Acoustic Music Camp - Fall Mini Camp - Farmers Branch, Texas October 14, 2011

One Day Jam Camp FAQs *Register today! Enrollment is limited to 30 participants.*
What is the Acoustic Music Ond Day Jam Camp? It is a one day camp with a mixture of instruction and structured jamming. It wil be held 9:30am - 3:30pm Friday October 14th 2011 in just prior to the Bloomin' Bluegrass Festival presented by the City of Farmers Branch and the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation. In class we will try to give you the tools and tricks to kick start your jamming skills. The instructors will have a hands-on classes teaching you the skills needed to be a successful jammer followed by instructor led jams. These skills are not instrument specific and can be utilized whatever instrument you play. This is repeated throughout the day. Topics will include: Jam Session Etiquette, How to Use the I - IV & V Chord System, How to Use the Capo, Tunes You Need to Know, What To Do When You Get Lost, The Harmonized Scale, Basic Harmony Singing, and more. You will be emailed a pdf of several common tunes with chords that will form the basis of the jams. Other tunes will be played too. Who are the instructors? The faculty is Jim "Texas Shorty" Chancellor, Kenny Smith, Amanda Smith and Gerald Jones. Jim "Texas Shorty" Chancellor began his musical journey at the age of seven when his daddy brought home a mandolin and told Shorty and his brother, Allen, that it would go to the first son who learned to play it. Shorty devoted most of the next six years to "pickin' the mandolin". Around 1956 a landmark occurred in Shorty's musical development when he became acquainted with the legendary Bennie Thomasson, who was the then current World Champion Fiddler. Bennie’s unique style of fiddling immediately attracted Shorty and he soon gave up the mandolin and poured all his efforts into old-time fiddling . Three years later in 1959, under the tutorage of Bennie, Shorty won the World's Fiddle Festival. In 1960 he went to New York to appear on a national television quiz show "To Tell The Truth" as the youngest fiddler to hold the World's Championship. He became the second fiddler in the history of the World's Fiddle Festival to attain undefeated status by winning the contest three consecutive times. Succeeding years have seen Shorty win hundreds of fiddle contests throughout the nation, among them the National Fiddle Championship and the Texas State Championship on several different occasions. In the early 1960's, through the efforts of an avid fan, a record company was established to produce Shorty's music. The circulation of the fiddle records over the years has taken his music to every part of the nation. Old time fiddle music has been the first love of Shorty's life for many years and he has encouraged young fiddlers to take up the art. Public awareness of this great music has grown to the extent that a music, which was once threatened with extinction, has been revived and is once again solidly entrenched in the entertainment world. Jim was awarded a n American Heritage Fellowshp by the National Endowment for the Arts this year. He received his award performed at the Library of Congress. Originally from Nine Mile, IN, Kenny Smith is widely considered one of the most important and influential flatpicking-style guitarists of his generation. A two-time IBMA Guitarist of the Year award winner, his professional credits include 6 years with the popular Lonesome River Band and an exceptional solo CD, Studebaker, released on Sugar Hill Records in 1997. Kenny’s in great demand at guitar workshops and master classes, teaching at the renowned Roanoke Bluegrass Weekend series and at guitar workshops at major events such as IBMA. He has just released a two-DVD instruction set on AcuTab Publications. Check out Kenny's webste at: http://Kenny-AmandaSmith.com Born in the small town of Davisville, WV, Amanda Smith grew up singing in church choirs and participating in talent contests at local fairs. “I always sang, my mom and dad said, even before I can remember, "she says today. She started playing guitar in high school to accompany herself, and soon discovered bluegrass music through female artists such as Claire Lynch, Rhonda Vincent and Alison Krauss. She met her future husband at a Lonesome River Band concert, and the couple began dating and playing music together almost immediately. “I wouldn’t say it was love at first sight, but there was definitely something there,” she explains. Their shared Christian faith, love for bluegrass and desire to perform together led them to record a debut CD. Check out Amanda's webste at: http://Kenny-AmandaSmith.com Gerald Jones, founder and director of Acoustic Music Camp, is a favorite instructor at many bluegrass and roots music camps around the nation, teaching banjo, mandolin, and many special