I had my seventh year of teaching at Banjo Camp North last weekend, and it was another stellar camp year in the woods of Massachusetts. 

     It's like a family reunion each year, plus new family appearing that you didn't know you had. There were 60 new attendees this year, with a total of about 150 banjo campers plus the teaching staff.

     As Kathy O. said, why do 3 days of a work week go by like watching paint dry while 3 days of banjo camp is over in a flash? Brains on banjo do strange tricks.

     There were close to 50 (!) classes and workshops for bluegrass players and over 30 for old time players. I taught the beginner  bluegrass track with 5 classes, plus 2 more classes, jams with Janet Davis and Rich Stillman and the camp concert. I had a few people in the beginner track who had not held a banjo before camp.They had loaner banjos from camp, and did really well. I had a great time and a lot of fun teaching.

     Banjo camp is where you can hang out with, eat meals with and take classes from banjo stars and legends like Tony Trischka, Bill Keith, Eric Weissberg, Janet Davis and others. I'm always thrilled to be teaching and jamming with these players, and I know this wouldn't happen in other types of music (could you jam with Mick Jagger?). The camp first timers said it was really special to get "up close and personal" with the stars of their instrument.

     The singing jam was great fun, and I got to play with Kathy O., Laura, Fisher, Robbin and Kerry, KC, Nancy A, John H and many other friends. At the camp concert Bennett Hammond (guitar), Dave Reiner (fiddle) and Kelly Stockwell (bass) did a fine job backing me up on "Banjo Voodoo." We had practiced the original song a few times between classes that afternoon, and it really came together at the concert. 

     I'm looking forward to next year's 10th anniversary at Banjo Camp North. Mike Holmes and Phil Zimmerman, the camp directors, may have some banjo surprises up their sleeves.