Lincoln in the Land of Bluegrass, an ambitious stage musical produced by the International Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro has been scheduled to air on Kentucky Educational Television during the first week of November.
The production, which presents stories from Abraham Lincoln’s life set to bluegrass music, was directed by Dr. Teresa Wills and features hundreds of area elementary schoolchildren in acting, singing and dancing roles. The students, from Newton Parrish, Country Heights, Catholic 4-6 Campus, and Foust wrote melodies, lyrics and performed the songs they had penned. Lincoln is part of the larger IBMM ‘Bluegrass in the Schools’ (BITS) program.
The Lincoln musical was the brainchild of area mail carrier Rick Miller, who had researched and written the dialogue, as well as words to half of the songs, before pitching the idea to IBMM Director Gabrielle Gray. Miller and Gray enlisted the assistance of BITS volunteer Randy Lanham to compose music for Miller’s songs and to tutor the student actors and musicians in the art of traditional bluegrass songwriting.
Lanham then coordinated with the elementary school teachers who coached their students through the final production. Dance sequences were choreographed by Barry Lanham of the dance troupe Foot Stompin’ Express, which also performed in Lincoln. Students from Foust Elementary choreographed their own dance steps for the original song they had written for the musical.
In her role as producer of the event, Gray, emphasizes that the success of Lincoln in the Land of Bluegrass underscores the importance of educational programs to the IBMM mission. “As our board and staff go steadfastly about the business of nurturing, sponsoring and growing bluegrass from our youth up, it is wonderful to get to see the results of our efforts not only appreciated but ‘limelighted’ by others,” she says.
Educational programs at the IBMM are made possible through donations, grants and sponsorship by various individuals and organizations, including the Michael E. Horn Family Foundation, Kentucky Arts Council, Lester E. Yeager Charitable Trust and D'Addario Foundation for the Performing Arts. The museum plans to mount a similar musical production on the life of Bill Monroe, to be performed at their Centennial Celebration of his birth on Sept 13, 2011.
Lincoln in the Land of Bluegrass airs on Kentucky Educational Television:
Tuesday, November 3, 8:00 p.m. CST
Wednesday, November 4, 12:00 a.m. CST
Wednesday, November 4, 12:00 p.m. CST
Friday, November 6, 11:00 p.m. CST
Saturday, November 7, 1:00 a.m. CST
Monday, October 26, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Monroe-Style Mandolin Camp preserves bluegrass history
The International Bluegrass Music Museum established the Monroe-Style Mandolin Camp in an effort to preserve the unique, historic performance art of Bill Monroe, “The Father of Bluegrass," by teaching his style of mandolin playing and songwriting to a new generation of players. A faculty consisting of some of the greatest ambassadors of Monroe-style mandolin are assembled each fall to examine issues related to the development and execution of Monroe's mandolin style. The fourth annual camp was held in September 2009, welcoming 45 participants and 12 guests to the program held at the Museum. All of the campers, including four or five who are repeat students, became Museum members.
As arguably the most well-respected purveyor of Monroe’s style, it was no surprise that the Museum tapped Mike Compton to head the mandolin camp. “The primary goal of the Monroe Mandolin Camp is to preserve and further the mandolin art of Bill Monroe,” he says. “In order to achieve this goal, we have sought the most accomplished and knowledgeable practitioners of the art from coast to coast, most of whom have highly respected musical careers of their own.”
The Camp was a great success this year, Mike says. “Rave revues from this year's student body, as well as comments from the instructor staff, confirmed the progress we have made in focusing the curriculum. There were a number of students who made this year's event their fourth in a row and there is every indication that many of them will be returning next year,” he says.
“The classes were designed to offer something of value to all skill levels. Pertinent subject matter was presented using lectures, sheet music in standard notation/tab, audio samples and ‘call-and-response.’ There were also short individual sessions that offered the students a chance to address questions ‘knee-to-knee.’” Looking forward to next year, Mike plans to incorporate more multimedia to enhance the experience, as well as appeal to those with more visual learning styles. “Hopefully, we will be able to include some of the video footage available on Monroe's various bands as another angle to convey the information.”
Together with knowledgeable instructors and a strong curriculum, campers delve deeper into the Monroe sound, as well as partake in a healthy dose of jamming each night. Jamming is vital to any good camp camp, according to Compton, because “the music is the vehicle towards an end.” And the nightly jam circle means just as much to the instructors as to the campers, he says. “It is pure joy, sometimes even ecstasy, to be able to play Bill's tunes with other people that love the form as much as I do. It's just being able to interact and make the sound, to find other people who share a common interest.”
