2026 Music Camp Dates: August 10-14, 2026
Music Camp Class 2026
SKILL LEVELS
Our annual Northern Lights Music Camp provides a friendly, non-competitive learning environment for musicians of all ages and skill levels.
Perhaps you are just getting started in music? Or you are a skilled player looking to hone your skills? We have a class for you!
Please sign up for the class that best aligns with your current skill level. If you are uncomfortable on your first day of class, you’ll have the option to discuss changing classes with our Camp Host.
Please note that depending on demand and available instructors, not all skill levels are available for each instrument each year.
As you’re relatively new to instrument and have been taking few lessons or learning through how-to videos, you’re looking to establish a solid base. It’s important to learn correct posture and how to hold the pick or bow. Improving chord formation and mastering tips on tuning and intonation are also essential. Beginning to play songs marks another important step in your progress. Additionally, it’s crucial to develop good study and practice habits. Learning to read music or tablature and developing excellent technique will support your growth.
You are progressing on your instrument. If You are ready to start to play with other musicians and you can already play a few tunes from memory. Also,you can play along with a CD if it is at medium speed. With this are feeling that you need a booster to get you moving toward the next level. You have a solid grasp of all the basic techniques for your instrument and may be able to read tablature or music.
You are looking for fine tuning tips on how to improve your playing. You can jam with others, improvise fairly well on new tunes and are (or want to) play in an organized band. Your tab/music reading skills are great. You know some scales and how to use them in improvisation situations. Your speed is improving as you use your metronome. You have an arsenal of tunes you can play from memory. You play your instrument or practice almost every day.
Find answers to other commonly asked questions with a quick visit to our FAQ page!
2026 Music Camp Classes
Beginner Guitar - Eliza Doyle
Bright, feisty, and fierce, this banjo playin’ troubadour of exceptional talent and vision has been gracing stages around the world for the past 20 years. She is a Juno and International Award winning artist who, together with her band can be described as “sweet as honey and raw as hide”.
Her past discography goes back to 2003, and since then, she’s recorded on 23 albums, toured Canada, the US, Europe and the UK extensively, and crafted her musicianship to rise in excellence as a leader in this province as a banjo player, performer, teacher, leader and songwriter.
Recently, she has co-founded Community Arts Mentorship Program which Holly Yuzicapi (Standing Buffalo Dakota/Lakota Nation) which delivers arts programming and mentorship to Saskatchewan’s remote and under-resourced communities.
Currently Doyle is working on a new album “Lay Your Cards Down”, and is continually working on new music and inspiring those around her.
Class Description: In this beginner guitar class, you will go from beginner to playing and leading complete songs! I will break fundamentals down with a very simple, easy to understand process, and you will be rocking out in no time! We will start with building our basic chord repertoire, learn basic strumming patterns, and do simple solo’s by following a song melody. We will learn a little about theory and the Nashville Numbering System, and by the end of the week, you will be impressed with your new skills and development!
Prerequisites: Own a working guitar
Beginner Mandolin - Michael Taylor
Michael Taylor is a Saskatoon based mandolin player. Growing up in Saskatchewan, Michael found himself drawn to Northern Lights where he fell in love with the music and the people.
Michael is an active and involved part of the music community in Saskatoon, whether playing shows with his band 5 Guys Named Dave or participating in local jams and dances. Michael has a commitment to be an active and engaged member of the community and is always on the lookout for ways to include others in the joy of music.
Michael has played as part of the house band for 9 Mile Legacy Brewing, Northern Lights Bluegrass & Old Time Music Festival and occasionally guest appears with the Screaming Es. Michael is known for his musicianship, charismatic teaching, sense of humor, and ability to connect with people of all stripes.
Class Description: In this class, we will start by learning some basic chords, and then applying those chords to familiar singing songs and fiddle tunes. We will work on our strumming, picking patterns, timing and think about the role of the mandolin when playing with others. By using only our ears, a pick and some very basic theory we will transfer the notes that we hear in our heads onto our instruments. If attending this class, please bring some picks, change of mandolin strings, a tuner and of course…your mandolin!
The aim of this class is to develop our confidence as players, enjoy the sound that mandolin makes, and have a ton of fun while doing so!
Prerequisites: A basic familiarity with the mandolin would be helpful. An understanding of chord shapes and how to hold a pick.
Beginner Fiddle - Talia Aleksiuk
Talia Aleksiuk is a fiddler from Calgary, Alberta. After spending her formative years playing classical violin, Talia fell in love with Southern Alberta’s bustling bluegrass and old time music scene and hasn’t touched her sheet music since.
