New Mexico Banjo Camp 2024
Join world-class players and teachers for an unforgettable weekend of bluegrass/three-finger and old-time/clawhammer instruction, a Saturday night faculty concert, jamming and social gatherings designed for all levels of players. What’s the difference with the New Mexico Banjo Camp? We’re small with a maximum of 25 students, so you’ll have much greater access to our teachers. We get to know you personally and can provide much more one-on-one help than is possible at larger events. We also provide comfortable high-quality bed-and-breakfast style accommodations at the historic Black Range Lodge and homemade healthy meals made by the staff on site.
Up to four sessions of topics-oriented workshops per day will alternate with open time for follow-up and Q&A along with a Saturday night concert, late-night jams and more. We’ll teach what you’re interested in learning and the emphasis is on having fun in a relaxed and entertaining learning environment where there’s plenty of time to take in what you’re learning. Our schedule mixes group workshops (with topics determined by student requests, collected before camp), jamming at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels, our close-up faculty concert as well as informal one-on-one interaction with teachers along with down-time each day for meals, rest and practicing (see below our sample schedule
To accommodate demand but to keep our camp small, we have two successive camp weekends scheduled on April 18-21, with Alan Munde, Ned Luberecki and Bill Evans; and April 25-28, with Alan Munde, Bill Evans, Riley Baugus (old-time/clawhammer) and a teacher TBA soon.
$520 tuition includes all instruction, concerts, jamming and social events. Payment for food and lodging is made separately to the Black Range Lodge and will vary according to your room choice from $160 to $210 per day. Our schedule mixes group workhops (with topics determined by student requests, collected in advance), jamming at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels (with plenty of help given to those new to group playing!) and informal one-on-one interaction with teachers and down-time each day for relaxed meals, rest and practicing (see below our 2019 schedule).
“I’m excited to meet in person again after not being able to be together for the last two years. With our smaller size, it is my goal with the New Mexico Banjo Camp to inspire every student with new ideas and practice strategies that they can put to use immediately. I also hope to provide inspiration and music direction that will help you throughout the year after you’ve returned home. I’ve designed this to be a different kind of camp, with time to absorb what you’ve learned, get feedback from teachers and to set future goals for after our weekend has ended – all in a low-pressure, relaxing and fun learning environment. And all of this takes place in an incredibly beautiful setting in New Mexico at the Black Range Lodge with delicious and healthy food and comfortable Southwest-style accommodations.”
BANJO TEACHERS
This Year’s Instructors
The New Mexico Banjo camp will feature some of the premiere bluegrass and old-time banjo players in the world. Each weekend will have a different set of instructors. Get to know our banjo players more below.
Bill Evans
Banjo For Dummies author and 2022 Steve Martin Banjo prize recipient Bill Evans has taught thousands of players in both grop and one-on-one instruction over the last forty-five years. He has authored five books, nine DVDs and also teaches five online courses at Peghead Nation (www.pegheadnation.com).
He co-directed the Sonny Osborne Banjo Retreat for 15 years as well as teaching at literally hundreds of other banjo workshops and bluegrass camps all around the world. His instruction is down-to-earth, organized and hands-on with detailed tab examples designed for the adult learner.
Bill currently performs with the California Bluegrass Reunion (John Reischman, Brandon Godman, Chad Manning, Jim Nunally and Sharon Gilchrist) and Dan Crary, in addition to touring with his solo concert The Banjo in America, where he presents music from the 1780’s to the present day on a variety of historic instruments. His latest recordings are Things Are Simple, featuring the California Bluegrass Reunion, his wife Babi and daughter Corey.
Ned Luberecki
Banjoist for the Becky Buller Band and host of More Banjo Sunday and Derailed on SiriusXM Satellite Radio’s Bluegrass Junction, Ned Luberecki was named Banjo Player of the Year for 2018 and Broadcaster of the Year for 2023 by the IBMA. Ned is the author of the Complete Banjo Method series for Alfred Music and has numerous lesson videos available at TrueFire.com. Living in Nashville, TN, he is an in-demand performer and session musician having appeared on stage and recordings with Becky Buller, Chris Jones, Jim Lauderdale, Ray Stevens, Nedski & Mojo and many others. Ned is a popular instructor at music camps and workshops across the US, Canada and Europe including Camp Bluegrass, RockyGrass Academy, Kaufman Acoustic Kamp, Sore Fingers (UK) and Bluegrass Camp Germany. His website is nedski.com.
Alan Munde
Alan Munde is a bluegrass banjo legend – easily among the most influential players of all time as well as being one of the world’s most accomplished and prolific teachers. Alan began his career in bluegrass music with the 1968 recording of Poor Richard's Almanac featuring Sam Bush and Wayne Stewart, followed by a traditional grounding in bluegrass music as a member of IBMA Hall of Fame member Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys. In 1972, Alan joined his college friend Byron Berline in the forward-leaning bluegrass group Country Gazette and he continued as the anchor of the group for twenty-one years. Along the way, he recorded many highly regarded albums including Banjo Sandwich and the Festival Favorites series. Alan taught in the Bluegrass Music Program at South Plains College in Levelland, Texas from 1986 to 2006 and since that time, he has become a mainstay of the international banjo camp scene. He has published many instructional books for Mel Bay and instructional DVDs for Texas Music and Video. The Yosemite Banjo Camp provides the unique opportunity of learning from this true master in a much smaller group setting than found in most other camps. Learn more about Alan at almundesbanjocollege.com.
