October 4, 2008 - Banjo Workshop

Rock Bartley, recognized as one of the finest banjo players in

Michigan, will be offering some insights from his many

years of experience. Rock has anchored the group “Great

Lakes Grass” and has played banjo with some of the finest

players in the country. If you own a banjo, don’t miss this

opportunity!

November 1, 2008 – Mandolin Workshop

Joel Mabus, a nationally known musician, award winning songwriter and outstanding multi-instrumentalist, will bring his 35 years of performing experience to GLAMA as he shares some pointers on the mandolin. There is no finer instructor than Joel when it comes to this instrument (or any acoustic instrument). Even if you don’t play the mandolin, you should come to hear him!

December 6, 2008 – Bass Fiddle Workshop

Leslie Ziegler and Nick Griffith team up to share their views on playing the bass. They will present two perspectives: Leslie is a classically trained musician who studied as WMU and is a music teacher. She is outstanding and plays with the “Mossy Mountain Band.” Nicolas J. Griffith is a self taught musician. He picked up the bass one day at a jam session and started playing with amazing proficiency! Nick plays bass and sings lead vocals with the “Schlitz Creek Bluegrass Band.” This should be a great show with some of the band members helping out.

January 3, 2009 – Festival Month!

With the Cooper’s Glen Music Festival around the corner on January 9-10^th there will be no jam session or workshop this month. Check the festival website for workshop information. (www.coopersglen.com)

February 7-2009 – Resonator Guitar Workshop

Al Bates is without question one of the finest resonator guitar players in Michigan, or maybe even in the Midwest! He has played with all the greats and is acquainted with Jerry Douglas and several of the nation’s best. Al has played in several great bands in the region and is a part-time instructor on several acoustic instruments. Dust off your Dobro and be sure to make it to this session!

March 7, 2009 – Swing Guitar Workshop

Mark Sahlgren, host of the well known “Grassroots” radio show on WMUK and one of the finest rhythm guitar players in our region, presents “Swing Guitar.” Applying the 'Boom-Chick' approach to the swing guitar style, we'll try to capture the 'feel' of swing music with some of the rudimentary closed chords.  So, you thought 'Hot Corn, Cold Corn' could only be performed as Flatt & Scruggs did it?  Guess again; or should I say "Swing Again".  Hand-outs for everybody, study material, chord maps from "Map Qwest"!This is one of our best attended workshops. If you feel stuck playing and strumming the same old chords, make plans to be there!

April 4, 2009 - Fiddle Workshop

Nathan Dannison has been a violinist and folk music enthusiast since

he first got his sticky little paws on a fiddle at the age of four.

Nathan studied a variety of violin forms under the guidance of Diane McElfish-Helle and went on to play jazz and blues improvisation with the Rachel Leep Band. Today he is the fiddler for the Kalamazoo derelict old-timey group Who Hit John? Nathan messes around in a number of different genres including Southern roots - cajun / creole, Appalachian, old world, old-time and a dash of bluegrass. He will concentrate on bowing techniques and will offer his perspectives on the fiddle.

PLEASE NOTE:

Great lakes Acoustic Music Association, P.O. Box 50781, Kalamazoo, MI 49005

JAMS AND WORKSHOPS ARE NOW HELD THE FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH AT THE KALAMAZOO NATURE CENTER, 7000 N. WESTNEDGE, KALAMAZOO. JAMS START AT 2:00 WITH WORKSHOPS AT 3:00!