She plays for the up-and-coming Calgary country band Jaiden Riley & The Crybabies, and can often be found playing for (and dancing in!) square dances throughout the foothills. Talia has also been a Board Member at the Foothills Bluegrass Music Society for several years and has enjoyed being of service to her local musical community, as well as the opportunity to foster relationships with the folks at Northern Lights and other Western Canadian musical organizations.
Talia has explored the canons of Canadian & American old time, Métis, bluegrass, and country fiddling, and enjoys picking apart the intricacies of each style to honour their respective traditions.
Class Description: In beginner fiddle, we will start by working on the fundamentals of technique, gaining confidence conceptually and physically with fiddle essentials like bow hold, developing a solid bow stroke, posture, and instrument position. We’ll explore exercises that will cultivate tension-free playing, a full and clear tone, and improving intonation. We will look at each concept from a variety of perspectives, with the goal of each student being able to learn in a way that suits them best while feeling comfortable handling their instrument.
We will then work on solidifying these technical concepts by applying them to bluegrass and old time tunes taught by ear, and exploring the subtleties that make these styles unique while incorporating them into our playing. This course aims to develop confidence when playing alone as well as in jam settings by working on concepts like groove, chord knowledge, backup, and tips on taking bluegrass breaks! Students will come away from this course with a solid fiddle foundation that they’ll then be able apply to their own individual musical interests.
Prerequisites: Students should know the names of the strings, have a basic idea of a few major scales, and some experience playing simple melodies.
Beginner Bluegrass Banjo - Gavin Fleck
Gavin Fleck is a veterinarian, multi-instrumentalist, and vocalist from southeast Saskatchewan. He performs with Saskatchewan groups Sask Steel, a country/rock band where he plays banjo, bass, fiddle, and sings harmony vocals, and 1-800-POLKA, performing on accordion, banjo, and fiddle.
Raised on Canadian fiddle tunes along with classic country, rock, bluegrass, folk, traditional Irish, and polka, Gavin developed a broad musical foundation that sparked his lifelong passion for roots music. He began playing five-string banjo at age twelve and has since added several instruments to his repertoire, learning from numerous mentors, teachers, and fellow musicians through camps, lessons, and jam sessions.
Gavin enjoys sharing traditional music with new players and helping others build confidence and skills in bluegrass banjo. He is excited to take part in the Northern Lights Bluegrass camp this year!
Class Description: This beginner banjo class will cover the fundamentals of bluegrass banjo, including instrument anatomy, proper playing technique, roll patterns, basic chord shapes, and learning to play melodies to your favorite tunes. Participants will be guided through essential skills needed to get started and build confidence on the five-string banjo.
We will work through a few bluegrass standard tunes while exploring how three-finger banjo style is built around simple melodies. Emphasis will be placed on understanding how melody and rolls work together to create the classic bluegrass banjo sound.
Playing melody is an important part of bluegrass banjo, but so is supporting other musicians. We will also discuss how the banjo functions within a band setting, focusing on basic backup techniques, chord progressions, and rhythm playing used when accompanying singers or other instruments.
The class will include practical playing examples, tips for practicing at home, and opportunities to ask questions, making it suitable for complete beginners or players looking to strengthen their foundation. Bring your banjo, picks, and enthusiasm, and get ready to start picking!
Prerequisites: Students should be familiar the 5-string banjo and have some appreciation of how it is played. Knowing some chords and simple tunes would be greatly appreciated, but not necessarily required.
Beginner Clawhammer Banjo - Mark Boer
Growing up in Edmonton, Alberta, Mark got his start in music by reaching for the guitar nearly 20 years ago. After playing in numerous bands as a guitar player and songwriter throughout his early years as a musician, he grew interested in discovering melody and songwriting through different instruments, leading him to the banjo. When learning the banjo, Mark was immediately drawn to the tradition and timeless melodies of old-time music, which not only fostered his deep love for the genre but also paved the path for the distinct sound of his musical duo, The Western Thistles, who are actively recording and performing in Canada.
Mark is always excited to spend time jamming, swapping banjo licks, nerding out on banjo tone or sharing his passion and insight on clawhammer with others. Mark looks forward to being a part of this year’s 2026 festival as an instructor as well as a performer!
Class Description: Whether you’re just starting off with clawhammer banjo or you’ve already learned some basic chord shapes and perhaps some ‘bum-ditty’ing, this class will help you on your path to achieving a more foundational relationship with this instrument.
