PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The Grey Fox Bluegrass Academy for Kids (BGA) is a free four-day learning program held Thursday through Sunday at Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival. The program teaches children (age 8-17) to play, sing and perform bluegrass music. The curriculum consists of (1) sectional instruction with their assigned instrumental teacher, (2) ensemble practices with the whole group, (3) harmony singing lessons and (4) guest appearances by young professional musicians performing at Grey Fox. The program's grand finale is a "graduation gig" performance Sunday afternoon on the Main Stage. Approximately 100 kids participate each year. They have fun, learn a lot, grow in confidence and make friends that can last a lifetime.
BGA portraits by Grey Fox staff photographer Dave Weiland
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival is committed to passing along the traditions of bluegrass music to future generations through education. We are pleased to see that several other bluegrass festivals around the country now have learning programs based on the Grey Fox model. Our instructors and administrators have been invited to speak on the subject of youth education at the IBMA World of Bluegrass Business & Education Conference, at Leadership Bluegrass in Nashville, TN and at the 2010 International Music Festival Conference (IMFCON) in Las Vegas, NV. The Grey Fox Bluegrass Academy for Kids (BGA) has been featured in Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine, the IBMA newsletter, regional bluegrass association publications and on Voice of America Radio.
Our two children, ages 8 and 11, have been coming since they were babies, and year after year they love the camaradarie and the Grey Fox kid programming that has developed over the last ten years.
Our kids are now playing fiddle and some banjo and the Bluegrass Academy has just taken them one step further into the music.
Dennis Rokos
Delanson, NY
BGA STAFF Renowned master fiddler and teacher BRIAN WICKLUND has been the artistic director of the Grey Fox Bluegrass Academy for Kids since 2000. Wicklund is the author of the highly acclaimed American Fiddle Method books as well as a member of the busily touring band, The Barley Jacks. Several gifted instructors and musicians comprise the BGA faculty, most of whom have been teaching at Grey Fox since 2000. They include Ellen Carlson (fiddle); Lew Gelfond (fiddle); Ira Gitlin (banjo); Cathy Goode (fiddle); Louis Kaplan (bass); Chris Panfil (guitar); Mark Panfil (dobro and guitar); and Akira Otsuka (mandolin).
CLASSES We offer beginning, advanced beginner, intermediate and advanced fiddle; beginning and intermediate guitar; beginning and intermediate mandolin; banjo; bass, cello and dobro, plus an advanced seniors class (see below). Classes generally have up to ten students in them.
“BGA SENIORS” The “Seniors" section is for students who are “way beyond the basics” on their instruments. The focus of this class is to refine playing and singing skills, and to learn to play as a tight bluegrass band, including such aspects as soloing, band dynamics and effective backup. Normally this program is reserved for teens, but it depends on playing ability. While BGA Seniors are not required to have any particular skill or experience, it is helpful if students can learn new songs by ear, can find harmony lines on their instrument, and feel comfortable improvising. Class size is limited to roughly 10 students. TONY WATT will once again be leading the BGA Seniors Class this year, and you can e-mail him with any questions at tonywatt@gmail.com
TYPICAL SCHEDULE for BGA
Thursday
7-8:30 pm:
Orientation: Meet instructors, run through tunes, get materials. Bring your instrument. Instructors will make class adjustments as needed. 8:00-8:30: ice-breaker family dance with music & dance instruction by BGA instructors. Fun!
Friday
10-noon:
Sectionals, ensembles and harmony singing classes
Noon-1:30:
Break for lunch with your family
1:30-3:30:
Sectionals, ensembles, singing and guest band appearances
Saturday
10-noon:
Sectionals, ensembles and harmony singing classes
Noon-1:30:
Break for lunch with your family
1:30-3:30:
Sectionals, ensembles, singing and guest band performance
Sunday
11-noon:
Concert rehearsal & diplomas
Noon
Break for lunch with family
1:30
2:00 (exact time tba)
Meet backstage for BGA Main Stage performance
Performance on Main Stage & class photo immediately after
ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS Before enrolling, please make sure your child can:
Attend classes all four days, beginning with orientation on Thursday night and ending with Sunday afternoon's performance.
Bring his or her instrument to all sessions, including orientation.
Has basic knowledge of his/her instrument. For instance, fiddle students should be able to play an A scale and play a simple tune such as Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. Guitar students should be able to play A, D and E chords and change comfortably between them.
RECOMMENDATIONS
BGA is designed for kids age 8 and up. However, if your child has not yet turned 8 but has been taking lessons, plays his/her instrument with basic proficiency AND has an adequate attention span, we will consider accepting him or her if room allows.
We recommend that students bring a tuner to classes with them. This can be an electronic tuner (such as those made by Intellitouch), a tuning fork or pitch pipe.
Guitar and banjo students should also bring a capo suitable for their instrument.
REGISTERING YOUR CHILD
Registration begins at midnight, April 1 each year. Some classes fill up quickly!
There is no charge to participate in the academy. However, tax deductible donations are gladly accepted and very much appreciated.
Kids 13 and upneed a ticket to attend the festival. Please visit our TICKET PAGE to purchase tickets. Kids 12 and under are admitted free to Grey Fox with a ticketed parent or guardian.
To register your child for BGA, click the registration link at the top of this page, fill in all questions and click "submit" ONCE.
Many of you will want to know what the BGA tunes will be this year. Please check back here in mid-May for links to the songs that you will be able to download. Thank you.
If you have any questions, please contact Mary Burdette, via e-mail or call 603-677-2178.
Special thanks to: Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine for its generous sponsorship; and D'Addario Foundation for the Performing Arts for its support of our educational programs over the years.
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