Author: Jim Kendrick
Jake Eddy
Jake Eddy is the leading torchbearer of solo bluegrass flatpicking and was called “one of the most exciting young guitarists” by Fretboard Journal. In 2023 he was invited to perform at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival, performed 3 times on the Grand Ole Opry, and was nominated for IBMA Momentum Instrumentalist of the Year. His style is influenced heavily by the syncopated playing of Clarence White and he sites influences from Doc Watson and McCoy Tyner to Jimmy Bryant and Roy Clark. Bluegrass Unlimited says Jake’s recent album is “proof we live in the golden age of flatpicking” and when you hear him, you will have no choice but to agree.
Jeremy Wanless
Jeremy Wanless is celebrated for his own rugged and bluesy take on the traditional Blue Grass mandolin style created by Bill Monroe. As a teenager, Jeremy studied under internationally known mandolin masters Mike Compton and Skip Gorman. Jeremy worked for years on staff at the Augusta Heritage Center, American Mountain Theater, Gandy Dancer Theater, and Franks Family Music’s “Greatest Show On Rails” as well as numerous bluegrass ensembles over the years. A patient teacher with a refined musical manner, Jeremy teaches mandolin both privately and publicly and performs regularly with the “Phrawg Giggers” and “Franks Family Music.”
Mark Hembree
Jeff Burke
Jeff Burke is a professional musician and instructor who teaches bluegrass music and improvisation to individuals and groups. He plays Guitar, Mandolin and Banjo and has performed and recorded with a number of bands over his 23 year career. Jeff has worked both independently and in connection with the Wernick Method to bring group jamming classes to both Nashville, TN and Chicago, IL. He founded the popular bluegrass jamming class at the World famous Stayion Inn and works extensively with the Country Music Hall of Fame to provide hands on acoustic instrument and jamming workshops for their youth and family programs.
In 2020 Jeff Became the general Manager of The Station Inn in Nashville, handling day to day duties and booking the bands. In 2021 he left Station Inn to join the management and booking team at Dee’s Country Cocktail Lounge in Madison, TN where he is currently employed. He is also involved with Bluegrass Wednesdays at American Legion Post 82 in Nashville. Jeff also produces 2-3 day jam camps at festivals around the country and has been a faculty member at numerous music camps.
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Mission Statement
Preserving and Promoting the Music and Cultural Heritage of Authentic First Generation Bluegrass
Scholarships
- MANDOLIN Video Competition: Video Submission between February 1-15. Winner announced February 28, 2020.
- BANJO Video Competition: Video Submission between
March 1 – March 15 Winner Announced April 1, 2020. - FIDDLE Video Competition: Video Submission between
April 1- April 15. (New Dates): Winner announced April 30, 2020. - NEW for 2020! GUITAR Video Competition: Video Submission
April 15 – April 30, 2020. Winner announced May 15, 2020.
COMPETITION RULES
- Music submitted must be a Bill Monroe tune or instrumental.
- Submissions open to candidates of any age.
- Participants to write a 500 word essay on their musical pursuits, why they are interested in Monroe’s prolific music and their goals in attending this camp.
- Video must remain under 4 minutes.
- Announce your name and song title on the video. You may play solo or with accompaniment-just make sure video camera is pointing on person submitting video. Please make sure we can see both left and right hands!
- A maximum of 25 submissions accepted (you will receive an email with confirmation if your video is accepted.)
- Upload video to YouTube, and email the link to: monroemandolincamp@gmail.com . In subject line of email, please write “2020 (Insert Instrument ) MonManCamp Video Scholarship Competition.”
- The winner of each Video Scholarship Competition to be awarded a full tuition scholarship including camp T-shirt.
- Transportation, meals and lodging are separate and not included in the award, and the responsibility of the winner.
- Winning video may be used in promotional materials.
- Entries will be judged on 4 categories including: Authenticity, Execution, Difficulty, and Technique.
- Previous Video Scholarship winners are not eligible for consecutive years on the same instrument.
