been imported Vienna Sausage (enough to share with your friends), Kool Kamp Glasses, Whoopee Cushions and more. Many of the past Band Scramble Winners have gone on to utter stardom living the life of the highest noted Bluegrass and Country Stars while still maintaining their day jobs.

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Miscellaneous Info

Room Key Deposits, Companion Info, Group Picture, Off Campus Rates,

Week Two Afternoon Fiddle Class, Week Two Morning Lap Dulcimer Class, Kamp Doctors

"This is the camp that all other camps must now aspire to."  Dan Crary

ROOM KEY DEPOSIT - The Kamp requires a $100 REFUNDABLE room key deposit upon check in. This is to be in the form of check or Credit Cards.

No Cash or Money Orders. We do not mail back checks. We shred them.

THE KAMP GROUP PICTURE-  The picture will be taken the first instructional day of each Kamp. The photo will be available for each student at no charge. We have Kamp Folios for sale to keep your treasured photographic memento safe and you can also have your teachers and friends sign it. Pick yours up in the Kamp’s General Store!

FOR THE COMPANIONS- There will be a lemonade social for the companions on Monday morning, the first day of official classes, at 10:30 hosted by Donna Dixon (Steve's Boss). Their social activities for the camp and special needs will be addressed. Trips may be planned and activity suggestions given.

Pay the materials fee in advance or at the companion meeting.

OFF CAMPUS RATES – There is a discounted rate for those wanting to stay off campus.  You will be 100% responsible for your accommodations and transportation. The Off-Campus Fee for the Kamp is $700.00 for the Student and $350.00 for the Kompanions. Meals, classes and concert passes will still be included.

Mountain Dulcimer Class - Week Two 8:30-9:30am Class Fee $25.00  Mike Clemmer offers a beginner/intermediate group class for lap dulcimer. You can also rent a dulcimer from Mike for $25.00. This $25.00 rental fee along with the weeks tuition of $25.00 will be deducted from any purchase of one of Mike's dulcimers.

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Tyler Grant: A versatile guitarist and multi-instrumentalist with a wide range of influences and musical expertise. He is currently a member of the Drew Emmitt Band (singer/mandolinist of Leftover Salmon - drewemmitt.com) and the Emmitt/Nershi Band, and is the 2008 National Flatpicking Champion. Although he is more of a band player than a contest performer, Tyler won the Rockygrass guitar contest in 2003, won the Wayne Henderson festival contest in 2005, placed second at the National Flatpicking Championship in Winfield, Kansas, in 2005, won the 2008 New England Flatpicking Championship, and became the National Flatpicking Champion placing first at Winfield in 2008. This is Tyler's second time at Kamp. Welcome back.

Jim Hurst: Born in Middleboro, Kentucky into a musical family and was raised with a guitar in his hands. Many weekends growing up were spent picking with family and friends. Jim was influenced early in his career by flat-pickers such as Tony Rice and George Shuffler, Doc Watson and Clarence White and others.
He also was influenced by Merle Travis and Chet Atkins, and especially Jerry Reed, calling his discovery of their finger-style playing "a turn in the road" for him. He continues to rely on these varied influences to enhance his own musical compositions and performances. His diverse tastes led him to play in several bands, playing country, bluegrass, blues, jazz and other styles. Jim taught fingerstyle last time at Kamp. With strong traditional roots, Jim is a perfect addition to the Flatpicking Team.

Steve Kaufman: A guitar instructor and performer since 1974, Steve has written and recorded over 100 guitar and mandolin instructional books, videos and CD projects. He tours the globe year round conducting workshops and performing concerts. He is the chief organizer and driving force of this Kamp and with the aid of his wife, Donna Dixon, designed a Kamp that he would want to teach at or be a student of. He will patiently show you all he knows about flatpicking with enthusiasm and care.

Robin Kessinger: A native-born living West Virginia flat pick guitar legend, Robin Kessinger keeps a busy schedule, teaching both beginner and advanced guitar students, and still finds time for memorable concerts, workshops and contests.
His awards include the 1985 National Flatpick Championship at Winfield, Kansas; the 1989 and 1990 Galax, Virginia, Best Performer championship; and firsts in West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky and Georgia. Robin headlines many festivals and judges up-and-coming flat-pick artists in contests around the country. He has appeared on PBS and BBC television specials and NPR radio shows. He has been an instructor at the Augusta since 1983. Robin lists his influences as "everything I listen to"; his father, Bob; and his great uncle, fiddler Clark Kessinger.

