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Mark gives banjo workshops several times a year. Over the last year, he has given workshops at Dusty Strings and the NW Folklife Festival in Seattle, The National Old-Time Fiddle Festival in Weiser, ID, and at the San Francisco Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Festival in San Francisco. The banjo workshops can be for beginners - (5-String Banjo Essentials) or intermediate to advanced players - (Advanced Workshop).
"I wanted to follow up and express my thoughts with the class you taught up at Seattle and how much I enjoyed it. As I mentioned I had only been playing for 6 months was a bit nervous. Well I'm always a bit nervous. But thanks, you were great, I enjoyed your style as an instructor and as a musician. Thanks again for an absolutely great experience I really learned so much."
"Just wanted to drop you a quick "thank-you" note for the workshop you held at Dusty Strings last weekend. (I took part in the beginner / intermediate workshop - I was the guy with the Sierra.) I got a lot out of it and have been digging the exercises. I was in a happy banjo buzz when I came home after the workshop."
The introductory workshop is designed for beginning to intermediate banjo players who seek to learn to play "by ear." Learning to hear chord changes and playing essential banjo rolls is emphasized. Playing banjo rolls in several different keys is addressed in terms of a broad scope of songs and rhythms. Backup playing and lead playing are discussed in terms of simple chords, chord modulations, and chord transpositions. This session is designed to help students learn to play the "right" chords and rhythm. Instructional material is provided.
The advanced 5-string banjo workshop focuses on improvising in Scruggs, single-string, and melodic styles. Emphasis is on hearing chord changes and other aspects of playing "by ear." Participants learn to develop right-hand techniques that facilitate Scruggs, Reno, and other melodic and chromatic methods of picking. Mark also covers chromatic methods for improvisation. Music theory is discussed in the context of these methods, and participants will receive workshop handouts with music/tablature and diagrams.
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