- Video Scholarship Winners are limited to instrument classes for whicht they won the scholarship.
Raynae Redman
My name is Raynae Redman and this is the second time I have attended Monroe Mandolin Camp.
In 2016, the camp was expanded to include banjo, and in 2017, a fiddle track was also added. Each year there’ll be another instrument track added until each of the 5 bluegrass instruments in Monroe’s band will be offered. It’s going to be exciting as each year the next instrument added will make it a full Monroe Bluegrass experience.I was intrigued and stoked to attend because I wanted to take the banjo track. it was taught by the famous Alan O’Bryant of the Nashville Bluegrass Band fame-Very exciting. All techniques and songs taught were Monroe songs and styles even on the banjo, keeping with the theme of this being a Monroe camp.
A very nice spiral bound book was given to us with tabs and tips from each instructor for what they were teaching, and even though I took the banjo track, our book contained all the mandolin instructions and tabs too, which was a bonus. The book was nicely done and is about 3/4″ thick with a lot of useful information.
The camp is well run and a lot of fun to attend. They offer fun evening activities as an added interest to the camp too.
The food package offered was unbelievably good. i almost decided to not pay for the food package thinking I’d walk to eat elsewhere, but I decided to add it on to my camp tuition. i can tell you right now that that was a great decision! The food is so good and all you can eat; full meals that offer you anything you’d possibly want plus it’s very convenient and more fun eating right there with your fellow campers. I’m sure I gained ten pounds and it was definitely a good value.
My classes were fun and a challenge but I found that recording the lessons on my iPad was the greatest help of all, so if your considering attending, it’s very helpful to bring a recording device (after getting the ok from my instructor that recording was ok!) I was able to come home where I had plenty of time to decipher what was taught in the comfort of my home, and spend as much time as I needed to improve each tune. There were five tunes that were harder tunes that I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d be playing, and I’m proud to say I’ve learned several of them already! TIt was easy to match my videos to the tabs where I was having trouble, and then to figure the parts out.
If you’re interested in traditional bluegrass and in particular Monroe’s style which defined early bluegrass, I would highly recommend this camp.
You’ll make lifelong friends and be able to network with them afterwards for even more help. Everyone attending this camp shares our same passion and they’re just good ole bluegrass folks from around the world making it a really fun experience.
Evenings that I didn’t feel like jamming were spent at The Station Inn or other interesting Nashville sites.
I highly recommend this camp! —Raynae Redman, September 16, 2017
Diane Cross
Traveling from Australia, I’ve attended many Monroe Mandolin Camps and at every camp I’ve learnt a lot. Each time following the camp, I’ve had many hours of practice developing my skills as a mandolin player.
Tuition has been excellent featuring a diverse team of professional Mandolin players. Mike Compton, David Davis, Roland White, Skip Gorman, Richie Brown and many more, offering unique inside into the great Bill Monroe’s fundamental mandolin style. I’ve gained a lot of knowledge about Bill Monroe and his history, talent, passion, contribution, motivation. After all, he was the founder of bluegrass music and “Bill Monroe and His Bluegrass Boys.”
Luthiers attend the camp and are invaluable twerking, repairing, and attending to minor adjustments, along with gibing advice into setting up and any major repairs that your mandolin may need.
Some highlights at the Monroe Mandolin Camps have been:
Previous Bluegrass Boys musicians who played with Bill Monroe
Playing in the Country Music Hall of Fame Rotunda, representing women of Bluegrass and the Monroe Mandolin Camp (and as one of their international attendees!)The Monroe Mandolin Camp has developed and become more inclusive of other bluegrass instruments, which is exciting, as well as incorporating other influences such as the blues, old-time mandolin, banjo and fiddle.
At every camp the food has been scrumptious and plentiful!I love playing mandolin and through my mandolin I found Bill Monroe and a style of music which was developed by him. I would highly recommend the Monroe Mandolin Camp for enthusiastic mandolin or other bluegrass instrument players! —Diane Cross, September 17, 2017