| Sponsored by: |
 |
The European World of Bluegrass Festival features a virtual bluegrass music school in its excellent and varied workshop program. Even private lessons are available! EWOB's workshops are taught by professional bluegrass musicians who love to share the secrets of their craft, and it's great fun to attend a workshop conducted by a group of diverse musicians together in true festival style. Acoustic instrument instruction is available for banjo, flatpicking guitar, mandolin, fiddle, and sometimes dobro, as well as bluegrass vocals. The selection varies every year - and this year we have more workshops than ever before!
We also feature a children's program that gets rave reviews from children and parents alike.
Workshop attendance is free to the festival public - but when you attend an EWOB workshop, we hope you'll make a small donation to help support the EWOB Festival Workshop program.
Sponsors for the workshops are also welcome!
You can visit these workshops during the EWOB Festival. Look for the info board for the latest update.
|
Workshops MC: Ruud de Bruin
Workshop Summary Schedule (full class details below)
|
| Thursday may 17 |
Friday may 18 |
Saturday may 19 |
| |
|
12:30 Children's Workshop |
| 14:00 Bass Workshop |
14:00 Guitar Workshop |
15:00 Dobro Workshop |
| 16:00 Harmony Vocal Workshop |
16:00 Song Workshop |
16:00 Mandolin Workshop |
| 18:00 Fiddle Workshop |
18:00 Sound System Workshop |
18:00 Banjo Workshop |
THURSDAY MAY 17
14.00 DOUBLE BASS - Lucy Williams
The instrumental backbone of the bluegrass-drive (and of most acoustic music) is the double bass, an instrument which does not frequently feature in our workshop program. This year however Lucy Williams, bass player of the UK-based band Jaywalkers, will zoom in on playing the double bass. Lucy has experience in workshops and teaching (e.g. Sore Fingers Summers Schools - a week long bluegrass camp in the UK). Her workshop will be aimed at beginners and intermediate players wanting to learn bluegrass, and will cover some important techniques such as slap bass style playing.
16.00 VOCAL HARMONIES - Rawhide
In this workshop Rawhide (the only band to have performed at every single EWOB festival until now!) will explain and demonstrate the important topics of how to build up harmony vocals in duets, trios, and quartets - mostly in bluegrass but also in other styles. If you have any questions about harmony singing - What is a tenor? A baritone? How do I find the right notes to sing? This is your chance to have them answered- You can even bring the song you're having trouble with on CD and the band will analyse it together with you and the other participants.
18.00 OLDTIME FIDDLE - Rosalyn Dennett
Last year we were very fortunate to have Rosalyn Dennett host our fiddle workshop. Rosalyn plays with the Canadian band Oh, My Darling and has mastered Irish fiddling and Old Time Appalachian singing and fiddling. Since Oh My Darling is playing again at EWOB this year we have asked Rosalyn to do another workshop, to which she has kindly agreed. The theme for this year is "Everything old is blue again!" In this workshop Rosalyn is going to examine a fiddle tune that has made its way from the Old Time style of playing into the Bluegrass repertoire. Participants will spend time learning the tune and explore the different techniques used to express the melody in each style of playing. So rosin up your bow and join the fun!
FRIDAY MAY 18
14.00 GUITAR - Bob Hamilton
This year's guitar workshop will be hosted by Bob Hamilton. Bob is a professional guitarist and banjo player from Maine, USA. Bluegrass and Roots Music are his passion and he has been attending bluegrass festivals, competing in flatpicking contests and teaching lessons and classes for many years. His rich teaching experience enables him to teach beginners and intermediate players things like chords fingerings, rhythm guitar patterns and chord progressions, connecting bass runs, technique, tone, tuning, timing, licks, basic overview of scales, ideas for improvising, singer accompaniment, etc. Bob will have some things prepared, but there is room fo your own needs and questions. So bring your guitar, questions and eagerness to learn and participate.
