Joe Carr's New Mandolin Method Previewed at Camp Bluegrass

By Mandolin Cafe
March 4, 2009 - 9:00 am

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Levelland, Texas — Camp Bluegrass director Joe Carr has a new plan for his mandolin students at the camp to be held July 19-24 at South Plains College.

"I'm writing a new mandolin method for beginning bluegrass lead players and I want to use my class as guinea pigs," says the Mel Bay author.

"This method uses bluegrass classics as teaching material and presents them in special arrangements using mostly quarter notes and a maximum of four consecutive eighth notes."

Bluegrass instrumentals are often presented as long strings of eighth notes that are difficult for beginners. These arrangements retain to basic melody of the tune while reducing the notes to the absolute minimum.

"Beginners will soon be able to play these arrangements along with more advanced players at jam session tempos," says Carr.

Camp Bluegrass is celebrating their 22nd year of music with an all-star line-up that includes banjo legend Alan Munde and Carr, longtime band mates in the band Country Gazette. This year's mandolin faculty will also include Steve Smith and Nate Lee.

Additional information:
Camp Bluegrass web site

Click red map pin for driving directions to Camp Bluegrass, South Plains College, Levelland, Texas.