Marcy Marxer: A multi-instrumentalist, studio musician, performer, songwriter and producer with 30 years of experience and a shelf of impressive awards. She has played acoustic music on Emmy Award winning National Geographic specials, platinum shipping Eva Cassidy CD’s and on over 50 recordings and instructional materials created with her partner, Cathy Fink. Marcy has taught at Kamp many, many times and has always been a loved favorite.

Roberto Dalla Vecchia: Acoustic guitar artist Roberto Dalla Vecchia draws deeply from his personal homeland to craft his melodic folk-bluegrass tunes.
Based in Italy, Dalla Vecchia performs regularly at concerts and festivals and teaches workshops throughout Europe.
He is the winner of Acoustic Guitar Magazine's 2003 Homegrown CD Award. His CD Grateful won second place in the Instrumental Album category of the 2009 Just Plain Folks Music Awards. Let his signature flatpick style guide you through an original and exciting repertoire of new standards for acoustic guitar.
 

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Steve Baughman: Acoustic guitarist extraordinaire Steve Baughman focuses on Celtic, Appalachian and Swedish tunes for this set of charming instrumentals. Baughman is well known to guitar fans around the world for his best selling books and videos on Celtic instrumentals by Mel Bay

Eddie Pennington: Widely recognized among his peers as one of the greatest living thumb style guitarists. In venues throughout the United States and Europe, he has kept alive the sound popularized by Kentucky native Merle Travis in the 1940s. Because of his ability to adapt well-known tunes to the alternating bass rhythms that characterize "Travis pickin'," Eddie's performances have generated renewed interest in this challenging art form.

Chris Proctor: An SKAK (Steve Kaufman's Acoustic Kamp) Veteran Instructor for many years, Chris returns to teach fingerstyle guitar. He is a National Champ and conducts workshops and clinics around the world. Chris lives in Salt Lake City with his lovely wife Tomi, and enjoys backcountry skiing, fly fishing, backpacking, hiking, river-running and other wacky physically-challenging outdoor adventures. He has too many Taylor guitars, and looks forward to playing every one of them.

T.J. Wheeler: An original but his music is steeped in musical styles that go back hundreds of years. That being said, T.J. transports audiences of all ages to times and places where their imaginations can vividly and vicariously experience the rich history and soul connections of Blues & Jazz power.
 

Rusty Holloway: Rusty is a teacher, performer, recording artist and full time faculty member of the University of Tennessee Knoxville School of Music. He is equally adept in classical music, jazz, swing, bluegrass and several other musical genres. Rusty is an active clinician in improvisation and rhythm section technique and gives master classes in orchestral and solo bass performance. Rusty has performed with such leading US jazz artists as Woody Herman, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Zoot Sims, Joe Lovano, Sarah Vaughn, Al Cohn and Stan Getz. He has also performed in show and made television appearances with Bob Hope, Della Reese, Liza Minelli and Jerry Lewis.
 

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Josh Goforth: Josh Goforth has been playing and teaching traditional, bluegrass, and acoustic music professionally for 11 years. Josh believes that music is about communication and wants the students to be the most important part of every camp. Josh's main goal is to influence young people in a positive way as well as entertain audiences of all ages.

 

Joe Collins: (as more students register, a second instructor will be added) - Joe Collins, 2007 National Dulcimer Champion, has been a folk musician and mountain dulcimer player since the late 70s. His performances are sprinkled with a lot of humor and some excellent mountain dulcimer playing - sure to bring a smile to audiences of all ages. Joe has also become a popular teacher in mountain dulcimer festivals around the country and his first time at Kamp. Welcome Champ!

Laura Boosinger: An award-winning performer and recording artist whose primary focus is the interpretation of traditional music from the Southern Appalachian region. Laura's concerts offer a step back to a simpler time, awakening memories for the old and gently instilling important cultural lessons for the young. Her performances have included The Tennessee Homecoming at The Museum of Appalachia, MERLEFEST and Greensboro's CITYSTAGES.

