Here’s an opportunity for a band in central Tennessee to take advantage of some free studio time later this month.

We heard last week from Robert Trapp, a student in the Recording Industry program at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro. He has a project coming up that requires him to track, edit and mix a band for his Recording Techniques class, and he is offering to record an old time, country, traditional, or contemporary bluegrass bands that is available October 20, 23, 24 and 25.

“The sessions will take place on the MTSU campus in studios D and E. Each day will be broken up into 4 hour blocks, so for instance the first day will be a run through (get good mic placement and getting scratch tracks recorded) while the second day will be fine tuning the performances. Day 3 and 4 would most likely be for lead and harmony vocal tracks. This is a great way for me (the student/ aspiring engineer) to gain experience in a professional setting and also a way for a band to record for free and have something to market and promote.”

Sounds like a win-win to me. Contact Robert by email for more details.

Craig Havighurst – he of String Theory Media and the IBMA Board of Directors – has put together a 9 minute promotional video for the Bluegrass, Old Time & Country Music program at East Tennessee State University. It encompasses perfectly why so many folks are excited about this program, especially as they seek to have it expanded to a four year, Bachelor of Arts degree.

Craig captures a good many scenes of the students in their classes and music labs, plus comments from program director Raymond McLain, adjunct faculty members Barry Bales and Adam Steffey, and country music star Kenny Chesney, who was a student in the program before he ever made a stab at Nashville.

He also speaks with Rhonda Vincent, whose two daughters attend ETSU, and whose fiddler, Hunter Berry, also went to the school. We also hear from current students who have traveled from all over the world to study traditional American music in East Tennessee.

You can find out more about this valuable resource for young bluegrass musicians online.

The East Tennessean, the student paper for East Tennessee State University, is reporting that the Bluegrass, Old Time & Country Music program at the school is hoping to expand from a minor in the Appalachian Studies department to a four year Bachelor of Arts degree.

There are still a few more steps in the accreditation process before the Bachelors Degree can begin, but a Spring 2010 announcement is their current goal. The school has offered a minor in Bluegrass, Old Time & Country Music since 2006, with a total of 72 students declared since that time.

I spoke earlier today with Raymond McLain, Director of the BOTCM at ETSU, and he was understandably excited about this possibility.

“Last week we presented our proposal to the ETSU Academic Council – which includes the Deans of the various schools, the Provost, Vice Presidents, and members of the curriculum committee – and received their unanimous approval. We feel tremendous support for our program here at the University, from the President down to the students themselves.”

McLain tells us that the proposal for a 4 year bluegrass program must pass muster with the Tennessee Board of Regents at their next meeting, and then be presented to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission for their approval before the Bachelors degree can be offered.

If approved, it will be offered within the ETSU Center For Appalachian Studies & Services, and will be known as a Bachelor Of Arts in Bluegrass, Old Time & Country Music.

The course requirements would jump from the current 21 hours to 45 for the four year degree, which will include the core didactic, skills and ensemble music credits plus general education courses in the sciences, humanities and language. Students take 4 semesters of music theory as they might in a conservatory setting, but McLain says that the lessons are geared towards the musical styles the program covers.

“Traditional music schools study European music – and maybe some jazz and band music – and you study theory and harmony in a particular way that relates to that type of music. Our students learn theory and technique as it applies to bluegrass, old time and country music. We study some standard notation, but also the Nashville number system. They study songwriting, harmony singing and instrumental technique as they apply to these musical styles.

I believe it is an effective program. When I first got here there were about 100 students enrolled – now we have between 400-500. For the past 3 years now, one of Ed Snodderly’s students has won the Merlefest songwriting competition.” (more…)

Back in the fall of 2007 we told you about the Appalachian Music: Roots and Influences concentration being offered at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. At the time we reported that former Joe Val and the New England Bluegrass Boys’ guitarist/lead singer, Dave Haney, was heading up the program. We also reported that he had tapped Scruggs style banjoist Eric Ellis as the program’s first Artist in residence.

Now, we’re pleased to bring you the news that the Haney has received a $7,250 grant from the North Carolina Arts Council, for the purpose of recording a CD to preserve the contributions Eric Ellis has made to bluegrass music.

The university’s new service is reporting:

In addition to Ellis’ banjo playing and baritone vocal harmony, participating musicians on the CD will include David Johnson (fiddle), David Haney (guitar), Nick Chandler (mandolin), Billy Gee (bass), Bobby Hicks (fiddle), and possibly Tony Rice (guitar).

This sounds like a project we’ll want to hear!