Our Community: 2019 CBA Summer Music Camp Teachers

Here’s some information on them, and more importantly, links to YouTube videos so you can see for yourself how great they are.

Go to the CBA Music Camp website for lots more information on classes and instructors, and of course, to register.

Yes, we have songwriting! And a great songwriter/musician to teach it as well. Everyone has a song in them. Try it out.

Richard Brandenburg is a San Francisco Bay Area singer, songwriter, and performer known for his fine, expressive lead and harmony singing and well-crafted songs that reflect his deep love of early country music. His CD “Flickering Dreams” features fifteen of his original songs, with vocal and instrumental accompaniment by Kathy Kallick, John Reischman, Tony Marcus, and Matt Dudman. Richard leads the weekly bluegrass and country jam at Berkeley’s traditional music venue the Freight and Salvage where he also teaches his popular “Singing from Inside the Song” vocal workshop, “Flatpicking Fundamentals” guitar class, and bluegrass and country repertoire courses.

Here’s just a small sample of his writing/singing.

You have some great choices for fiddle classes, suited to your level. These often fill up fast – don’t hesitate.

Annie Staninec is an IBMA Award winning fiddle player who began playing at the age of five, began performing at the age of 12, and now makes her living recording, teaching, and touring across North America and internationally. Annie is currently a full-time member of the Kathy Kallick Band, regularly performs with several other groups. She also released her own self-titled album which showcases her fluency across multiple genres. Annie is a highly experienced teacher, having taught at numerous prestigious camps. She also has an acclaimed instructional book of traditional bluegrass fiddle solos.

Watch a video of Annie with dobro teacher, Ivan Rosenberg, and mandolin teacher, John Reischman (and Kathy Kallick, too!)

Patrick M’Gonigle met members of the Lonely Heartstring band as a student at Berklee College of Music. If you’re ready to take your bluegrass fiddle to the next level, this is a great choice.

Here’s a clip of the Lonely Heartstring Band  

Tatiana Hargreaves is on the forefront of an up and coming generation of old time, bluegrass and new acoustic musicians. Since releasing her first solo album “Started Out to Ramble” in 2009, Tatiana has toured with musicians such as Dave Rawlings, Gillian Welch, Laurie Lewis, Darol Anger, and Bruce Molsky. Hargreaves is an experienced teacher, who shows a musical fluency that flows between old time and bluegrass worlds with ease.

 Here’s Tatiana with banjo instructor, Allison DeGroot.

All jokes aside, banjos are the heart of traditional music. We have three incredibly talented teachers this summer.

Mike Stahlman began playing the 5-string banjo “when Lyndon Johnson was President”, and he was influenced by the playing of Earl Scruggs and Alan Munde. He taught bluegrass banjo for 18 years at Portland Community College, has taught at the Midwest banjo Camp, numerous workshops at Northwest festivals, and teaches regularly at the American Banjo Camp in Port Orchard, Washington. Mike lives in Portland, where works as a flight instructor, teaching private and commercial flight students near Portland, and yes, he finds many similarities.

(Learn more about his group, Mountain Honey, and see a clip of him from the Midwest Banjo Camp.

Gabe Hirshfeld grew up in Newton, Massachusetts. At the age of 15, he heard the great banjo player Earl Scruggs in the theme song of NPR’s Car Talk. The sound of the banjo spoke to him in a way that no other sound ever had, and it changed his life. After playing and obsessing over the banjo for several years, Gabe attended Berklee College of Music where he co-founded the Lonely Heartstring Band. He now lives in Brighton, Massachusetts, in a house with an intense number of fiddle players.

Here’s Gabe playing “Groundspeed” with Tony Trischka.

Allison de Groot combines love for old-time music, technical skill and a creative approach to the banjo forming her own sound – unique and full of personality. Her collaborations with Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves, Bruce Molsky’s trio Molsky’s Mountain Drifters, The Goodbye Girls and Nic Gariess provide spaces to explore the role and depth of clawhammer banjo. The music scene in her hometown of Winnipeg, Canada, immersion in Appalachian old-time communities, a performance degree at Berklee College of Music in Boston, and touring extensively throughout North America and Europe have all shaped her playing.

Here’s Allison playing Bregottlåten & Road to Westfield with Molly Tuttle. )

Everyone needs a bass player! Come learn this fabulous instrument—whether you’re relatively new to it, or ready to take on bigger challenges.

Keith Terry – Bass Rhythms— level 1/2/3 

Keith Terry is a drummer and rhythm dancer who’s played bass in the Old Time and Americana scenes for the past 20 years. He has a diverse musical appetite and has played a variety percussive traditional and roots music, including jazz, Balinese gamelan, Ghanaian and Afro-Brazilian drumming. He’s the founding artistic director of the International Body Music Festival (now in its 11th year), which has been produced in North America, Europe, South America, West Africa and Southeast Asia. Self-taught, he’s played bass in the Americana scene with Evie Ladin, the Stairwell Sisters, the Earl White Band, and countless square dances with various Old Time musicians around the country.