In this class, we will begin with a few basic maintenance applications such as accurate tuning of the banjo, bridge placement and posture to optimize playability and tone. Then we’ll move onto right hand technique – focusing on form, rhythm and volume control, shaping the fundamentals. We’ll explore basic melodies and begin learning some traditional old-time tunes.
For those further along, we will look into specific techniques to spruce up the playing.
Prerequisites: It would be beneficial for students to have some chord knowledge and ‘bum-ditty’ experience, but it is not mandatory
All-Levels Upright Bass - Matthieu Savard
Matthieu Savard is a French Canadian double bassist and composer. Currently residing in Toronto, he works full time with a variety of groups in many genres including Jazz, Bluegrass, Folk, Classical, etc. Most regularly, you can hear him performing weekly as a part of Jazz vocalist John Amato’s Trio, and with the Bluegrass group Duke Street Turnaround.
Matt holds a master’s degree in music from the University of Toronto and is a recipient of many awards, notably the Lenny Boyd Memorial Award, Gordon and Ann Wragg Music Scholarship, and France-Canada Cultural Exchange Experience France Awards. This last award allowed him to briefly live and study in Paris.
Class Description: In this workshop, Matt will be focusing on the technical side of the double bass. Using the Canadian School of Double Bass (authored by Maestro Joel Quarrington and Travis Harrison) as his foundation, Matt will demonstrate how he applies this method to keep his everyday practice and performances fluid and relaxed.
Techniques and exercises to help navigate common physical challenges and difficulties in playing the instrument will be presented. We will discuss creating a practice plan to suit your musical objectives, and practice the method as a group applying it to a variety of musical contexts.
This workshop is suited for anyone of any skill level.
It is not required, but if you have a bow, bring it!
Prerequisites: Suited for any skill level but ideally students have some comfort/experience with the Double Bass (play a few tunes, know their open strings, play a major scale or two)
Sing Out Strong - Sabrina (Bri) Huot-Boer
Born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Bri has been singing since before she could walk. This love of music led her to perform in school choirs for nearly 10 years, creating the foundation that led her to learn guitar as a vessel for her own songs.
While earning her Bachelor of Commerce, Bri found herself trading the choral stage for those at the local open-mic, where she not only found her footing as an artist but met the other half of her musical duo, The Western Thistles, Mark Boer. Together, with Mark on clawhammer banjo, Bri on rhythm guitar, and their shared vocal harmony, they create a distinct sonic tapestry rooted in the traditions of folk and old-time music.
With the underpinnings of her choral and performance history, Bri carries a diverse vocal toolkit that she’s excited to share with students at her debut at The Northern Lights Music Camp!
Class Description: In this year’s Sing Out Strong class, students will develop a strong understanding of the voice and how to use it! You’ll not only learn the fundamentals of vocal anatomy and how to harness the voice, creating a strong foundation for vocal health and technique, but you’ll put it all into practice, learning traditional Appalachian old-time tunes. Students will also learn how to harness nerves and prepare to perform in front of an audience, big or small. And, if time allows, we’ll even dive into how harmony works and how to build it with others!
All levels of singers are welcome in this class, whether you sing in the shower, at your local open-mic, or on the big stage, there’s something for everyone!
Prerequisites: Some experience singing is preferable
Vocal Harmony - Holly Gilroy & Aiden McRorie Wilson
Holly Gilroy & Aiden McRorie Wilson hail from prairie polka band 1-800-POLKA, as well as country duo, Gil & Wil. They’ve been travelling around for the past four years playing festivals like Big Flat Folk Festival, Gateway Festival, Northern Lights Bluegrass & Old-Time Festival, and BreakOut West as Gil & Wil. More recently, the two have joined forces with a handful of musical pals to host old-time dances throughout Saskatchewan (and beyond!) with 1-800-POLKA. Word around town is these two are known for producing “harmonies so tight and in-tune that it puts the rest of the world to shame” (NSMZ, 2024), and sure have fun doing it!
Class Description: This vocal harmony class will focus on getting comfortable singing in four parts, as well as picking out harmonies by ear. Northern Lights Bluegrass & Old Time camp has so many wonderful campfire jams, and we want everyone to have the confidence to bust out some harmonies when a song is called! The class will go over vocal techniques such as warming up, projection, tone, and articulation, as well as harmony theory (so that we know what is actually happening when we’re singing all together!). Not sure if you’re a soprano, alto, tenor, or bass? Do not fret! That’s what we’re here for! We’ll help everyone find where their voice sits and get everyone singing in no time. We’ll sing lots throughout the week, focusing on songs that you can call at a jam, as well as one big masterpiece that we’ll get to show off at the student concert!
