Bluegrass Music Course at Marist College

[robbif]

I'm proud to pass on this announcement from my Hudson Valley Bluegrass Association...

This Spring we are embarking on our very first outreach to senior
citizens. It is totally in keeping with our mission to spread the
Bluegrass Gospel! Marist College, in Poughkeepsie, NY, offers a very
popular educational experience for retired citizens. So much in demand,
in fact, that there is currently a five year waiting list. The HVBA
suggested to them that they offer a six week course in bluegrass music.
We don't really have a title for it, but I liked the suggestion of
"Bluegrass for Bluehairs." Looks as if we probably will go with "The
Evolution of Bluegrass Music." Don't know for certain just yet.

We begin with a registration of 61 people. It might have been higher,
but we put a cap of 50 on the class. Marist College decided to give more
people the opportunity to take the course. It will be held every
Wednesday at 2:45-4pm beginning April 4. Our plan is to allot the first
30 minutes to a panel presentation beginning with the roots of the music
and to use the remaining 45 minutes to spotlight one of the instruments
each week with a live performance and two backup musicians. We have
chosen a 13 year old guitar prodigy to demonstrate the guitar and a
Vassar College fiddle player (she is amazing) for our first session. Our
last class will pull all of the individual musicians together for a
class on harmony and a full-blown bluegrass concert!!

Stand by for more info! :-)

http://www.hvbluegrass.org/

[yankees1]

Great to hear! You are a Bluegrass Missionary!

[robbif]

The HVBA has asked me to add this:

Please visit our YouTube channel and make a small donation.

We're a chartered as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit arts and educational organization.

Thanks!

[robbif]

More from HVBA:

I want to keep you all up to date on the plans for the six week course at Locust Grove [Samuel FB Morse Historic Site in Poughkeepsie, NY].

We have just heard from Bill Keith who will be one of our speakers for April 25th at the Marist College CLS course. That will be the week that we talk about the era of 1950-1970 and Bill is THE perfect person to give an account of those years. In addition, he will bring his banjo to play.

Bill has also requested that he be present at the April 11th class with Ruth Oxenberg [co-author of "Bluegrass Journey" video], Mary Doub, & Mary Burdette [Director & Asst. Director of Grey Fox Festival]. He will be there only as a guest. Can't blame him. That will be an amazing afternoon.

Not only that….but, if we like, he said he would join the band on May 9.

[robbif]

Our first class was held this past Wednesday. All HVBA members should be so proud of this project. Aside from the excellent presentations by Mick Foley (Class Manager), Jerry Oland, and Eric Rosi-Marshall, we also had Fred Robbins on hand to film the entire session. Kalia Yeagle was the featured musician and was accompanied by Jerry Oland, Eric Rosi-Marshall, and Lynn Lipton. Kalia totally won the hearts of everyone in the room (duh, of course she did!). The session ended with the entire classroom singing along with us. One of the attendees remarked that the class had "completely exceeded his expectation." It's too bad you all can't be there to see the work the HVBA is doing. This is a tremendous undertaking that fits our mission of spreading the bluegrass word to the greater community. Wednesday was a job WELL DONE!!!!

[robbif]

My video of the first week's class is now available HERE.

[robbif]

Hi Folks,

I'm proud to announce my video from the 2nd class of the Hudson Valley Bluegrass Association's
"Evolution of Bluegrass" 6-week series in conjunction with the Marist College Center for Lifetime Study.

This was an exciting week, focusing on festivals. Presenters were Mary Doub, Producer of Grey Fox;
Mary Burdette, Assistant Director of Grey Fox; and Ruth Oxenberg, Producer of the documentary
Bluegrass Journey.

Ruth was so gracious that she allowed us to include over 95% of her (and Rob Schumer's) film in this video!

You can see the series of videos as they become available HERE.

Fred

Hudson Valley Bluegrass Association: http://www.hvbluegrass.org/

Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival: http://www.greyfoxbluegrass.com

[robbif]

My video of the Hudson Valley Bluegrass Association's Week 3 class on the "Evolution of Bluegrass" is now available (see link below).

David Angell, President of the HVBA, talks about the era from brothers groups, such as the Delmores and the Monroes, through the beginnings of Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys.

Then Joan Harrison (banjo) and Betsy Rome (guitar) play and sing, demonstrating their instrument styles as well as performing great harmony duets.

You can see all six class videos as they become available HERE.

[robbif]

If the link above doesn't work for you, here's Week 3...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIVF60jl3SM

[robbif]

Week 4 features Bill Keith discussing the evolution of the banjo, demonstrating different styles, and telling of his journey with Bill Monroe. Next, Dave Gandin demonstrates the bass. Then, they both perform with surprise guest Jim Rooney and Andy Bing on mandolin.

Week 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajvtbOjRMmM

In Week 5's next-to-last session, we bring the bluegrass evolution up through present day as told by Eric Rosi-Marshall. You'll also see the promising youth in bluegrass with Eric's two young daughters Mathilde and Alice on fiddle as well as 13-year-old Korey Brodsky's artistry on guitar. Wayne Fugate discusses and demonstrates the mandolin and some of its relatives, followed by a great jam by a 5-piece band including Korey's dad Rick Brodsky on bass and Jerry Oland on banjo.

Week 5: http://youtu.be/Yx7qFe9jtUI

Next week's final class will feature a dobro demonstration by Andy Bing
and another big jam with several returning performers. Please stay tuned.

You can eventually see all the videos on the HVBA website at http://www.hvbluegrass.org/media/videos.html
or you can search YouTube for: evolution of bluegrass

[robbif]

The Hudson Valley Bluegrass Association's final class video is now available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsp2dy4W698

Thanks to all the participants.

Please note the credits at the end of the video.

It's been a thrill and honor to be part of this effort and to be able to share it all online.

You can see all 6 videos HERE.
or by searching YouTube for: evolution of bluegrass
and eventually on the HVBA website at http://www.hvbluegrass.org/media/videos.html