Here is Keith with Old Time Band class instructor, Evie Ladin.

Charles Clements grew up in Westborough, Massachusetts and began playing music at an early age. A 10-year journey through different instruments led Charles to the double bass in high school. He attended the New England Conservatory of Music earning his Bachelor’s Degree studying with Boston Symphony bassist Todd Seeber. Charles went on to receive his Masters degree at Manhattan School of Music in New York, studying with New York Philharmonic bassist David Grossman. Charles lives in Boston, where he plays with various classical music ensembles and collaborates on musical projects ranging from American Roots to Baroque.

We’re happy to have Ivan Rosenberg returning to California to teach with us this summer. He’s a fabulous player, and kind and experienced teacher.

Ivan Rosenberg was a university instructor before becoming a professional musician, and he is well known for his enjoyable and systematic instruction. Ivan has taught at music camps over 70 times. He has seven solo albums, and his original music has appeared in the background of over 450 television programs and films including The Daily Show and Oprah. Ivan won an IBMA Award for co-writing the 2009 Song of the Year.

Do you want to sing and play? Play Old-Time tunes? Be a better soloist? Focus on Bluegrass? We have all those choices.

Celia Woodsmith is a GRAMMY Nominated performer, vocalist, and songwriter. Woodsmith has been hailed by the Boston Globe as “Unvarnished and intimate (…) but then sounds like she’s about to part the Dead Sea”. In the last 14 years, Woodsmith has released nine albums of original music most recently with Nashville-based bluegrass band Della Mae and her Boston based vintage rock project SAY Darling. Woodsmith has continued touring with Della Mae, and will be putting two new records out in 2019!

Watch a clip of her amazing singing.

Patrick Sauber – Old-Time Guitar — level 1/2/3  

The son of master old time musician Tom Sauber, Patrick Sauber grew up surrounded by traditional southern music. Equally adept at banjo, mandolin, and guitar he is an in-demand instrumentalist and singer. Patrick has played or recorded with many musical greats including: Doc Watson, Curly Seckler, David Grisman, Peter Rowan, Roland White, John Fogerty, Herb Pedersen, and Tim O’Brien. Patrick was also a cast member of the Christopher Guest movie “A Mighty Wind”. He can be seen on the road with Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands, Peter Rowan, the Tim O’Brien Band, and John Reischman and the Jaybirds.

Here is Patrick with his father Tom Sauber on fiddle and Tom Carter on mandolin.  Watch him in A Mighty Wind, too.

George Clements is a Boston-based guitarist and singer/songwriter steeped in the folk music traditions. George graduated from the Berklee College of Music in 2014 where he was an active member in the American Roots Music Program. After graduating, he hit the road with The Lonely Heartstring Band, touring to various music festivals and venues across the USA and Canada. The band is set to release their second record, Smoke & Ashes, in 2019. When he’s not on the road, George teaches out of his home studio in Boston.

Jack Tuttle grew up in a musical family in rural Illinois and began playing guitar at age 5. While in his teens, he immersed himself in bluegrass and added banjo, mandolin, and fiddle to instrumental repertoire. He began teaching full time at Gryphon in 1979 and has taught thousands of students over the years, including his own talented children, Molly (2017 and 2018 IBMA Bluegrass Guitarist of the Year), Sullivan, and Michael. Jack has performed at many notable events including: A Prairie Home Companion, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Strawberry Music Festival, and Merlefest.

We have two amazing mandolinists with us this summer: John Reischman, who has taught with the CBA Summer Camp previously, and Maddie Witler, who’s new to this scene.

John Reischman is one of the premier mandolinists of his generation. He’s a master instrumentalist capable of swinging between re-inventions of traditional old-time tunes, deconstructions from the bluegrass repertoire, and compelling original tunes, many of which have become standards. He’s also a powerful bandleader, touring his band the Jaybirds all over Canada and the United States. But most of all, he’s an understated visionary, the kind of master craftsman whose music is virtuosic without ever being flashy and who is renowned for his impeccable taste and tone as an artist. John Reischman embodies the true spirit of acoustic music in the 21st century.

John Reischman and the Jay Birds play one of John’s most popular originals, Saltspring. 

Maddie Witler is originally from LaCrescenta, CA. Maddie picked up the mandolin when she was 14 and fell in love with the instrument and bluegrass music. She spent the next few years studying with mandolinist Evan Marshall, with whom she worked her way through a lot of Bach, Jazz, and other musical styles, as well as bluegrass. Maddie attended the Berklee College of Music from 2010-2014. While in school she studied with some of her musical heroes including John McGann, Joe Walsh, Julian Lage, Mike Compton, and Andy Statman. Maddie met her band mates in the Lonely Heartstring Band while at Berklee, and has been a member of the band since it began in 2012.

Watch Maddie and the Lonely Heartstring Band play “Gentle on my Mind.”

Don’t want to drag your bass along, tune your five-string, or otherwise be encumbered by an instrument in the morning? We have singing classes for everyone.