Kathy Chiavola: Internationally renowned as one of the most respected vocalists in bluegrass and acoustic music. She grew up playing guitar and singing folk, blues and rock in Kansas City, MO and was awarded a scholarship to the Oberlin Conservatory of Music where she earned her bachelor’s and masters degrees in voice. She later studied in a doctoral program at Indiana U. with Metropolitan Opera star Eileen Farrell. She worked with The Doug Dillard Band, Vassar Clements, The Country Gazette, Edgar Meyer and Mark O’Connor before forming her own group. 15 Students max. Register Early!

Jeff Scroggins: Oklahoma native Jeff Scroggins took up banjo as a teenager under the guidance of legendary banjo player Alan Munde. He continued to hone his craft and has won numerous banjo contests at the state, regional, and national levels, including the National Bluegrass Banjo Championship in Winfield, Kansas. Jeff currently resides in the Front Range are of Colorado, where he provides the incredible hard-driving banjo work for The Blue Canyon Boys (winners of the 2008 Telluride Bluegrass Festival band contest. He also fronts The Jeff Scroggins Bluegrass Band, which features his son Tristan on the mandolin. In 2008 Jeff released “Five Strings, Four Corners,” which features several of his contest winning banjo arrangements. Many people will also remember Jeff as a former member of the well known bluegrass group Big Twang, of which original Dixie Chick Robin Macy was also a member.
 

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JP Cormier: J.P. Cormier began playing guitar, self taught, at the age of 5 and quickly became immersed in the rich musical heritage of his Cape Breton roots. By the age of 9, he was considered a genuine prodigy and won his first guitar competition against 30 other players three times his age. By his mid-teens, it became obvious J.P. could play almost any stringed instrument he picked up. However it was his guitar playing which shone with his flawless executions of tunes he learned from records of giants like Chet Atkins and Doc Watson.

Mark Cosgrove: Mark Cosgrove's distinctive, creative flatpicking guitar sound is known and respected on both sides of the Atlantic, through both his own recordings and as a sideman and session player for Jerry Douglas and others. Mark won the U.S. National Flatpicking Guitar Championship and also the Doc Watson Guitar Championship in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. His flatpick guitar work is notable not only for power, precision, and tone, but for his fluid high speed improvisation. Mark is equally proficient in any number of musical styles and as an accompanist, can back a singer or soloist with taste and sensitivity.

Dan Crary: He is a musical legend, a pioneer of one of the most intricate, yet powerful, forms of American music, and a master of the guitar; he's Dan Crary, a flatpicking stylist with an international reputation for innovation, taste and brilliance. With more than 50 years as a performer, Crary is one of the few artists whose work can be said to transcend the boundaries of style and genre.

Beppe Gambetta: It is the smile that is the key for reading the musical universe of Beppe Gambetta. An open and disarming smile that is also the contagious and irresistible smile of a person who invites you to a musical journey with light heart and curiosity. The destination, as for any traveler, is not totally defined because it is beautiful, at the very last, to find ourselves where we never would expected to be.
After eleven CDs, DVDs, teaching books and collaborations with many other top-flight musicians, Gambetta is increasingly known as one of the true live master innovators of the acoustic guitar. Beppe has taught at Kamp more than any other instructor other than Steve and always has something new to share.

Mike Kaufman: Born into a musical family (the same one as the director of this Kamp) long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away. A guitarist, singer, songwriter and performer, Mike has played at concerts, coffeehouses, bars, churches and festivals throughout the east coast. Mike worked his way through college teaching guitar, graduating with a degree in Music Education from Montclair State College. He is presently teaching instrumental music in Pennsauken, New Jersey and is Music Director at the FUSION Academy of the Performing Arts. He lives in Medford, NJ with his wife Suzanne and 7-year old grandson, Dustin. He is happy to be back at Kamp for the relative peace and quiet.

Kenny Smith: Originally from Nine Mile, Indiana, Kenny is widely considered one of the most important and influential flatpicking-style guitarists of his generation. A two-time IBMA Guitarist of the Year award winner, his professional credits include six years with the popular Lonesome River Band and an exceptional solo CD, Studebaker, released on Sugar Hill Records in 1997.

Uwe Kruger: For more than twenty-five years Uwe has been playing guitar and singing as a professional musician. Performing in Switzerland's relatively limited music market required Uwe to develop versatility, and he became proficient on other instruments including the electric guitar and the banjo. Today, Uwe astonishes audiences with his blend of guitar styles. His rich, resonant, and mellow baritone voice has an uplifting affect on all who hear him sing. Diverse influences range from Doc Watson, Jerry Garcia, and Eric Clapton, to Beethoven, Bach, and Brahms. Uwe's unique style, a blend of flat picking and finger picking, is an experience to behold.
 