Prerequisites: This class is for those ready to hold their own part! If you love to sing and are looking for a bit of a challenge, this class is for you.
Note: that both those who already know how to sing harmony, as well as those looking to learn are welcome in the class!
Youth Jam Class - Olivia Morelli
Olivia Morelli has been a touring artist, under the name Mary Liv, for the past three years. She has taught children music in Northern Saskatchewan as well as Nunavut through CAMP and Fiddles North since she was in high school. With experience teaching all ages as well as teaching multiple instruments and songwriting, she is excited to be teaching the youth class this year. In 2025, Olivia won one of the SOCAN Young Canadian Songwriting Awards; following this, she attended the CMI Artist Entrepreneurship Program in Toronto this past spring. She is a talented songwriter as well as teacher and has over 5 years of experience teaching children, youth and adults music and songwriting.
Class Description: In the Youth Jam Class, we will learn about music, sing songs, dance, and make new friends! Throughout the week, we will work on our instruments and with our voices to learn a few songs together. We will focus on basic instrument skills, rhythm, and of course singing skills. Each day, we will spend time singing songs, learning about music and the people that play it, as well as spend time dancing and creating art to go along with our songs!
Prerequisites: If playing an instrument in this class, children should have at least a year on said instrument.
Intermediate/Advanced Metis Fiddle - Joseph Desjarlais
Joseph Desjarlais is a Metis man from Ile-a-la Crosse, SK. He grew up playing Metis fiddle with the Master of the Metis Fiddle John Arcand and is a growing person in the Metis fiddle community. He loves the style and has spent years working on pinning down the ideas that go into playing fiddle in the Metis style. He also loves toffee
Class Description: In the Metis fiddle class we will dive into learning Metis-composed repertoire from artists such as Andy Dejarlis, Eugene Laderoute, John Arcand, Marcel Meilleur, and many more. We will also look at techniques and ideas that encapsulate Metis fiddle and bring the style to life. A huge aspect of Metis fiddling is dance, so we will also talk about how to make tunes danceable, and how to keep up with dancers.
Prerequisites: This class is most appropriate for a high intermediate to advanced student, but any non-beginner fiddler’s are welcome (the style demands a certain level of comfort with the instrument)
Intermediate Old Time Fiddle - Andrew Small
Andrew Small is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and composer from Floyd County, VA. He performs around the world leading the traditional bluegrass band The Alum Ridge Boys & Ashlee on mandolin and vocals and also performs as a duo with Ashlee Watkins and as fiddler for the old-time string band The New Floyd County Ramblers. Andrew’s string bands have won first place in old-time and bluegrass contests at Galax, Mount Airy, and Clifftop, where Andrew also won first place Old-Time Fiddle in 2025. A respected songwriter, Andrew was awarded first prize in the bluegrass category at the 29th Annual Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at MerleFest in 2021. That same year, he served as inaugural Artist-In-Residence for The Crooked Road and completed a Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship with National Heritage Award-winning fiddler Eddie Bond. He has taught at East Tennessee State University and currently teaches Appalachian Music at Ferrum College.
Class Description: The Heart of the Blue Ridge: Old Time Dance Music of SW Virginia with Andrew Small
With a focus on fiddle-driven dance music, we’ll delve into the living traditions of the Blue Ridge region of Southwest Virginia. We’ll examine strong, danceable rhythms and the patterns behind them as we cover an array of richly stylized material and discuss ways to add character and regional flavor to your playing. We’ll learn tunes from some of the great SW Virginia musicians like Emmett Lundy, Norm Edmonds, Peg Hatcher, Bill Shelor, Matokie Slaughter, Harold Hausenfluck, and others. Join me as we get to the heart of our Blue Ridge music traditions!
Prerequisites:Students should be comfortable learning by ear. Old-time music is primarily an oral tradition (often called the “folk process”) that relies on aural transmission. We will break down tunes phrase by phrase and play slowly with plenty of repetition.
Advanced Bluegrass Fiddle - Alex George
Alex is a musician who plays fiddle/violin and mandolin in a variety of music styles from traditional country and bluegrass, to contemporary R&B and pop.
