This museum will present the 4th annual Monroe-Style Mandolin Camp September 11-13 in Owensboro, Kentucky. The museum’s goal in hosting this camp is to preserve the unique, historic performance art of Bill Monroe, “The Father of Bluegrass," by teaching his style of mandolin playing and songwriting to a new generation of players.
Our Faculty Mike Compton, Camp & Curriculum Director
Dr. Richard Brown, Associate Director
Skip Gorman
Jody Stecher
Tim O’Brien
Butch Waller
Special Guests Tom Ewing, Monroe historian, concert performer
Will Kimble, luthier
Highlights of 2008 Mando Camp
The 2009 curriculum has been revised by Camp Director Mike Compton, one of the world’s pre-eminent mandolin teachers. The new classes will reflect his experience after three years at the Monroe-Style Mandolin Camp and ongoing conversations with campers and faculty. He will lead our 2009 faculty in presenting new classes and workshops related to the development and execution of Monroe's mandolin style, songwriting, musical influences, and more. Please check this website soon for a listing of curriculum topics, which will be posted soon.
At the Monroe-Style Mandolin Camp, you will spend three days with 6 of the finest mandolin players and 50 of the coolest mandolin students you’ll find on Planet Earth. With registration for each camp capped at 50, the camps' intimate environment allows for ample opportunities to receive personal, hands-on instruction from each of these legends of Monroe-Style mandolin.
New to this year's camp on Friday is an all-night pickin’ party and jam session at the museum director’s house. Gabrielle is inviting bluegrass bands from across the region to join campers for an evening of fun and music. There’ll be an outstanding spread from the world-famous Moonlite-Bar-B-Q and an outdoor stage on the back porch with a sound system for campers to perform solo, in groups, or with local bands. Partake of fresh brew from a keg or two (however, anyone who should not drive back to the Hampton Inn may not drive – air mattresses and floor space provided). Jam with locals who’ve spent their lives playing authentic bluegrass in the region where Monroe grew to manhood.
New to this year’s camp on Saturday between the hours of 4:00 and 6:00 will be four 30-minute private master classes with Mike Compton. All campers’ names will be put in Red Smiley’s hat. Four names will be drawn at the opening session on Friday at noon. (If your name is drawn and you don’t want or need this master class, or if it conflicts with other sessions you want to attend, we can either re-draw or you can gift it to a friend.)
Returning in 2009 is a class on Mandolin Set Up and Maintenance by Will Kimble of Kimble Mandolins. Will is available Friday and Saturday for basic set ups and fret work. He will charge for materials and a reasonable fee for each work order. All his work order fees will be donated to the bluegrass museum to provide scholarships for the Saturday Lessons Program hosted by the museum. Please request a WORK ORDER FORM from Brenda Smith at the museum: 270-926-7891. Your mandolin will get an “appointment” based on the estimated time required to perform the requested service.
The 2009 All-Star Faculty Concert will be amazing. Each member of the faculty is an internationally known performer with his own band (see bios).Tim O’Brien brings superb vocals and a Monroesque syncopated blues & jazz style certain to please even the most die-hard traditionalists. Tom Ewing, Monroe’s last guitarist with the Blue Grass Boys, adds vintage authenticity and historic relevance as well as great vocals and rhythm guitar. Campers are invited to an exclusive wine reception at the museum prior to the concert.
Jam with new friends. Eat great barbeque. Experience rare performances, onstage and off. Enjoy a total immersion in bluegrass music's homeland, history and future at the world's only bluegrass music museum dedicated to preserving the international history and performance art of bluegrass music…all the while surrounded by rare bluegrass artifacts and memorabilia. Compare, sell or swap mandolins with other players. Trade live non-commercial bootleg recordings with other collectors. Be part of the museum and let it become an integral part of your life and music.
The camp package will include:
Intensive group lessons in Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced levels. Choose one level or migrate throughout the weekend.
An all-night Pickin’ Party and Jam in the moonlight, feasting on Moonlite. Learn why they call this part of Kentucky “The Bluegrass and Barbeque Region”.
Lunch on Saturday and Sunday at the museum.
Lodging Friday and Saturday the Hampton Inn. Continental breakfast included.
A reserved seat at the All-Star Faculty Concert featuring all instructors plus Tim O’Brien & Tom Ewing. It’s open to the public but campers get the closest seats.
A group photo and a bootleg tape/CD trading session.
Free admission to the museum on Thursday and Monday, before & after camp.
An International Bluegrass Music Museum instrument case decal.
The special edition t-shirt and poster (they rock this year).
Faculty Concert
Join us Saturday evening September 12th (the eve of what would have been Bill's 98th birthday) for our All-Star Faculty Concert at Woodward's Cafe, across the foyer from the museum's entrance. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Showtime is 7:30. The concert is open to the public and features all five instructors plus multiple-Grammy award-winning artist Tim O’Brien, and Tom Ewing, editor of The Bill Monroe Reader and former Blue Grass Boy. Tickets are $20, available in advance or at the door. After campers are seated, only 50 seats remain, so reserve your ticket(s) early by calling the museum: 270-926-7891.
Signed copies of Tom Ewing's book The Monroe Reader.
Signed copies of all instructor CDs and materials.
Basic mandolin set ups and fret work by Will Kimble
A commemorative Monroe-Style Mandolin Camp Poster ($10.00.)*
A commemorative Monroe-Style Mandolin Camp t-shirt ($20.00.)*
* Free if registered before May 1st, 2009
Bill Monroe’s influence on modern bluegrass and mandolin music is inestimable. One needs only to look at the skills of our faculty and other leading contemporary mandolin players to realize that they became what they are today due in part to their in-depth study of Monroe's music and performance style, and by trading Monroe-isms with others through the years.
The Monroe-Style Mandolin Camp is the ultimate gathering spot for Monroe enthusiasts. Satisfy your desire to "Know Monroe" by spending the anniversary of his birth and passing at the museum and the camp dedicated to preserving his legacy.