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Alan Bibey: Since first hitting the scene in the early 1980's, Alan Bibey has made a name for himself as one of the most creative and technically gifted mandolinists in bluegrass and acoustic music. He is the 2007, 2009 and 2010 Mandolin SPBGMA Player of the Year

Andrew Collins: Skilled as composer-arranger, multi-instrumentalist, and vocalist, have put him in the centre of a growing Canadian, acoustic-music scene. Born and raised in Toronto, Andrew found the love for mandolin while living in BC, at age twenty-three. Since that time, he has received a diverse formal education on the mandolin, studying bluegrass music at South Plains College in Texas and jazz music at Toronto’s, Humber College. However, Andrew’s knowledge of music reaches into many other genres including, classical, old-time, swing and Celtic.

David Harvey: David Harvey, grew up surrounded by the music of bluegrass pioneers Red Allen, Frank Wakefield, the Osborne Brothers, and his father, mandolin great Dorsey Harvey. David took up the mandolin at age eleven and hit the road at age 14, touring as a member of the Red Allen band. He soon added guitar and fiddle to his repertoire.

Emory Lester: One of this day's foremost exponents of the acoustic mandolin. The power and attack of his mandolin playing are unmatched, and his sound is infectious. His 1993 recording "Pale Rider", and 1995 recording "The Emory Lester Set" has placed him among the elite mandolinists of our time. His jazz playing retains the energy that is the trademark of his bluegrass playing, while his new age compositions show a lighter and more flowing style of his music.
In the past several years, Emory has been teaching his mandolin style at acclaimed music workshops. He also offers and teaches private lessons to aspiring students, both in Ontario, and in other parts of Canada and the U.S. when he's travelling.

Barry Mitterhoff: A mandolinist who cannot be pigeonholed into one style. He performs a dazzling array of styles that include bluegrass, classical, swing and jazz, and a variety of ethnic styles such as Brazilian, Neapolitan songs, Klezmer and more. He has recorded on the BMG, Sony, Flying Fish, Rounder and other record labels with artists as diverse as Metropolitan Opera tenor Jerry Hadley, Julius LaRosa, Tom Chapin, Hazel Dickens, Tony Trischka and under his own name. He has performed at the White House, the Library of Congress, the Rainbow Room, Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall and Alice Tully Hall. He can be heard on the soundtracks of You've Got Mail, Mickey Blue Eyes, Two Family House as well as recording music for the Coen Brothers film, O Brother Where Art Thou. Mr. Mitterhoff has toured throughout Western Europe, the former Soviet Union, Czech Republic, Japan, the United States and Canada. Along with his performing and recording activities, he also is active as a mandolin teacher, including at the Fur Peace Ranch. He is now an acclaimed sideman to Jorma Kaukonen and Hot Tuna

Don Stiernberg: For decades Don Stiernberg has been known around Chicago as a busy and versatile musician, turning up on recording sessions and at performances of all kinds to play mandolin, guitar, other string instruments, and sing. Recently he has established a focus on playing jazz on the mandolin. In addition to being a faculty member at The Mandolin Symposium and a member of the mandolin team at Steve Kaufman's Acoustic Kamp, Don has given workshops at festivals such as Ashokan Western and Swing Week, The Winnipeg Folkfest, Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas, The IBMA World of Bluegrass in Louisville, KY, and the Musikhochschule in Wuppertal, Germany. He has written the jazz column for Mandolin Magazine since it began publication.
 

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Gary Davis: The only three-time National Banjo Champion having won Winfield in 1986, 1987 and 2002, and earned dozens of state and regional titles as well. Gary is a dedicated and patient banjo teacher. Being adept at both contemporary country on electric guitar and a banjo whiz, he is one of the most in-demand studio session men in East Tennessee. Gary was the band leader and banjo player for Dolly Parton on her bluegrass album "Halos & Horns". He toured with Dolly for a year to promote that album.

Janet Davis: Born and raised in Houston, Texas, where music has always been an integral part of her family life. Although Janet's formal musical training was primarily in the classical field, she was fascinated with the stringed instruments, particularly those involved with folk and bluegrass music. In college she played the guitar and sang as a folk and blues musician in many of the Austin clubs, learning from such greats as Lightning Hopkins, Janis Joplin, and other well-known musicians, who played the same clubs. Today, Janet is primarily known as a bluegrass and five-string banjo specialist.

