BLUEGRASS MUSIC
Bluegrass music is a style of music that reaches back to the musical roots of our country. It is a combination of Irish, African, and Appalachian melodies. Most of the songs tell the stories of the people who wrote them.
People often confuse Bluegrass with Country. They are not the same! Bluegrass music is traditionally played without electricity. The instruments are not amplified, although microphones are used. This is considered acoustic music.
There are five traditional bluegrass instruments. These are the fiddle, guitar, banjo, mandolin, and upright bass. The resonator guitar, or dobro, is also used in bluegrass music, as is an autoharp.
I learned about this style of music from a fabulous banjo player I met years ago. I started learning how to play a banjo, but more recently I've been learning the fiddle. South Plains College, a community college in Levelland, Texas, has a two-year bluegrass music degree program. Many of its graduates have gone on to careers in music . Every summer South Plains holds a weeklong "Bluegrass Camp" where about 100 amateur musicians join a faculty of professionals to learn new techniques and play music 24/7. Not much sleep is had!! This summer will be my ninth year to attend.
Arizona has an active Bluegrass community. A schedule of festivals, jam sessions, and other events can be found at the web site for the Arizona Bluegrass Association.
George Clooney's recent movie release, O Brother, Where Art Thou? has a fabulous bluegrass soundtrack featuring many of today's best bluegrass artists. Check it out!