Alex has played at a wide range of music venues, including festival stages and dinner shows, weddings and corporate functions. He is a member of the bluegrass band Duke Street Turnaround and you can find Alex standing in with a variety of bands across Ontario.
Alex grew up in the traditional fiddle style and later studied classical, jazz, and contemporary music. He has been recognized with awards for his commitment to traditional fiddle music, improvisation skills, music performance, and his recording and arrangement work. In 2023, Alex received a Bachelor of Music degree from the Jazz Performance program at Humber College, graduating with honours.
While Alex works as front man in many performances, he enjoys supporting other musicians and collaborating with their artistic projects.
Class Description: In my fiddle workshop, we’ll learn tunes, explore improvisation through scales and licks, and dig into foundational techniques that can take your playing to the next level. You’ll leave with some new repertoire, practical tools for improvising, and a deeper understanding of your instrument.
Prerequisites: Participants must be comfortable learning by ear. It would be helpful if they had a basic understanding of chord theory and scales – particularly in the key of A major.
Beginner/Intermediate Old Time Rhythm Guitar - Rina Rossi
Rina Rossi is a bassist, guitarist, square dance caller, and dancer rooted in old-time music and dance traditions of the upper Midwest. Originally from Michigan, she grew up attending folk dances and listening to old-time music, then moved to Minneapolis in 2005 and joined the Wild Goose Chase Cloggers, touring regionally and internationally for a decade while immersing herself in the vibrant Twin Cities old-time scene.
She plays bass with The Alum Ridge Boys & Ashlee and guitar with Minnesota-based Steam Machine, and calls square dances for public and private events year-round.
She has taught guitar, bass, clogging, and square dance calling at camps and festivals including Augusta Heritage Center, Ashokan, Fiddle Tunes, and the Swannanoa Gathering. Back home in Minnesota, she serves on the board of the Bluff County Gathering, coordinates activities for the Minnesota Bluegrass and Old Time Music Association, and founded the Twin Town Old Time Music Festival.
Class Description: Old Time Rhythm Guitar with Rina Rossi
Rhythm guitar can make or break a good session, and there are few things more satisfying than creating a solid pocket and using your playing to compliment and lift up the other musicians playing with you. This class will dig into various elements of back up guitar playing, including timing, hearing chords, articulation, tone, and bass notes and bass runs. We’ll listen to different regional and personal back up styles and leave with some strategies for continued learning. We’ll also talk about understanding chord numbers in A, G, D, C, and E, using a capo to play in other fun keys, working with a bass player, and playing in jams. For those who can play basic chords and use a pick. You’ll want a guitar, tuner, a few flat picks, a capo, and something to write on.
Prerequisites: Participants should know basic open chord shapes on the guitar and be familiar with the basic boom-chuck rhythm.
Intermediate Old Time Guitar - Ashlee Watkins
Hailing from a musical family in New South Wales, Australia, Ashlee Watkins is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter who now makes her home in Floyd, VA. She performs around the world as guitarist and singer with The Alum Ridge Boys & Ashlee and also performs as a duo with Andrew Small and co-leads the old-time string band The New Floyd County Ramblers. Ashlee has earned blue ribbons at fiddlers’ conventions across the Southeast for her folk singing and old-time banjo and guitar playing and her bands have won blue ribbons at Galax, Mount Airy, and most recently, Clifftop. In 2021, she completed a Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship with Floyd County master musician Mac Traynham. Ashlee has also performed with Grammy-winner John McEuen (founder of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) and SWVA legend Larry Sigmon, and she is a member of local old-time string bands The Mustard Cutters and The Crooked Road Ramblers.
Class Description: Rhythm, Runs, and Riffs (and Roots and Fifths!): Old Time Guitar with Ashlee Watkins
Don’t you just wish you could tie your guitar to your side and bring it along with you to this old time rhythm workshop? Well… what are you waiting for?? We’re going to be tightening up the nuts and bolts of old-time guitar while developing our ability to be more interactive and expressive musicians. We’ll practice techniques to strengthen our rhythmic sensibilities and try out some new bass runs to spice up our backup. We’ll also work on sharpening our listening skills as we glean stylistic vocabulary from recordings of the old-time masters. Along the way, we’ll also explore a variety of ways to approach melodic playing in an old-time setting. Ideally, we’ll never stop learning and practicing the guitar so let’s enjoy the journey and have fun nerding out about old time guitar picking!
Prerequisites: Participants must know basic open chord shapes on guitar and be familiar with the basic boom-chuck old-time rhythm.
