Here is the official notice from the college:

South Plains College is accepting applications for the position of 5 String Banjo instructor/bluegrass specialist. The position involves directing bluegrass music ensembles, producing the televised monthly music program "Picking on the Plains," teaching a bluegrass history overview course and private lessons on 5 string banjo and guitar. The successful candidate should have a national profile in bluegrass music, familiarity with all the bluegrass instruments and professional skills on one instrument in addition to banjo.  College degree preferred. Contact: Office of Human Relations, South Plains College 1401 College Ave. Levelland, TX 79336, (806) 894-9611 extension 2177.

South Plains offers a two year Associate of Art degree, and a one year certificate course focusing on bluegrass music within their Commercial Music program. Concentrations available within this program are Commercial Music, Sound Technology, Music Business and Live Sound.

Taught by veteran educator Joe Carr, the book presents 16 tunes (some with multiple variations) intended to introduce the player to a variety of essential techniques.

I spoke with Joe via email about the book.

This is the first book in a new series that will include titles on bluegrass, blues, Irish and more. This book is not specifically bluegrass focused, but is intended for beginners who want to use primarily Amercian folk material as a starting place.

Emphasis is on correct pick direction – a crucial skill, sections on standard notation reading, and basic scales.

The idea is to ground players in good technique and teach them the skills to continue “self-guided development” on their instrument.

Having studied guitar under Joe for three years, while attending South Plains College, I can attest to the efficacy of his teaching. Students at any level would be well served by following Joe’s instruction. This book is aimed primarily at beginners, but more are soon to follow for both differing genres and skill levels.

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.

Students come to the Commercial Music program at South Plains from all over the United States and Canada, with recent students enrolling from Switzerland and Sweden.

A typical student in the program would take private lessons on a major and minor musical instrument, perform in ensembles and study music theory, songwriting, sound technology, pop or bluegrass music history, and delve into the nexus of music and computers.

Joe came to the college along with banjo legend Alan Munde, who just recently retired from his faculty position. Beth Mead has assumed the banjo chair, starting with this summer semester.

Beth has many years of experience in education and I’m very excited about her joining the program.

After 22 years of teaching here I can safely say SPC is the best its ever been. Scholarship help is available and even our out of state students say we are the best bargain in higher education anywhere! Of course we will miss Alan Munde’s master teaching, but he will be back here every summer for Camp Bluegrass.

Joe askes that interested students contact him on campus at 806-894-9611 ext 2493, or by email.

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

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.

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

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.