Pre-Rhythm & Roots Bluegrass Jam Camp - Abingdon VA

Free Friday tickets to Rhythm & Roots Reunion Festival

All the hustle and bustle and excitement. You and 60 + students, our well loved professional teaching staff, and our own team of chefs - Crystal, Theresa and Edward serving quality meals each day. The campus is beautiful, convenient and comfortable. Lots of room for breakout sessions. On site rooms sell out fast but there's plenty of lodging nearby.

After hours jamming is a pretty regular thing and then there's teachers concerts. Thursday evening Jamboree celebration. Perhaps a teacher led karaoke.

Camp traditionally culminates in a class performance opening the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Festival. This year however the festival dates got adjusted - 'cause NASCAR ya know. We'll probably still get a hold of some Friday festival passes for you even if the dates don't coincide.

The land is green there's a view of the Blue Ridge. Horses and even their guardian donkey might come in for a closer look.

Magic happens.

We'll arrange small groups for you according to skills, interests, instruments, singing to get you the best ensemble experience. Sometimes groups can change so you can get experience with more people.

Large Group Instruction . . .
periodically as the occasion calls. Especially first meeting of camp and occasional mornings but other times too. These sessions 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 and Mixed groups according to topic like:
Finding a melody or even just faking a solo. Leading a song or following one.
Singing skills and also Harmony singing. Pick up notes - Fills - tone, and timing.

Learning strategies - How to find your key(s) - capos and transposing. Who knows what will come up. We can't always hit everything but some things we always get to work on.

After Hours Jamming
Pretty much a spontaneous and less rigorous time just letting it all hang out.

Small or larger groups tend to congregate in the various jamming spaces around Jubilee House. Indoors, outdoors - faster or slower - straight up bluegrass or off the beaten path stuff. Sit and visit or just watch the horses as the sun sets over the green Virginia hills. Or you may just want to retire and nurse your sore fingers. Sometimes the teachers may put on an impromptu concert. When the wether's nice we may have a campfire.

Authentic real food by Crystal and Theresa.
Tuesday evening supper, three squares Wednesday Thursday, breakfast and lunch Friday. Crystal and Theresa make real food like your mama's - right in the Jubilee House kitchen. If you have special diet restrictions please let us know and we'll do our best to take care of you. Meals are paid separately.

Tuition, meals and lodging are each separate.
Tuition - $475.00
Meals - $ We're figuring out meal prices.
Lodging - Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday $230.00
Traditionally students have been welcome to stay over extra days while attending the big festival at Bristol. We're hoping to make similar arrangements. Stay tuned.

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Bob Minke - Master Instructor
Bob has been part of jam camp with us from the beginning. A professional performer and multi-instrumentalist, Bob brings understanding and perspective that compliments what we other instructors are doing. A wealth of historical knowledge and storytelling. You'll love Bob as much as we do.

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Don Julin - Master Instructor
Don is our guiding light and author of Mandolin For Dummies. Don has played with some very big names and excels in music theory, and plays a variety musical styles. Most of all Don is about people, Easy to approach and generous giving knowledge and understanding to all the campers. Don is fun and easy to jam with. You'll see.

Derwin Hinson - Master Instructor
Derwin grew up in bluegrass music, growing up playing in his family band. Derwin has performed with some big names in the biz and has a long track record instructing all the bluegrass instruments. Derwin makes learning fun!

Keith Yoder - Master Instructor
Formerly a suit and tie guy, Keith has been teaching full time since 1994. Guitar, banjo, mandolin, bass, fiddle, and dobro. Engaging and fun, Keith has a knack for honing in right where you're at in gentle and humorous ways. Keith is a sought after and well liked instructor at popular music camps across the U.S. and Canada. Keep an eye on Keith, he seems to instigate after hour jams (and early mornings too).

Jodi Harbin
Jodi is a career musician teaching mandolin, guitar, banjo and bass. Jodi founded of the band Lonesome Traveler, and continues in the bluegrass community after moving to TN. Jodi performs with The Savage Hearts, and with her husband Tim Harbin. I like Jodi because she's thoroughly professional and yet easy to to hang out with.

Ella Jordan
Ella, a graduate of Berklee College of Music, got her start in Copeland, TX playing twin fiddles with her sister Minnie at country music opries all across Texas, and is now forging a sound all her own within C&W, bluegrass, and string band music. A veteran of Mile Twelve band and Liam Purcell's and Cane Mill Road. Ella is deeply knowledgeable and engaging to learn with and just plain fun hanging around.

Rob McCormac
Rob is a graduate of Appalachian State University, Asheville NC native Rob toured with our own Liam Purcell and Cane Mill Road. Rob is a deep well of traditional music is pursuing his PHD in musical tone woods. It's deeper than you would ever guess (I can tell you that). Rob knows performing and he knows jamming and he's a natural at leading the way.