16.00 SONG WORKSHOP - Shelly O'Day
Shelly O'Day comes from a long line of musicians and callers at the country dances. Though she studied classical choral music, she rediscovered the music of her grandparents, country, bluegrass and old time music. More recently, she happily discovered a similar community in the Netherlands and in Europe. The intention of this song workshop is not to work on the technical aspects of singing, but rather on the interpretation of the song; the telling of the story. It isn't even necessary to sing well in order to tell a story. The workshop is interactive, so please do come prepared to sing and not only to listen.
18.00 SOUND SYSTEM HANDLING FOR BLUEGRASS MUSICIANS - Bruno van Hoek
In this workshop Bruno, experienced sound engineer and among Holland's finest Bluegrass instrumentalist, will help the non-technically inclined musician to understand and work with a PA-system. After a short introduction, some difficulties that musicians may encounter while performing with a sound system will be demonstrated, followed by their respective cures. Participants are requested to bring their instruments and will be offered the opportunity to work on their microphone technique. Close mic as well as single mic technique and its many pitfalls will be covered. Here's your chance to dramatically improve your stage performance.
SATURDAY MAY 19
12.30 CHILDREN'S WORKSHOP - Eddie Winship
The children's workshop will once again be hosted by Scotsman Eddie Winship, folk singer and storyteller, and is for children of all ages. The show is called 'Tales from the Trails' and contains stories and songs of the West. The musical show also gives children the opportunity to learn to spin ropes and sing a song in native American sign language. A translator will be present, and although there is an educational theme, the main emphasis is fun, fun, fun! Eddie also has a Radio show on Blast1386 in Reading (UK). His show ‘Tales from the Trails' has been performed at many folk festivals and schools in several countries.
The children will perform the song they've learned with eddie on the main stage at 13.45h!
15.00 RESONATOR / DOBRO - Paolo Ercoli / Jeroen Schmohl
The resonator/dobro workshop will be hosted by two ‘reso-friends' Paolo Ercoli (0039) and Jeroen Schmohl (Flexibility). Both share a passion for this great instrument, which they would like to share with you. The workshop will focus on beginners and intermediate players. Topics which will be addressed are: left and right hands techniques, the rhythm chop, hammer-ons and pull-offs, pick blocking, and more. Paolo and Jeroen prefer to speak of a ‘dobro meeting' instead of ‘dobro workshop' and invite you all to bring your instrument and share your personal (musical) challenges. Learning is guaranteed by sharing and group interaction.
16.00 MANDOLIN - Tom Mindte
This year's mandolin workshop will be hosted Tom Mindte (Patuxent Partners, USA). Tom's phenomenal mandolin virtuosity, inspired by bluegrass greats Bill Monroe, Frank Wakefield and Buzz Busby, is the driving force behind the band's instrumental sound. During the workshop Tom will illustrate the playing styles of Busby, Monroe & Wakefield. Specific techniques will be covered based on the group's questions.
18.00 Earl Scruggs Memorial Banjo Workshop - John Brunschwyler / John Dowling
To honour the memory of Earl Scruggs, the bluegrass banjo workshop at our festival from now on will be called the ‘Earl Scruggs Memorial Banjo workshop'.
John Brunschwyler (Patuxent Partners, USA) and John Dowling (Doghouse Central, UK) will host this year's workshop. John Brunschwyler's inventive approach to traditional banjo playing has made him a favourite of bluegrass audiences. John Dowling was the first European to win the USA national banjo championship at Winfield, Kansas. Needless to say that both have extensive experience on the 5-string banjo and that they are able to guide you through the various techniques and playing styles. There is of course room for your questions and input.
All throughout the festival you can enjoy
INDIVIDUAL LESSONS ON BANJO, MANDOLIN, DOBRO AND GUITAR.
During the three festival days we offer individual lessons on various bluegrass instruments. Neatly filling the gap between group workshops and learning from books at home, these lessons have proved to be a huge success. Are you learning to play a bluegrass instrument and looking for specific solutions to specific problems? No big deal, we're here to help you out!
• There will be sign-up sheets at the information desk
• Sign up for the instrument and teacher of your choice
• The tuition fee will be € 5 for a 20 minute lesson
• For questions and/or sign-up in advance, email Bruno van Hoek