Erin Youngberg has been playing upright bass since age 9 with her banjo pickin’ daddy growing up in Wyoming. She has toured, recorded, instructed and performed all over the country with various bluegrass, folk, old time and country bands. Her latest project, FY5, is a Bluegrass/Americana band with her husband Aaron Youngberg and singer/songwriter Mike Finders and features some of her original material. She teaches private bass lessons in the Fort Collins area, has been an instructor at a 4-H fiddle and dance camp for kids in Cordova, AK, and teaches in bass and vocal workshops at festivals across the country.

Watch Erin with FY5. 

Laurie Lewis is a dedicated music teacher, having taught fiddle, songwriting, vocal styles, and harmony singing for many years. The Sacramento News called her “as fine a singer as anyone on the acoustic music circuit, anywhere in the world.” Billboard praised her ability to “successfully walk the high wire above esoteric country, combining elements of bluegrass and pure country to form her own seamless mix.” And American folk music icon Utah Phillips boiled it down even further, asserting: “Whatever country music is supposed to be, she’s at the center of it.” Her latest CD with her band The Right Hands, “The Hazel and Alice Sessions,” was nominated for a Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album last year.

 Here’s a recent video of Laurie (there are so many to choose from)–this one with guitar instructor, Patrick Sauber.

Keith Little – Vocal Harmony— level 2/3 

 Keith Little is a nationally acclaimed bluegrass musician, recording artist, and composer. As a vocalist, he’s participated in many top bluegrass recordings, including Dolly Parton’s award-winning albums: The Grass Is Blue and Little Sparrow. Performing on guitar, banjo, mandolin, and fiddle, Keith regularly appears leading the LittleBand, and is also a featured member of the David Grisman Bluegrass Experience. His compositions have been recorded by Longview, Tim O’Brien, Claire Lynch, and the Whites (among others), and he is an honorary lifetime member of the CBA. A dedicated teacher and coach, Keith has taught at numerous schools and camps both nationally and abroad.

Here’s Keith singing my favorite song, Songbird.

Band ensemble classes fill up fast – there’s nothing better than playing with a group of people. Sign up soon!

Greg Blake sings & plays guitar with Jeff Scroggins & Colorado primarily, but is also know for fronting a number of other ensemble configurations… all the way from local and regional bands, to national and international touring bands that would include popular, top-level musicians and recording artists such as Sierra Hull, Don Rigsby, Mark Schatz, John Reischman, Blaine Sprouse, Sally Van Meter, Patrick Sauber, etc. Greg has been recognized for both his vocal and instrumental skills by the IBMA (Guitar Player and Male Vocalist nominee) and SPBGMA (Male Vocalist nominee and 5 times consecutive Guitar Player of the Year). His debut solo CD, Songs of Heart and Home, was in the Top Ten Bluegrass CDs list of the Roots Music Report in both 2015 and 2016.

 Here is Greg with mandolin instructor, John Reischman.

Evie Ladin – Old-Time Band— level 2/3

Evie Ladin is a banjo player, singer, songwriter, flatfooter and square-dance caller, who grew up steeped in traditional folk music/dance. She started performing with her sister Abby at the age of 8. Heard from A Prairie Home Companion to Lincoln Center, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass to Celtic Connections, Evie has taken home ribbons in folk song multiple competitions. Based in Oakland, CA, Evie tours internationally with partner Keith Terry and the Evie Ladin Band; and has released 8 CDs and two clogging instructional DVDs. Evie teaches banjo and harmony singing at the infamous Freight & Salvage, online at Peghead Nation and countless camps. A patient and talented teacher, Evie enjoys facilitating arts learning in diverse communities, always connecting the music with the dance, and educating people about traditional Appalachian culture and history.

Here is Evie with bass instructor, Keith Terry.

Fungrass! Is exactly what it sounds like. Get the littlest ones involved in age-appropriate musical fun.

Kathleen Rushing is the director of Fungrass! Kathleen is a retired Kindergarten teacher/music and movement specialist. Currently she visits schools, libraries, and whoever will host her own brand of musical fun, Bingo Schmingo Music. Kathleen also plays mandolin, bouzouki, and banjo in the all-ladies Irish band, Extended Roots, and occasionally stands in with local bluegrass bands.

Here is one of Kathleen’s songs. 

Keep an eye on the website for more information on camp, classes, and electives. See you in Grass Valley!

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*LEVELS

Level 1: Advanced beginner. By this we mean that you already know the basics of how to play your instrument (and tune it!) and can play some songs or tunes, if not up to tempo, at least not agonizingly slowly.

Level 2: Intermediate. By this we mean that you are quite comfortable with your instrument and have at least some experience playing with other people. And you tune without even being asked!

Level 3: Upper intermediate. You should have at least two years of playing experience, including some experience playing with others in jam sessions or in bands.

If you’re uncertain which level is right for you, consider whether you’d rather take it slow and easy, or be more challenged, and sign up accordingly. If you wish, you can take a class that’s above your level (i.e. one where you don’t meet all the prerequisites), but the teacher will not be able to take time to teach you the material listed in the prerequisites.

We will allow for some adjustments as needed the first day.