by Christine | Aug 17, 2019 | Welcome Column
One thing you can count on with bluegrass musicians is they have a guaranteed and bonafide calico quilt of a musical pedigree. It seems like the more talented the player, the more diverse their roots. At any given bluegrass festival, usually if you stay up late...
by Christine | Aug 10, 2020 | Welcome Column
Hi everyone! For this month I thought I would reveal how my project ends. If anybody would desire specific information found in any of the body chapters or would want to check out the thesis as a whole, please feel free to contact me on facebook or email me at...
by Christine | Nov 11, 2019 | Welcome Column
Like Western Classical music and various other genres or musical styles, bluegrass has been assessed as and plagued by the notion that it is a static and dying music. Yet, the “death of bluegrass” conversation pivots away from other such discussions in the fact that...
by Christine | May 27, 2011 | Welcome Column
While it’s probably old news to many of you by now, I hope you took the chance to read banjo player Chris Pandolfi’s April 2011 blog, titled “Bluegrass?” (if you haven’t read it yet, check it out by linking to http://chrispandolfi.com/?p=567). Chris’ essay arrived at...
by Christine | Jul 22, 2018 | Welcome Column
Some may know this, others may not, but my middle name is Duffey. Martin Duffey Varner. I like the name in principle more than how it rolls off the tongue because it’s always served as a reminder of one of the greatest performers, instrumentalists, vocalists, and...
by Christine | Jul 28, 2012 | Welcome Column
I’m thankful that it’s been such a busy summer this year. I’ve been lucky to teach at some of the best music camps around, like Banjo Camp North in Massachusetts; the Midwest Banjo Camp in Michigan; Camp Bluegrass at South Plains College in Texas and, coming up next...
by Christine | Sep 15, 2012 | Welcome Column
“Is the jamming any good?” “Will I have to hike out for food?” “What kind of a bluegrass festival is it anyway?” “What’s the volunteering like?” Ah, yes, friends, these are the great unknowns of an untried festival venue. So, here’s a take on a recent festival...
by Christine | Mar 19, 2016 | Welcome Column
If you’re on Facebook you probably know how sometimes it throws you a “memory,” a post from your past, usually with a photo of a previous Facebook post. So today when Akira Otsuka (of Bluegrass 45) showed up in a smiling pose with 17 year-old me at Wintergrass in...
by Christine | Aug 19, 2018 | Welcome Column
There is a saying that is often attributed to be an old Chinese curse, which goes something like “may you live in interesting times”. An associated version of that curse is “may you live an interesting life” and it turns out neither of these has any apparent roots in...
by Christine | Apr 7, 2020 | Welcome Column
Guitarist Jim Nunally is one of those quiet tsunami forces within the bluegrass world. He’s far too humble to put it that way but I’m sure you know what I mean. Every one of us has seen him on stage at festivals and concerts for years, seamlessly adding his expertise...
