New Pickers Class: Old Time Banjo (1st Week), Mandolin, Bluegrass Banjo and Guitar (2nd Week): New pickers need to know nothing. They will be all the way from never touched a guitar 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.
Beginners: All Instruments: Should know basic open chords. Maybe 3-8 chords. Should be able to strum and
change chords easily and steadily. Should know a few simple songs. 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.
Mandolin and Flatpickers: Should be comfortable using the pick, basic chords, should know 2-12 instrumental
songs 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.
Intermediates: All Instruments: All of the above plus... Should be able to comfortably play chords, 10-
20 tunes from memory, 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?".
Flatpickers and Mandolins: Pick 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.
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.
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 sometimes interchange rolls and riffs.
Old Time Banjo Pickers: Right hand technique in clawhammer style is solid. Able to change chords in G tuning
and double C (or double D) tuning. Must be able to play a song and tune in each tuning.
Advanced: All Instruments: Should have a large repertoire and be 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. Be able to play some
up the neck. Be able to improvise.
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.
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.
Professional Level: Should be extremely comfortable with their instrument. Should be able to improvise freely in most keys without the sole use of pentatonic or blues scales. Be a theme or melody player with continuity. Should be a teacher or a past or current performer. Should have comprehensive ideas on how music fits together. Should play with compassion and feeling for those around them trying to keep up.
"This is the camp that all other camps must now aspire to." - Dan Crary
The Kamp is held every year in June on the beautiful campus of Maryville College in Maryville, TN. South of Knoxville in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.