Kristin Scott Benson
Kristin Scott Benson is a five-time International Bluegrass Music Association’s Banjo Player of the Year and recipient of the 2018 Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass. Since 2008, she has been a member of The Grascals, a Grammy-nominated and two-time IBMA Entertainers of the Year-winning band. Kristin is one of the nation’s top bluegrass banjo players, exhibiting impeccable taste, timing, and tone. With an attentive ear to back-up, she is known and respected a true team player among her peers. Kristin’s latest solo album, Stringworks, on Mountain Home Records, was released in July of 2016. It debuted in the top-ten on Billboard’s Bluegrass album chart and the self-penned opening track, “Great Waterton,” was nominated for IBMA’s Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year. Kristin is known as one of the best banjo teachers in the world, with extensive knowledge of the banjo styles of Earl Scruggs, Sonny Osborne, J. D. Crowe and other bluegrass banjo greats. She has taught at Bela Fleck’s Blue Ridge Banjo Camp and the Banjo Summit, among many other events. With The Grascals, she has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, as well as having performed for two U. S. presidents and over 200 performances on The Grand Old Opry. The New Mexico Banjo Camp is proud and honored to add Kristin to our 2023 staff. To find out more about Kristin, visit www.ksbbanjo.com.
Riley Baugus
Riley was born and raised near Winston-Salem, North Carolina and started playing banjo at the age of 10. He was inspired by the traditional Appalachian music that he heard in his family’s community in the Blue Ridge mountains and went on to learn his craft while still a youngster from such old-time greats as Tommy Jarrell, Dix Freeman and Robert Sykes. Riley has played with numerous old-time string bands, including The Red Hots and the Old Hollow Stringband and has recorded on his own for Rounder and Sugar Hill records. He sings on the soundtrack to the Academy Award winning film Cold Mountain and performs on the Grammy award winning Raising Sand by Alison Kruass and Robert Plant and Willie Nelson’s Country Music. Riley performs internationally, often with Dirk Powell and dancer Ira Bernstein.
Schedule of Events
Sample Camp
Schedule
This year camp will take place in person, and you can find a sample schedule of what this years camp might look like. This schedule is meant to give you an idea of what camp will be like.
Friday & Saturday
8:00 - 9:00 A.M.
Breakfast
–
9:15 – 10:30 a.m.
Workshop Session #1
Alan – Roll Logic: Basic Rolls & How to Place Melody Notes Within Them
Ned – Jam Session Survival
Bill – Up The Neck: Great Licks and Solo Strategies
Saturday:
Alan – Up The Neck Back Up Combining Chord Shapes, Licks & Rolls
Ned – Improvisation For Everybody
Bill – Licks-ercises in Scruggs Style: Turning Rolls Into Licks
–
10:45 a.m. to 12 P.M.
Workshop Session #2
Alan – Playing in C and D
Ned – Rolling With Down The Neck Backup
Bill – Understanding Melodic Style
Saturday:
Alan – Analysis of Blue Ridge Cabin Home: Working Up Scruggs Solos
Ned – Finding Chords All Over The Neck
Bill – Intros & Endings
–
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Lunch
–
1:00 – 2:15 p.m.
Riley’s Intro to Clawhammer For Bluegrass Pickers!
–
2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Free Time
One-on-one sessions / mini-workshops / free time/ jamming
–
4:15 – 5:30 p.m.
All Group Sessions
Friday: Taking It Step By Step: Your Road to Being A Great Player
Saturday: Arranging & Playing Non-Bluegrass/Old-Time Songs
–
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Dinner
–
8:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Performance
Noisy Water Band & Riley Baugus In Concert (Friday) / The Hard
Road Trio, Bill Evans, Alan Munde & Ned Luberecki In Concert (Saturday)
–
9:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Facilitated Jams
It’s time to jam!
Sunday
8:00 - 9:00 A.M.
Breakfast
–
9:45 – 10:45 a.m.
Workshop Session #1
Alan – Veritable Load of Licks in G, C & D
Ned – Playing in Really Far Out Keys (A, Bb, E & F)
Bill – Understanding Single-String Style
–
11:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
Group Farewell
Alan – Classic Fiddle Tunes (your requests!)
Ned – Blending Melodic and Single-String Styles
Bill – Practice Strategies: Using Your Ears & Working Up Speed
-
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Lunch
–
Camp Ends
Lodging and Food
Black Range Lodge
Lodging and food are separate transactions and must be arranged directly with Catherine Wanek at the Black Range Lodge by calling 575-895-5652. Rooms, camping spaces and 2 RV spaces are available, in addition to several Air BnB options in the immediate area. In addition, several hotels are a short drive from the lodge. Lodging prices include your room and all meals. Most rooms have double or queen beds and couples are welcome!
Those attending camp will be charged for three days’ accommodation and food.
Rates vary according to each lodge room. Visit the Black Range Lodge’s website for room descriptions. And the food is delicious and home cooked!
Black Range Lodge
Catherine Wanek
575-895-5652
SEE ACCOMMODATIONS