As arguably the most well-respected purveyor of Monroe’s style, it was no surprise that the Museum tapped Mike Compton to head the mandolin camp. “The primary goal of the Monroe Mandolin Camp is to preserve and further the mandolin art of Bill Monroe,” he says. “In order to achieve this goal, we have sought the most accomplished and knowledgeable practitioners of the art from coast to coast, most of whom have highly respected musical careers of their own.”
The Camp was a great success this year, Mike says. “Rave revues from this year's student body, as well as comments from the instructor staff, confirmed the progress we have made in focusing the curriculum. There were a number of students who made this year's event their fourth in a row and there is every indication that many of them will be returning next year,” he says.
“The classes were designed to offer something of value to all skill levels. Pertinent subject matter was presented using lectures, sheet music in standard notation/tab, audio samples and ‘call-and-response.’ There were also short individual sessions that offered the students a chance to address questions ‘knee-to-knee.’” Looking forward to next year, Mike plans to incorporate more multimedia to enhance the experience, as well as appeal to those with more visual learning styles. “Hopefully, we will be able to include some of the video footage available on Monroe's various bands as another angle to convey the information.”
Together with knowledgeable instructors and a strong curriculum, campers delve deeper into the Monroe sound, as well as partake in a healthy dose of jamming each night. Jamming is vital to any good camp camp, according to Compton, because “the music is the vehicle towards an end.” And the nightly jam circle means just as much to the instructors as to the campers, he says. “It is pure joy, sometimes even ecstasy, to be able to play Bill's tunes with other people that love the form as much as I do. It's just being able to interact and make the sound, to find other people who share a common interest.”
Monday, October 12, 2009
‘Saturday Lessons Program’ brings new musicians to bluegrass!
The Saturday Lessons Program kicked off its fourth year on October 10 at the International Bluegrass Music Museum (IBMM) in Owensboro, KY. The group lessons program provides instruction in fiddle, guitar, mandolin and banjo to students and community members of all ages. Students are taught in groups of 10-15 for 45 minutes twice a month at the museum, and loaner instruments are available for those who do not have one.
Students range in ability from beginner to intermediate, and some have been attending Saturday Lessons for several years. The group lesson format is a good way to introduce newcomers to bluegrass music, says fiddle instructor Randy Lanham. And compared with individual lessons, the program is more affordable at $30 for the fall semester. “A group lesson goes slower. It’s not quite as much information, not quite as fast, and it’s a great way to learn with the cheaper price and less time required,” says Lanham.
Beginners learn familiar bluegrass standards such as “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” and “Blue Moon of Kentucky.” More experienced students work together as in a band format and learn more advanced musical parts, says Lanham. “There are about 25 students that have been coming for years. With them, we teach not only the melody part, but the harmony part and solos. And they learn a variety of songs: a patriotic song, an Irish song, a gospel song,” he says.
The first day of lessons kicked off smoothly, according to Lanham. “Sometimes the first day can be chaotic for new students. There are broken strings, instruments are out of tune and some students show up at the wrong time. This went really well, we didn’t have a lot of those problems.”
Participants come to the Saturday Lessons program from a variety of communities and from all walks of life, with many students coming from local schools, says Lanham. “Another museum program I’m involved in is the Bluegrass in the Schools, and that generates a lot of interest in lessons, so the two programs kind of go hand in hand.”
The spring Saturday Lessons program is twice as long, classes are generally larger, and it culminates in a performance of all students in the Kentucky BlueGrass AllStars at the IBMM’s River of Music Party (ROMP). The spring semester registration fee is $60, and each additional immediate family member is only $30. Students performing at ROMP will also receive free 3-day admission to the festival as an AllStar, as well as a 3-day complimentary pass for a parent or friend. The next Saturday Lesson term begins February 20, with a registration deadline of January 30. For more information call 270-926-7891 or visit the IBMM website at www.bluegrassmuseum.com.
Students range in ability from beginner to intermediate, and some have been attending Saturday Lessons for several years. The group lesson format is a good way to introduce newcomers to bluegrass music, says fiddle instructor Randy Lanham. And compared with individual lessons, the program is more affordable at $30 for the fall semester. “A group lesson goes slower. It’s not quite as much information, not quite as fast, and it’s a great way to learn with the cheaper price and less time required,” says Lanham.
Beginners learn familiar bluegrass standards such as “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” and “Blue Moon of Kentucky.” More experienced students work together as in a band format and learn more advanced musical parts, says Lanham. “There are about 25 students that have been coming for years. With them, we teach not only the melody part, but the harmony part and solos. And they learn a variety of songs: a patriotic song, an Irish song, a gospel song,” he says.
