After-School Bluegrass Club

Bringing music education to kids in their local community.

CBA’s After-school Bluegrass Club brings music instruction to underserved California youth through weekly after-school sessions for children in grades 4-8. Sessions run throughout the school year, and include instrument lessons, singing and ensemble playing.

For more information, email ABC@CaliforniaBluegrass.net

WHY BLUEGRASS?

Bluegrass is a genre particularly well-suited for children’s music education: it is accessible with a few simple chords, easy tunes and portable. It’s based on ensemble playing – melodies and rhythm are shared between groups, formally or on the fly. It’s sophisticated: as kid’s gain in music skill, they find there is no limit to innovation and technique – youth are inspired by extraordinary peers, who learn to “shred” on their guitar, mandolin, fiddle and banjo solos.

And perhaps most importantly, the roots of bluegrass are a microcosm of America: Tight harmony
vocals drawn from Gospel choirs, deep Southern Blues from African American traditions, Celtic and Appalachian melodies, and the drive and syncopation of Chicago jazz. In the last 30 years, CBA has provided instruction and inspiration to over 1,000 youngsters, nurtured several talented young musicians to national stardom as professional musicians, and set the stage for hundreds more for a lifelong love of playing and singing songs together with friends new and old.