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The Concord Bluegrass Ensemble is an intermediate instrumental and vocal band designed to give local musicians a creative and challenging environment to study bluegrass music, perform in a band, and engage with fellow members of our community.

Through a combination of listening, transcribing, and playing, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the historical, stylistic, and technical nuances of bluegrass music. This ensemble draws from traditional sources – Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, the Stanley Brothers – as well as artists influencing the genre today, such as Gillian Welch, Billy Strings, and Molly Tuttle. Our goal is to arrange and rehearse a handful of songs instrumentally and vocally, culminating in a performance at CCM in the sanctuary of the West Concord Union Church.

This ensemble is open to intermediate and advancing vocalists and bluegrass instrumentalists – guitar, bass, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, dobro.

To give each group the best possible band experience, we will cap each class at five or six musicians and avoid doubling instruments within each band.

Please fill out this Google Form if you want to join the Concord Bluegrass Ensemble.  Once you have completed the form, we will contact you to register for the session.

Session #1 – June 22, 29, July 6, 13

Session #2 – July 27, August 3, 10, 17

Prerequisites:

  • An understanding of basic bluegrass rhythm on your respective instrument – root/fifth pattern for bass, chops for mandolin, rolls for banjo, bass-strum pattern for guitar
  • Familiarity with bluegrass jamming and jam session etiquette
  • Have a handful of bluegrass vocal songs and/or instrumental tunes under your fingers at a moderate tempo

Note: If you regularly attend the Concord Open Jam and feel comfortable participating in most aspects – playing rhythm, soloing, singing leads/harmonies – you meet the prerequisites.

Consider attending the Concord Open Bluegrass Jam at 7:30 pm conveniently after the Ensemble.

  • Ages: Adults
  • Instrument: strings, voice
  • Semester: Summer
  • Duration: Four-week session, 90 minutes
  • Day/Time: Thursdays, 6:00 -7:30 pm
  • Maximum Enrollment: 6
  • Cost: $210