The first day of lessons kicked off smoothly, according to Lanham. “Sometimes the first day can be chaotic for new students. There are broken strings, instruments are out of tune and some students show up at the wrong time. This went really well, we didn’t have a lot of those problems.”
Participants come to the Saturday Lessons program from a variety of communities and from all walks of life, with many students coming from local schools, says Lanham. “Another museum program I’m involved in is the Bluegrass in the Schools, and that generates a lot of interest in lessons, so the two programs kind of go hand in hand.”
The spring Saturday Lessons program is twice as long, classes are generally larger, and it culminates in a performance of all students in the Kentucky BlueGrass AllStars at the IBMM’s River of Music Party (ROMP). The spring semester registration fee is $60, and each additional immediate family member is only $30. Students performing at ROMP will also receive free 3-day admission to the festival as an AllStar, as well as a 3-day complimentary pass for a parent or friend. The next Saturday Lesson term begins February 20, with a registration deadline of January 30. For more information call 270-926-7891 or visit the IBMM website at www.bluegrassmuseum.com.
Monday, June 22, 2009
The Pioneers of Bluegrass Music are Gathering at ROMP, the “River of Music Party 09” in Owensboro, Kentucky, June 24-27.
The
Bill Monroe, known universally as The Father of Bluegrass Music, was born, grew to manhood, and is buried in
Over 60 of the iconic artists who were among the earliest practitioners of bluegrass music, a unique American art form, will be coming from coast-to-coast and as far distant as
In 2003 the museum began professionally videotaping the lives of this pioneering first generation, musicians who were professionally playing bluegrass music by the mid-20th century. To date, 170 first-person interviews and nearly half as many concert performances have been filmed, creating a priceless treasure trove -- one of the nation’s most informative and comprehensive folk archives. (For an interview with Video Oral History Project director, Joe Gray, call 502-244-9444.)
Documentary-style films of these musicians will be shown during the “Bluegrass Masters Film Festival” taking place during ROMP and the Pioneers Gathering. From Earl Scruggs to Pete Seeger to The Ozaki Brothers and dozens more, one can learn about their histories from the musicians who shaped this exhilarating, virtuostic music that has spread globally with a rapidly expanding fan base, particularly since the advent of O Brother, Where Art Thou? in 2000. An extensive exhibit of their artifacts will open on June 24 at the museum in the gallery beside the Hall of Fame.
To honor these legendary figures, the museum is hosting a Legends Supper on Thursday June 25, followed by The Legends Concert at 7 PM during which each of the pioneers will be formally introduced and honored for their contributions to bluegrass music.
Wednesday’s events begin with a full slate of performances by “regional” (i.e. within a 75-mile radius of
Thursday from 11 AM and continuing through Friday night, see the Pioneers in Performance. Those bringing bands and performing onstage include Gloria Belle, Tony Ellis, Dave Verny, Tom Gray, Les Woodie, Eddie & Martha Adcock, Jim Smoak, Jesse McReynolds, Bill Clifton, Jimmy Gaudreau, Paul Williams, Larry Sparks, Melvin Goins, Al Hawkes, Jimmy Cox, Bud Reed, Ralph Reed, David Reed, Ernest Ferguson, Homer Bailes, Roger Sprung, The McCormick Brothers, The Ozaki Brothers, Bobby Osborne, and J. D. Crowe. Many other bluegrass pioneers will be attending, including members of the Hall of Fame.
Friday June 26th and Saturday June 27th the festival will move outdoors to
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
River of Music Party 2009 ROMP
Get ready for a mega Kentucky bluegrass music festival celebrating all things bluegrass. Romp 09 is scheduled for June 24th-27th in Owensboro, KY. This year the excitement is buzzing about the Pioneers of Bluegrass Gathering taking place on June 25th at ROMP!
Not only is this year’s line-up the biggest ever, but the museum
is also hosting between 65 and 70 of Bluegrass Music’s pioneering
generation to attend. These legendary musicians are coming from as
far distant as Japan and coast-to-coast across the United States.
To our knowledge, this is the most extensive gathering
of bluegrass music’s iconic musicians ever held. We warmly
invite and encourage you to attend and help us give these
musicians the honor and recognition they so richly deserve.
Not only are the Pioneers coming to exchange
hugs and stories, they are also coming to perform! Almost all of
them will take the stage at one time or another throughout
the event.
On Thursday, plan to hear Gloria Belle & Tennessee Sunshine,
Roger Sprung & Friends (CT), The Homer Bailes Band (LA),
Eddie & Martha Adcock with Tom Gray,
Jim Smoak & The L A Honeydrippers (IN),
Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys, and
Hall of Fame honoree Bill Clifton with Jimmy Gadreau.
