2008 Joe Val Festival Mandolin Workshops

By Mandolin Cafe
January 10, 2008 - 10:30 am

23rd Annual Joe Val Bluegrass Festival

23rd Annual Joe Val Bluegrass Festival

Framingham, Mass. — The 23rd Annual Joe Val Bluegrass Festival will be held February 15-17, 2008 at the Framingham Sheraton Hotel and features Master mandolin workshops with Skip Gorman and Seth Austin on Friday, February 15.

In addition, workshops featuring Buddy Merriam, Tom Rozum, Ron Spears, Phil Zimmerman, Richie Brown, Jesse Cobb and August Watters will be held Saturday and Sunday during the festival.

Skip Gorman Mandolin Master Class
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Friday, February 15, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.

This intermediate/advanced class will work on both old-time and bluegrass styles of playing with a focus on fiddle tunes (hoedowns and waltzes) along with some practice in accompaniment and singing. Tunes will be learned by ear by breaking them into sections and playing them over and over again slowly until they become part of us and we lovingly become part of them.

Seth Austen Mandolin Bootcamp for Beginners
Friday, February 15, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Mandolin Bootcamp is geared toward beginners or advanced beginners, no previous mandolin experience required. Possible topics to be covered include: chords on the mandolin, learning to play fiddle tunes by ear, song accompaniment, intros and fills, alternate picking technique, an introduction to improvisation.

See the Joe Val web site for registration and fees associated with the Master Classes. Weekend mandolin workshops are included with a festival pass.

Click red map pin below for driving directions to Framingham Sheraton Hotel, 1657 Worcester Road, Framingham, Massachusetts 01701.