Beginning Bluegrass Banjo

Beginning Bluegrass
Banjo

A Six-Week Course with Ben Krakauer

Beginning Bluegrass Banjo is a six-week course for complete beginners, as well as others who want to review the fundamentals of three-finger picking.

The class will focus on learning by ear, but written material will also be provided.

Students will learn basic chord positions and right-hand rolls and will learn to play a few tunes common at bluegrass jam sessions. Upon completion of the course, students will have the fundamental skills needed to continue learning Scruggs-style banjo arrangements.

No previous banjo experience is required.

Schedule

Wednesdays, 6:15–7:15 PM

October 28
November 4
November 11
November 18
December 2
December 9

No class November 25

Location:
First Unitarian Church
2125 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia

Cost: $132 for the complete six-week series

Payment Options:
$132 full payment or Two payments of $66

Maximum: 12 students

2 PART PAYMENT:

https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/classic/ws?studioid=678538&stype=41&sTG=49&prodId=109082

FULL PAYMENT:

https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/classic/ws?studioid=678538&stype=41&sTG=49&prodId=109081

What You Need for Class

Students will need:

A 5-string banjo
Two finger picks and a thumb pick
Tuner
Spare strings
Banjo capo

Purchasing a Banjo

Students are encouraged to purchase and bring their own instrument.

Ben recommends the Gold Tone AC-1 as a strong beginner banjo.

Purchase the Gold Tone AC-1 from Sweetwater

Reserving a Banjo to Use Onsite During the Series

Philly Music Factory plans to have a limited number of banjos available for students to use onsite during classes.

Students who do not yet own a banjo may request to reserve one for the duration of the series.

There is an additional $40 fee to reserve a banjo for onsite use during the six-week series.

Please email vincelemuel@gmail.com in advance to request an instrument.

Availability is limited and reservations are first come, first served.

PMF instruments are for onsite class use only and are not available to take home.

Students will still need an instrument outside of class if they want to practice at home.

Recommended Class Materials

Finger Picks + Thumb Pick

Tuner

Recommended Snark tuner

Spare Strings

Recommended GHS PF145 banjo strings

Banjo Capo

About Ben Krakauer

Ben plays and teaches bluegrass, old-time, new acoustic and jazz-influenced music for banjo, including both three-finger/bluegrass and clawhammer/old-time techniques.

He has taught banjo lessons and string-band workshops at music camps around the country and at institutions including Berklee College of Music, Warren Wilson College, Tufts University and the University of Virginia. Ben has toured with David Grisman, was a founding member of Old School Freight Train, and has recorded for Acoustic Disc, Adhyâropa Records, CMH Records and the Fiddle Masters series.

He is also an ethnomusicologist, former chair of the music program at Warren Wilson College and currently teaches at Temple University.

Ben Krakauer — Musician Website

Ben Krakauer — YouTube