Pete Wernick's Bluegrass Jam Workshop

[dividednomore]

Pete Wernick is offering a Bluegrass Jam Workshop in Denver later this fall. It is designed to help folks learn how to participate in a jam. Apparently the workshop has been offered around the country and I think he has participated in the music camp at Rockygrass. I am thinking about going with the hope of getting more comfortable in a jam and to meet folks in Denver who might like to continue jamming on a regular basis. Has anyone taken this workshop? Would you recommend it? Or, would you suggest that I save my cash and try to get into a week-long camp like Rockygrass? I am an intermediate player and I have shyed away from the camps because I thought I'd be in over my head.

[jom]

I did his workshop when I started picking, in Boulder. It was a neat experience, but mostly as a forum to meat folks. In fact, I met some of my best friends for the last 3-4 years through that workshop.

As far as content, I thought most of the stuff he talked about was just common sense (it was mostly about jam etiquette), however since then I've been to a lot of jams where I thought, "This person(s) should take Pete's jam workshop."

The thing I did was just a short thing in Boulder though. It was only 50 bucks for 3 sessions. I don't know what his more formal class is like.

[dividednomore]

JOM,

Thanks for the reply. I am hopeful about meeting some folks. The description of the workshop said that there would be some lecture, but primarily a lot of jamming. Apparently we will be assigned to groups based on ability. We will cover vocal harmonies, back up and lead with our instruments, edicate, etc.

Have you been to any larger camps? How accessible would they be to an intermdiate player?

[bud]

I've been to Pete's Jam Camp at Merlefest for the last two years. It is a great experience and you do meet lots of great folks. The skill level is from beginner to pickerss in bands that have cut CD's. You get a lot of opportunity to jam with lots of groups. We even get together in the evenings to jam also. Get to play lots of new songs and what I wanted was the opportunity to take a break on songs that I have never heard. This has helped develop my ear to listen carefully for the melody. Many of the people continue to come back each year. I highly recommend it. Pete is an excellent teacher.

Bud

[mandofiddle]

I thought most of the stuff he talked about was just common sense (it was mostly about jam etiquette), however since then I've been to a lot of jams where I thought, "This person(s) should take Pete's jam workshop."
You know, you think a lot of "jam etiquette" would be mostly just common sense. BUT, I've played in many jams broken up by the infamous "jam busters" who just DON'T get it. You know the type... The folks who will...

1. Play lead non-stop, even as the "real" lead is being passed around the circle". Who needs rhythm anyway, huh?
2. Play rhythm SO loud that you can't actually HEAR the lead player. Note, if you can't hear the lead over your own playing, then you're playing too loud.
3. Take a lead break out of order, or having NOT gotten the nod.

etc...

I played at a festival about a month ago with a few of our "friend" bands. Most of the circle was made up of the 3-4 bands who ALL knew each other and had picked together before (mostly in the Boulder area), but there were 1 or 2 other bands there who just had NO jam etiqutte. A friend of mine was leading a singing tune (he was singing it), and when he went to pass a break to this other player, the guy actually started SINGING the lead. He actually stole the lead of the song from the song leader...!

During the same jam, someone had kicked off a tune. Some fiddle tune, I don't remember which one. Then all of a sudden one of the mandolin players starts playing a different singing tune AS LOUD AS HE CAN. AND starts singing it too. It was even in a different key. He WOULDN'T stop. Everyone actually stopped playing the first song, and then started playing his because we really didn't know how else to respond. I couldn't believe it. These were really good players too, they just had absolutely NO jam etiquette.

I had to walk away and we formed a separate jam.

Needless to say, that other group was the but of our jokes the remainder of the weekend... and then some...

[jim simpson]

Mandofiddle,
I think your guy might have showed up at our regular jam the other night. This guy played mandolin well enough but he would start a break without looking up to see that another player had already received the nod. He would play loud aggresive open stringed chords that would drown out everyone else. I asked him if he wanted to sing anything to see how he might handle passing around the breaks. He responded that he didn't sing at all. That was alright but he didn't introduce any tunes at all and just played the way I described. I saw some of the gang quitting early and I haven't seen that happen in a long time. I think I will find and download the jam etiquette guidelines and give him a copy if he comes back!

[onlyagibsonisgoodenuff]

I attended a banjo camp with Pete Wernick held over a long weekend in Utah, and it was great (yeah, I also play the banjo). A lot of it was common sense as was stated, but sometimes it needs to be said. One of the more interesting things this camp did for me was to fuel my desire to learn and get off the plateau I had been camped out on for many years. Sometimes the best thing a teacher can do for you is to teach you how to teach yourself.