November 7-9, 2025 - Abingdon VA

Jubilee House Retreat Center

We love the Wernick Method and they love us.

Small groups is the way bluegrass was intended to be and you'll get plenty of small group action. Large groups work best for learning and breakout sessions. After hours jamming 'till your fingers fall off. Jubilee House Retreat Center is a beautiful place among green hills. Forest groves and horses and a winding path make for a sweet place for making music together. Onsite motel style rooms and a large inviting meeting space with all kinds of little jamming spots around. All on the outskirts of Abingdon Virginia. Nearby scenic bike and walking trails, historical places, restaurants and more.

Large groups for learning and breakout sessions.

Expect a group of 8 or a dozen or so jammers for this camp. We'll arrange groups according to skills, experience, interests, instruments, and singing to get you the best ensemble experience. Sometimes we'll mix groups so you can jam with a variety of people. Large group jamming happens periodically as the occasion calls, especially the first meeting of a camp but other times too. These times are for everyone to get on the same page together. There we can set a theme, a principle or topic that we'll pursue further in our small groups.

Breakout and topical sessions.

Breakout sessions can be instrument focused or topical. Finding a melody. Faking a solo when you don't have one prepared. Leading a song or following one. Singing - Bluegrass singing style and also Harmony singing. Instrument specific sessions. Pickup notes, fills, tone, timing and technique. These are the stuff of breakout sessions. Learning strategies. How to find our key(s). Capos and transposing. who knows what else may crop up. We can't always hit everything but some things we always get to work on.

After hours jamming is a tradition at Jubilee House.

Pretty much a spontaneous and less rigorous time just letting it all hang out. Some go out to dinner and others stay to play. The dinner crowd often comes back to join in and who knows how long before we're all wore out. Or you may just want to retire for the evening and nurse your sore fingers. The after hours is unofficial time and more loose and it's non instructional. The variety of songs may stray but not too far, and the tempos may be faster but not crazy fast. Sometimes a guest teacher may drop by. That's a great opportunity to be a part of jamming magic where you get to belong even in a higher level jam session. Of course we're just as likely to play easy and slow after hours too.

Tuition, Lodging and Food all separate.

Tuition - $325.00

On site lodging - $70.00/night
Rooms are motel style just steps away. They fill up fast so get yours while the gettin's good. No TV but the WiFi is great. This is a bring your own shampoo and stuff type operation. Towels and linens provided.

There are no official meals so we're all on our own. Sometimes we order pizza just to make Friday easy. There's lots of local eateries and there's refrigerators, so some bring their own.

If you feel like it then you're welcome to visit with Leigh and she'll help you choose.

Gilbert Nelson

aka Dr. Jambo

Gilbert Nelson is your host. He brings decades of teaching experience with him and he makes learning fun. Gilbert is a learner just like you and he'll give you opportunities for growth through instruction, experimentation, and triumphs along with the failures. Laughter is a key to it all. Gilbert is talented and sings and plays Banjo, Guitar, Mandolin, Dobro. In a pinch he'll play bass for you too. He's even been known to pick up a fiddle from time to time. (No promises!)

Leigh Nelson

aka General Leigh

A seasoned hand, Leigh knows her way around the jamming scene and she'll show you the way too.

Leigh plays bass, guitar, mandolin and even a little clawhammer banjo. She has a deep understanding of jamming tradition and she'll guide you in her own gentle and friendly ways.

Even more, Leigh is the director and administrator for all our jam camps. She even serves as Gilbert's "backup brain" from time to time.