Over the next few months, while college choices for rising high school seniors are forefront in the minds of many students and parents, we will present a series of interviews on The Bluegrass Blog with administrators/faculty members at colleges and universities where young bluegrass or acoustic musicians might want to study.

You can read all the posts in this series here.

Today, we visit with Joe Carr, Assistant Professor of Music at South Plains College in Levelland, TX. Before landing at the college, Joe worked professionally as a bluegrass musician, playing mandolin in the band, Roanoke, and then guitar for many years with Country Gazette.

The program in which he is involved at South Plains is Commercial Music, which offers a two year Associate of Art degree, and a one year certificate course. Four areas of concentration are available for students: Commercial Music, Sound Technology, Music Business and Live Sound.

While enrolled in their Commercial Music program, a student must study a primary and secondary instrument, and all bluegrass instruments are included, with experienced, professional instructors on staff. Bluegrass ensembles are available, and all commercial music students will study in a variety areas that will prepare them to pursue a career in music, with country, pop and bluegrass being the primary concentrations.

I asked Joe if most of their students continued into a four year degree program.

Commercial Music students can transfer to 4 year programs. We work with these students closely to insure maximum transferability of coursework. Some students choose to complete academic degrees here and take music classes in addition to those classes. Of course, some just enter the market after completing our degree.

Joe said that most graduates who went into the business worked as sidemen musicians and singers, in the music business, or live and recorded sound. When I prompted him for some South Plains success stories, he had quite an impressive list ready.

The most well known would be country singer Lee Ann Womack and Natalie Maines of Dixie Chicks fame. Brance Gillihan [of The Bluegrass Blog!] is a recording engineer, studio owner and videographer. He took both music and sound tech courses, as did David Carney who is the stage manager with country singer Keith Urban. Dan Bletz with the Biscuit Burners is a former student as is Kym Warner of the Greencards. The Colorado based Spring Creek Band attended here. There are many others in the country and pop music fields as musicians and technicians. (more…)

John wrote back in January and February about the faculty position opening at South Plains College due to the retirement of banjo teacher Alan Munde. I received a call the other day from Cary Banks the Creative Music Department head, asking me to pass along the news that the school is still accepting applications for that position.

South Plains College is dear to my heart as I spent 3 years there studying bluegrass music and recording technology. It is a wonderful atmosphere to work and study in, with great people on staff. I was profoundly affected by the influence of Alan Munde and Joe Carr while attending SPC.

Carry stressed to me on the phone that the main requirement they are looking for in an applicant is that they have “the heart of a teacher.” I remember from my days there that all the staff were genuinely concerned that the students learn, both in class and out.

If you are interested in the job please contact:

Joe Carr
Assistant Professor of Music
South Plains College, Levelland, TX 79336
(806) 894-9611 ext 2493
jcarr@southplainscollege.edu

We got a note from Joe Carr, Assistant Professor of Music in the Bluegrass Music program at South Plains College in Levelland, TX. He was following up on our post last month about the faculty position coming open when Alan Munde retires from the program after the Spring 2007 semester.

The position is full time, and requires mastery of the 5 string banjo in the three finger style.

Here are Joe’s comments:

South Plains College in Levelland, Texas is still accepting applications for the position in Commercial Music currently held by Alan Munde. Alan is retiring from teaching at the school in May after 20+ years. He will still teach at Camp Bluegrass each July.

Interested applicants should contact Joe Carr at jcarr@southplainscollege.edu.

We just heard from Joe Carr, Assistant Professor of Music in the bluegrass program at South Plains College in Levelland, TX. Alan Munde has announced his retirement from his faculty position at the end of the Spring 2007 term, and the college has started a search for a qualified replacement.

Here is the official announcement of the position:

South Plains College in Levelland, Texas is accepting applications for a full time (9 mos) faculty position as a Bluegrass Music specialist.

The candidate will be responsible for directing student bluegrass music ensembles including televised performances and live concerts. The candidate will teach private lessons on banjo and other instruments as student demand dictates.

Qualified applicants should have professional experience with mastery level skills on the 5 string banjo in three finger bluegrass styles. Multi-instrumental and vocal skills and professional contacts are desired.

Salary commensurate with professional experience and education.

For more information please contact:

Joe Carr
Assistant Professor of Music
South Plains College, Levelland, TX 79336
(806) 894-9611 ext 2493
jcarr@southplainscollege.edu

When Dan Miller sent along those Merlefest photos earlier this week, he also passed along some info on the current issue of Flatpicking Guitar Magazine, of which he is editor and publisher. Dan said that this issue has been mailed and should be in the hands of most subscribers, and available on newsstands and in music stores as well.

Here is Dan’s overview of the current issue:

The May/June issue of Flatpicking Guitar Magazine (Volume 10, Number 4) features Chris Eldridge of the Stringdusters. Chris is the son of banjo legend and Seldom Scene founding member Ben Eldridge. In addition to playing with the Stringdusters Chris is also currently working with Chris Thile on Thile’s next CD. Chris recorded his arrangement of Stoney Creek for this issue’s audio companion and a transcription of Chris’ solo appears in the magazine.

In addition to Chris Eldridge, the May/June issue features Keith Yoder, a music store owner and multi-instrumentalist from Iowa, and a lengthy interview with Bryan Sutton about his new CD Not Too Far From the Tree. Two of Bryan’s solos from Carroll County Blues are also transcribed in the magazine. Our guitar builder feature highlights Kentucky builder Neil Kendrick and our regular cast of talented columnists (which includes Brad Davis, Joe Carr, Orrin Star, Harold Streeter, Adam Granger, John McGann, Bill Bay, Steve Kaufman, Dan Huckabee, John Carlini, Chris Jones, Kathy Barwick, Mike Maddux, and Dix Bruce) also contribute audio and tablature to this new issue.

Find out more about the magazine on their web site.

Mel Bay has just released to DVD Joe Carr’s Super Mandolin Picking Techniques. This was previously only available on VHS. The 30 minute program teaches mandolin players how to develop a strong well-coordinated right-hand technique that will lead to super fast, strong and accurate picking.

Included are play-along exercises for alternating, combination and consecutive down picking. Joe also covers Monroe style picking and two styles of Crosspicking.

The price is only $14.95 and a PDF file for the free instructional booklet that accompanies this DVD is available for download at www.melbay.com/DVDBooklets.