Advanced Bluegrass Flatpicking - Brant Garratt
Based in Toronto Ontario, Brant Garratt is a multi – instrumentalist and singer with a passion for the acoustic guitar. About 4 years ago, while studying Jazz Performance at Humber College, Brant went through a musical paradigm shift when he discovered the magic of Bluegrass and acoustic Folk music.
Perhaps reminded of his early childhood exposure to traditional east-coast fiddle music, and the songs of Canadian folk legends like Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell, and Stan Rogers, Brant has gone back to his acoustic roots. He performs solo acoustic arrangements of classic American and Canadian Folk and Country music in a style known as “Flatpicking”.
Brant has spent the last 10 Years as a career freelance musician and part-time music educator in the GTA and surrounding regions, working for a wide variety of artists across many musical forums.
Class Description: In this class I will talk about my personal approach to bluegrass guitar, providing new ideas and tools for guitarists to further develop their playing, both rhythmically and melodically. We will explore taking ideas and influences from other genres of music and applying them in a bluegrass context. We will talk about the importance of rhythm playing in a bluegrass ensemble and working with your fellow musicians to create a sense of “drive”. We will also touch on the idea of “critical listening” whilst playing in an ensemble setting. Can’t wait to pick and chat with y’all!
Prerequisites: Participants should be comfortable playing standard bluegrass songs in the genre. High speed playing is not a requirement. Bringing a capo is encouraged but not required.
Intermediate/Advanced Clawhammer Banjo - Hanna Traynham
Hanna hails from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and is steeped in the music traditions of the region. Throughout her youth, she was immersed in communities of music and craft. Hanna learned clawhammer from her father, a renowned builder of banjos and guitars. Her playing emphasizes the driving rhythmic dance style common to Southwest Virginia. She loves singing old gospel harmonies like she heard in church as a child. Hanna attends local fiddlers conventions, square dances, and community gatherings to contribute to the continuation of the musical traditions. Like its old-time music, the rolling mountain landscape of Southern Appalachia resonates with her.
Class Description: Southwest Virginia-style Old-Time Banjo with Hanna Traynham
In this workshop, we’ll dig deep into the old-time dance music repertoire of the Blue Ridge region of Southwest Virginia as we cover an array of richly stylized material and discuss ways to add character and regional flavor to your playing. We’ll listen to and learn from the driving, danceable rhythms and the patterns behind them. Tune up the old five-string and let’s delve into the living traditions of the Blue Ridge region of Southwest Virginia.
Prerequisites: Participants should be able to keep time at various tempos with the basic bum-ditty clawhammer stroke and also be comfortable in various tunings including open G and double C.
Intermediate/Advanced Bluegrass Banjo - John Kervin
John Kervin is a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist with hundreds of international performances and dozens of festival appearances. Equally comfortable on keyboards and 5-string banjo, he combines the knowledge of jazz music he attained from Humber College with a deep understanding of early blues and roots music.
Class Description: In my Intermediate/Advanced Banjo class, we will be using familiar bluegrass jam tunes to enrich our theoretical knowledge and explore a multitude of techniques and harmonic possibilities. We will be covering the fundamentals of Scruggs, single string and melodic banjo styles to find new approaches to the bluegrass repertoire. Backup, kickoffs and endings will all be covered, as well as how to play effectively in a variety of ensembles, from solo performance to a full 6 piece bluegrass band.
Prerequisites: Students should be able to perform basic rolls and be familiar with the G, C, D and F chords.
Intermediate/Advanced Mandolin - Bill Kervin
Bill Kervin is a Toronto-based multi-instrumentalist whose musical journey is defined by a constant evolution of craft. Originally from North Bay, Bill’s obsession with rhythm began behind a drum kit in his cousin’s basement. He later moved to Toronto to attend the prestigious Humber College, graduating with honors in 2020.
Though his formal education was primarily jazz-focused, a post-graduation introduction to Alison Krauss’s Two Highways sparked a deep passion for bluegrass and acoustic music. Now a devoted student of the mandolin and a founding member of the popular Toronto outfit Duke Street Turnaround, Bill blends his rigorous technical background with the soulful, driving energy of bluegrass.
Class Description: In my mandolin workshop, we will focus on the fundamentals of technique and the role of the mandolin as a rhythm instrument in a bluegrass ensemble. We will also discuss basic music theory, fiddle tunes, tools for improvising and more.
Prerequisites: Students should be able to familiar with chord shapes on the mandolin