topics such as “Jam Survival Skills.” He’s a skilled player in many different styles including bluegrass, western swing, country, classical banjo and Polish war hymns. He's played on stage or recorded with with Jim "Texas Shorty" Chancellor, Vince Gill, Sam Bush, Hank Thompson, Red Steagall, Jethro Burns, Jerry Douglas, Tanya Tucker, Junior Brown and many more. The inventor of the Jones/AcousticPlus banjo pickup endorsed by Earl Scruggs, Bela Fleck, Alan Munde and many others. As a banjoist, he’s been a two-time finalist in the National Bluegrass Banjo championship in Winfield Kansas. Gerald has taught music for almost 30 years, and counts among his students Marty and Emily Erwin of the Dixie Chicks. He's the editor of Mel Bay’s bimonthly webzine Banjo Sessions, and is a frequent contributor to Joe Carr’s Mandolin Sessions. As Joe said of Gerald, “students love him because he jams a lot with them and teaches as much out of class as in!” http://TheGeraldJones.com What should I already know? You should be able to smoothly make chord changes on your instrument. G, C, D, & A chords are required. Em and Am & F are helpful. Strumming or playing simple rhythm patterns at a steady pase is needed. What do I need to bring? You just need yourself and your instrument. A recorder and/or camera can be helpful. Though not necessary, the Parking Lot Picker's Songbook and 2 CD set for either Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin, Fiddle or Dobro can be helpful. It's a collection of over 200 great Bluegrass, Old Time, Country and Gospel standards. Melodies are presented with standard notation and tablature along with lyrics and chords. click for more information Is lodging provided? No, but there are many nearby accommodations. We have a special deal for people attending the Bloomin' Bluegrass Festival and/or Acoustic Music Mini Jam Camp. Holiday Inn Select Headquarters Hotel: 2645 LBJ Freeway Farmers Branch Texas 75234 The Holiday Inn is a close to camp and festival and offers discounted bluegrass rates and free shuttle service to the Park! $79/night includes $20 food/beverage credit - good anytime! *Rooms are limited! Call (972) 243-3363 today for booking. Motel 6* 2660 Forest Ln Dallas, TX 75234 (972) 484-9111 $41.39 per night Motel 6 is pleased to provide a DISCOUNTED RATE good at any Motel 6 or Studio 6 location for friends of the Acoustic Music Camp and the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation. Make reservations via Motel6.com or by calling 800-466-8356 and using discount code CP548410 for Motel 6 or CP548411 for Studio 6. Econo Lodge Airport I-35 North Dallas 2275 Valley View Lane Farmers Branch, Texas 75234 (972) 243-5500 $45 per night Omni Dallas Hotel at Park West 1590 Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway Farmers Branch, Texas 75234 (972) 869-4300 $114 per night (double occupancy), includes transportation to/from festival and breakfast Studio Plus 4022 Parkside Center Boulevard Farmers Branch, Texas 75244 (972) 385-6006 $54.99 per night Days Inn 13313 Stemmons Freeway Farmers Branch, Texas 75234 (972) 488-0800 $39 per night single occupancy / $45 per night double occupancy Americas Best Value Inn & Suites 13333 Stemmons Freeway Farmers Branch, Texas 75234 (972) 241-8521 $42 Single Occupancy / $49 Double Occupancy Doubletree Club 11611 Luna Road Farmers Branch, Texas (972) 506-0050 $89.00 per night Are meals provided? Yes, a box lunch will served. Can I bring my spouse? Yes, but only registered students may actually attend classes and instructor led jams. Is there anything for my family to do in the area? Bring the family! There's lot's to do within 30 miles of the camp. Grapevine Mills Mall, Six Flags Over Texas, Hurricane Harbor Water park, The Amon Carter Museum, Modern Museum of Fort Worth, Kimbell Art Museum, National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, Stockyards Museum, the Vintage Flying Museum and more... May I audio/video record the classes? Yes, but only at the discretion of each individual instructor. And then only in a non-disruptive manner. Are children allowed? Yes. Children under 17 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. The parent or legal guardian is not required to attend class with the student but needs at least drop off and pick their child each day. Children under 12 may be admitted on a case by case basis. Children, or any camper for that matter, must be well behaved and not disrupt classes or jams. Is there an emergency contact number? Yes, call my cell phone at: 214-236-0783 When is the camp? 9:30am - 3:30pm Friday October 14 , 2011. What is the tuition for the camp? Tuition is $75. click here to register Where is the camp? Farmers Branch Historical Park (Blooming Bluegrass Festival site) at the Dodson House 2540 Farmers Branch Lane Farmers Branch, Texas 75234 click for Google Map Directions