Bluegrass has always been a highly participatory genre, with a higher than average number of fans being amateur or part time players as well, something we share with jazz and folk music.

One of the surest signs of the continuing growth of interest in bluegrass music is the success of the many new instructional camps and workshops held each year. Some are instrument specific, while others offer classes for many or all bluegrass instruments at the same time. They are gaining in number and popularity all over the US and Europe as pickers seek to learn more about the music they love.

St. Louis Flatpick is one hosted by guitarist Bull Harman, who developed the concept and started the weekend workshop event to help boost interest in flatpicking in the Midwest.

My wife, Tammy, and I attend workshops throughout the U.S. and have noticed that our area was severely lacking in a weekend workshop type event. So based upon on our experience with others’ weekends, we decided to start St. Louis Flatpick. We are proud to say that this is our 4th year, of hopefully many. We planned the 3 day event months before it’s actual time to allow for preparation and advertising. Our Exhibit Hall hosts several of our sponsors throughout the weekend and our Saturday evening concert has become the highlight of the weekend. Students are thrilled at the opportunity to sit back and watch their instructors shine.

Our goal was to bring a workshop of this kind to the Midwest area, where there aren’t classes available of this type. We outgrew our first hotel after the first year moved to the Crowne Plaza Airport Hotel in St. Louis where we have lots of room to grow including a ballroom for the concert.

This year’s event will be March 7, 8 & 9th in St. Louis, MO. Featured instructors will be Clay Hess and David Grier

Next weekend, guitar and mandolin enthusiasts in the Cincinnati area will have a chance to study with Clay Hess and Rick Hayes.

Hess is the new guitarist with Mountain Heart, and had previously worked with both Ricky Skaggs and Mark Newton. Hayes plays mandolin with The Gibson Brothers, and makes handmade Hayes Mandolins in his Cincinnati shop.

The pair will offer their workshop on November 17 at Zeiler Music Center in Rising Sun, IN. Three one-hour classes will be held from 2:00-5:00 p.m., followed by an evening concert.

The workshops are described by the organizers thusly:

The three consecutive one-hour workshops will cover bluegrass 1) guitar and 2) mandolin techniques and then 3) how they fit within a band structure. Time will be allowed for question and answers as well.

Full contact and registration info for the 11/17 event can be found online.