I just spoke with the kind people at BRCC's Workforce Services and Continuing Education department.  There are already six students signed up for February's Beginner's Bluegrass Banjo course.  If you are interested in taking this class, please sign up soon, as enrollment is limited and you might have to wait until Fall for the next beginner's course.

Signup is easy, just contact BRCC and ask to sign up for the Beginner's Bluegrass Banjo course.  The course is every Thursday evening in February (2010) from 6:30 PM until 8:30 PM at the Weyer's Cave campus, and enrollment fees are only $89 (plus an optional $25 for instructional materials).  You can reach BRCC by phone at 540.453.2215.

There's no easier way to test the water!  It's less than half the price I charge privately, you're surrounded by other beginners, just like yourself, and you still get one-on-one attention.  I hope to see you there!

This Fall's beginner banjo class at Blue Ridge Community College (BRCC) was a complete success.  There were 14 excited students enrolled, and each of them showed up to each class eager to learn.  And learn, they did!  

For those of you interested in taking the February beginner's class, here's what you can expect:   1st class covers right hand rolls (the cornerstone of banjo playing).  2nd class examines G scale notes (finding the melody).  3rd class tackles left-hand techniques (embelishments that really pop).   4th class introduces licks (the "cool sounding stuff").

With plenty of handouts, and one-on-one review during the class, everyone did very well!  With steady practice, they will all develop into seasoned banjo pickers!

I just updated the Events page with some great bluegrass concerts coming up at the Court Square Theater.  If you've never been to a show here, you are missing out!  First and foremost, it's the chance to see great acts, right here in town!  So you can immediately figure the ticket prices are about $10 - $20 less that what you're actually paying, because you're not spending that $10 - $20 driving to Richmond, Roanoke, DC, etc.... to see the show.   Secondly, it's a wonderful theater, and even in the last row, you have a great view (I sat in the back and still enjoyed watching Tony Rice's fingers dance on the guitar neck).

Last night, one of my students came in with a brand new banjo.  Without a doubt, these are my favorite times.  He'd just been up to Turtle Hill Banjo earlier that day and tried out a number of excellent banjos before deciding on the Recording King RK-80 "Professional".  I enjoyed picking this banjo very much and feel confident that this banjo will last him for years and years to come. 

Enrollment just keeps going up!  I've received word from the kind folks at the BRCC Workforce Services and Continuing Education (WSCE) that there are currently eleven students signed up for the Beginner's Bluegrass Banjo class beginning in just under three weeks.  If you are interested in this class, I encourage you to sign up soon, as the maximum enrollment is 15 students.