Instruction

Guitar Lessons

Mountain Music has offered individual guitar lessons for many years. The goal of the program has been to provide highly individualized instruction aimed at the level and needs of the student. From the beginner to the advanced student, we can tailor a program that will develop the desired skills appropriate to the individual's level of expertise. Jim Tracy, our resident instructor, has been playing, performing , and teaching guitar for over 30 years. He started giving lessons for Mountain Music in 1981 and has been seen performing with various groups throughout the Adirondack region over the years.

Lessons are individual and the sessions last 30 minutes. Jim teaches every Tuesday. If you have any questions regarding the program or if you want to register call Mountain Music at 315 369-6869.

Guitar Lessons at Mt. Music -- Jim Tracy & Jon Russell

Bluegrass Banjo

Mountain Music is happy to announce that we are again offering individual Bluegrass Banjo Lessons! The lessons are being held at "The Banjo Shop" located at 2739 Main Street (just a half mile south of the Mountain Music building).

The lessons are designed to teach the student the "Basic Skills" necessary to master Bluegrass Banjo. The program is intended for beginning to intermedate level players. The beginning level focuses on 20 sequential skills that should allow the student to learn some common banjo chords, to read tablature, to master basic rolls (see example), to learn several scales and tunings, and to learn to play a few popular basic Bluegrass tunes. The intermediate level, while still stressing skills, focuses on specific Bluegrass tunes at a more advanced level. In the intermediate sessions the student should master hot licks, melodic picking, more advanced tunings, as well as more about playing with other musicians.

Banjo Lessons at the Banjo Shop -- Mark Pepper & Al Worthen

This is Molly -- One of my favorite students. Watch for her 1st CD!

Workshops

Mountain Music generally offers workshops during the summer months. Over the last few years the emphasis of the workshops has been on Acoustic Guitar. During the summer of 2000, we held two Guitar Workshops: one led by Chris Shaw, an extremely popular Taylor Guitar presenter, and the second, conducted by Danny Gotham, an outstanding guitar player, who currently resides in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. On June 30th, 2001 we held a workshop lead by Artie Traum. On Sept 14th 2002 we hosted a workshop with Dan Crary!(photos) Since we try to keep the size of the group small enough to allow lots of participation, registration is requested. All workshops are open to anyone interested in acoustic music and are free to all participants.