Casey Henry: Since being in Nashville, Casey has appeared with June Carter Cash, the Jim Hurst Band, Pat Flynn, and Lizzie Long. She played a two-year stint with Tennessee Heartstrings before forming her own band with her brother Chris, Casey and Chris and the Two-Stringers. The Two-Stringers recorded a CD, "Get Along Girl," before disbanding in August of 2007. Along with playing music, Casey is active in teaching banjo, having taught one DVD for The Murphy Method and appeared on numerous others. She gives private lessons in Nashville, and teaches at camps around the country throughout the year.

Jens Kruger: Since MerleFest 1997, the event that launched the Kruger Brothers' career in America, Jens has performed with Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, John McEwen, Willie Nelson, and Ricky Skaggs, to name only a few. Like Uwe, Jens can play many stringed instruments with proficiency, and like the Kruger Brothers, Jens' style and virtuosity cannot be characterized with a word or phrase. But those who have heard Jens play banjo know that he is truly a master of his art. As a composer, Jens' comprehension of music in all of its forms is becoming well known among his peers, colleagues, and the Kruger Brothers' growing audiences.

Adam Masters:  "I’ve played violin since I was six and have been studying bluegrass fiddle for the past five years, taking lessons from Arvil Freeman and

Bobby Hicks in the Asheville area." Adam Masters is a long time student of the fiddle, starting with Suzuki and classical music as a child and playing bluegrass for the last seven years. Adam has studied extensively with Bobby Hicks and Arvil Freeman and can play a wide variety of tunes. Adam specializes in harmony fiddle playing and plays with the contra dance band Chicken Tractor. Adam is a patient, knowledgeable communicator capable of meeting students on their level and communicating concepts in a clear, concise and understandable way.

Stacy Phillips: An internationally acclaimed resonator guitarist and violin player. He has performed with the top acoustic musicians over the world. He has three solo albums and is featured artist on the Grammy award-winning album The Great Dobro Sessions. Stacy is the author of over 25 books and DVD's on various aspects of his chosen instruments.
 

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Ivan Rosenberg: Renowned Dobro and Clawhammer banjo player Ivan Rosenberg has released 4 solo CDs as well as collaborative recordings with the likes of Billy Cardine, Mighty Squirrel, Chris Stuart, and The Breakmen. Combining elements of bluegrass, old time, and Americana music, Ivan's original songs have appeared in over 150 TV and film scores including HBO's Making Deadwood, Comedy Central's The Daily Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Warner Brothers' smash hit movie Kangaroo Jack, and the Emmy-nominated documentary Libby, Montana.  Ivan is also in high demand for music workshops, having led seminars at numerous music camps. Ivan wrote the monthly resonator guitar column for Mel Bay's Guitar Sessions from 2007-2008, and has contributed articles or lessons to Banjo Newsletter, Bluegrass College, and Reso-Nation Academy.

Joel Landsberg: Beginning from his early days growing up in New York City, Joel Landsberg was surrounded by varied musical influences. With a cultural mixture of musical styles ranging from Broadway to Classical, to Jazz and Rhythm and Blues. He began his bass playing career at the ripe old age of 12. After several years of classical training on piano, Mr. Landsberg devoted his full attention to the bass and has been playing nothing else since.

Keith Yoder: A full time music teacher since 1994 and currently keeps about 70 students a week studying guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, bass, and dobro. He was the jam coordinator at Steve Kaufman's Acoustic Kamp since 2007He has over 30 years of experience playing in a bluegrass band.

Kamp Doctors: We will have world renown luthiers on hand to tweak, file, sand, spray, drill, and perform other minor repairs on your guitars, mandolins, basses and banjos. They set up their repair shop in one of the class rooms or dorm rooms and are here to set up your instruments and help make your instruments easier to play. They can do many services short of a neck reset on guitar but you never know, maybe all you’ll have to do is ask.

The Kamp Doctors in 2011 are master luthiers Ken and Virginia Miller from Tallahassee FL, Richard Starkey from Franklin, TN and Jim Grainger owner of Custom Fretted Instruments & Repair from Sparta, TN. All of these luthiers have been with us and do an incredible job of keeping our instruments in top shape.

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Instructor Profiles

The Flatpicking Team (Week One):

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