February 15, 2013
MIKE KROPP MASTER BANJO CLASS : Mike will present the Master Banjo Class this year at the Joe Val Festival in Framingham , Ma. Enrollment is limited. Banjoists of all styles of playing are invited to this Master Class. Focus is on Bluegrass styles for the morning segment. The afternoon segment will present other fingerstyle banjo techniques including Folk, OT, & Classic Banjo to expand your palette. Several tablatures will be offered for these classes and recording devices are encouraged. The class is aimed toward Intermediate and Advanced players, but all are welcome! This is a hands on class with student participation.
Some of the topics that will be presented include , Bluegrass Fingerboard and Picking Secrets, The Tunes Styles of Doug Dillard, Mike's Tunes from Tug Hollow, Old Time Two and Three Finger Style Tunes for Bluegrass Player, and Folk Banjo Styles - Pete Seeger and Beyond.
Mike Kropp is New England's premier 3 finger style banjo stylist. As a member of Northern Lights for 17 years, he has recorded CD's on Flying Fish, Red House and Prime CD. Since the 1960's, he has performed and recorded with artists ranging from Vassar Clements & Peter Rowan, to Don McLean and Jonathan Edwards. Described as a "master banjoist", Mike is fluent in all styles of five string banjo, ranging from Folk, Old time, and Classic style to traditional Bluegrass and modern Newgrass styles. He has taught banjo for over forty years, and has participated in numerous workshops at festivals across the country.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Clifftop Appalachian Stringband Festival-Hico, West Virginia
BANJO CONTEST August 21, 2012.
Mike Kropp of Richmond , RI, won the prestigious 2012 Senior Banjo Contest at Clifftop. Mike also garnered 2nd place in the overall Banjo Contest of which there were 55+ contestants.
Known for his bluegrass style playing with Northern Lights and several major bluegrass artists, Mike is also proficient in several old time and classic banjo styles. For the contest, Mike played in 2 and 3 finger old time style. For the preliminary round, he presented “Coal Creek March”. In the finals he played “Cricket on The Hearth” and “Mr. Knight’s Special”. Greg Badigian accompanied Mike in the finals on guitar.
All Mike’s tunes were played without picks on a 1929 prewar Style 6 flathead banjo. Of the 5 finalists, 3 players utilized resonator banjos. Numerous noteworthy old time players who have used resonated Gibson banjos include, Charlie Poole, Wade Ward, and Dock Boggs. Mike is a contributing writer for Banjo Newsletter(BNL) with his “Tunes from Tug Hollow” occasional column that features alternative fingerstyle banjo-he also contributes product reviews and commentary for BNL.
1 comment on “Mike Kropp Banjo Master Class @ Joe Val -Mike Kropp wins Clifftop Banjo Contest 2012 Senior Division”
plunka5 Says:
Saturday, November 3, 2012 @7:56:50 PM
Congratulations Mike! Just read this, after looking at your style 11 for sale. Take care!
You must sign into your myHangout account before you can post comments.