The Pioneers of Bluegrass Gathering is not guaranteed
to be an annual event,so please take advantage of it
happening this year and come if you possibly
can. For a list of artists planning to attend,
please visit our website, www.bluegrassmuseum.org,
and click on ROMP. The Gathering is sponsored by
Chattanooga’s pre-eminent fiddler, Fletcher Bright.
Terry Woodward, the civic leader credited with founding
the International Bluegrass Music Museum and helping
IBMA become well-established in its early years in Owensboro,
is once again giving the bluegrass world a major gift.
He is hosting a “ROMP Kick-Off Concert” on
Wednesday, June 24, at 7 PM at the RiverPark Center in Owensboro
covering all the expenses and giving all the ticket sales
to the Museum to help with the preservation of the history
of bluegrass music. The ROMP Kick-Off Concert features
Mike Snider, Marty Stuart and the Fabulous Superlatives,
and The Del McCoury Band. Tickets range from $10 to $50 in advance
($20-$60 at the door) and can be purchased
by calling the museum: 270-926-7891. Please attend and
help us make the most of Terry’s gift. Performances leading
up to this concert feature six of our most excellent regional
bands: Blackberry Jam, Mountain Harmony, Grandview Junction,
County Line Bluegrass, Up-N-Gone, and King’s Highway.
The IBMA Bluegrass Hall of Fame plaques honoring
Charles Wolfe and Bill Clifton will be unveiled
and entered into the Hall of Fame on Thursday, June
25, during The Legends Supper. Tickets to the supper
are extremely limited, so please order yours now if you
plan to attend. Following The Legends Supper, Ronnie Reno
will be Master of Ceremonies for the annual Legends Concert,
featuring Larry Sparks and the Lonesome Ramblers,
Melvin Goins & Windy Mountain, and Paul Williams & The Victory Trio.
Mid-way through this concert, The Pioneers of Bluegrass Recognition
Ceremony will take place. Each Pioneer will be individually recognized
onstage in a beautiful ceremony. Along with Ronnie Reno, watch
for Valerie Smith, Becky Buller,and Josh Williams, who will be
bringing the Pioneers onstage.
The historic, first-ever Pioneers of Bluegrass Exhibit will open Thursday,
June 25. Nearly all the attending pioneers will have artifacts on display
for a year following the opening. The Phil Zimmerman photographic exhibit
memorialized by his gorgeous book, Bluegrass Time, has been extended for a
second year. All new and renewing members in 2009 will receive this book as
a membership perk, a $25 value. Museum memberships are $45.
For the four days of ROMP, our Bluegrass Masters Film Festival will be
showing documentaries this museum has produced through its Video Oral
History Project featuring 1st and 2nd generation bluegrass musicians. And,
for the first time, on Thursday, June 25, Fred Bartenstein will host an
all-day marathon of interviews with Pioneers emanating from the museum.
These interviews will be carried live on our internet radio station, RBI,
Radio Bluegrass International, which you can access from our website (top
left corner of the home page, click on the radio). Let us know how you like
our new website!
A huge line-up of ROMP performances and an impressive array of instrumental
workshops awaits festivalgoers at Yellow Creek Park, 4 miles outside of
Owensboro, on Friday and Saturday, June 26-27. Throughout much of Friday
June 26 at the park, ROMP will again be graced by rare performances by
pioneering musicians.
Friday: Performances by Individual Pioneers from 10AM to noon on Friday,
followed by The McCormick Brothers, Bluegrass Authority (Les Woodie, Dave
Verny, Tony Ellis & Tom Gray), The Reunion Band, The Ozaki Brothers
(Japan), Williams & Clark Expedition, J. D. Crowe & The New South, Bobby
Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press, Steep Canyon Rangers, and Josh Williams
Band.
Saturday: The Harringtons and The Grasstains, Cats & The Fiddler, Kentucky
BlueGrass AllStars, Bill Evans & Megan Lynch, Ronnie Reno & The Reno
Tradition, Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike, Bluegrass Parkway (Australia), The
Dixie Bee-Liners, The Special Consensus, Grasstowne, Doyle Lawson &
Quicksilver, and The Dan Tyminski Band.
Substantial discounts (50%) apply to Museum Members, Seniors, Students and
Military. Children 12 & Under are free. Camping is plentiful and free.
Advance tickets are on sale at <http://www.bluegrassmuseum.org>
www.bluegrassmuseum.org, or call the museum toll-free: 1-888-MYBANJO
(888-692-2656).
Please join us here in the bluegrass state for what is certain to be an
amazing four days this June.
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