Looking for Participants in the Bluegrass Group Class: Fridays from 7-9pm

Maple Ridge Bluegrass Band

Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music named after Kentucky mandolin player and songwriter Bill Monroe's band, the Bluegrass Boys 1939-96, and furthered by musicians who played with him, including 5-string banjo player Earl Scruggs and guitarist Lester Flatt, or who simply admired the high-energy instrumental and vocal music Monroe's group created, and carried it on into new bands, some of which created subgenres. Bluegrass is influenced by the music of Appalachia and other styles, including gospel and jazz. Appalachian music itself has mixed roots in Irish, Scottish and English traditional music, and was also later influenced by the music of African-Americans through incorporation of jazz and blues elements.

Stylistic origins:
English folk, Scottish folk, Irish folk, Appalachian music, old-time music, African-American music, string bands, blues, jazz

Cultural origins:
c. 1945, United States

Typical instruments:
Fiddle (violin), mandolin, 5 string (Scruggs-style) banjo, acoustic guitar, Dobro, double bass

About the Group Class:
Because we get our music mostly from books or downloaded off the internet, students should be able to sight-read music, and know the basics of music theory including counting various meters, playing chords and harmonizing.  If you would like to learn more about these subjects, register for private lessons.

The class meets Fridays from 7-9pm in Granby, MA.  The group decides what Bluegrass music it wants to learn, votes on the new material, and works on approximately 10-15 new tunes/melodies per semester.  A semester is approximately 3 months.

Once the group is comfortable with the "new" set, arrangements are made to put on a free concert at any local venue that allows free use.  Venues included are The Holyoke Rehab Center (on Rte 141), The Hobbit House (inside Mill 180 Park in Easthampton), The Loomis Village (South Hadley), The Arbors (Amherst), The Soldier's Home (Holyoke), The South Hadley Library and the Granby Library. 

If you would like to join the Bluegrass Group, please contact us.  The cost is $20 per class for current private students in good standing.