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The banjo reviews database is here to help educate people before they purchase an instrument. Of course, this is not meant to be a substitute for playing the instrument yourself!

7137 reviews in the archive.

Clawcamp East Event (Festival, Camp, etc) Reviews

Submitted by JaniceMary (see all reviews from this person) on 7/14/2016

Overall Comments

Dan Levenson does it again! Claw Camp East 2016 was wonderful! This was my second Claw Camp (my first was Claw Camp East 2015), and I have returned home feeling inspired and anxious to play more. I have truly never been so engaged by an instructor. Part of Camp’s success is that the number of attendees is limited, so Dan can give each camper his personal attention. Not only that, but Dan has the great ability to discern the best way for individuals to absorb information, and tailors his teaching style and the material he covers to match the individual. He frequently pushes you for feedback, so both you and he can stay in-line with your goals for the weekend. And the setting is perfect. Jamming on the front porch of the Homestead is just the way the old-timers would have done it. It’s definitely a great experience, and I look forward to doing it again.

Overall Rating: 10

Submitted by pernicketylad (see all reviews from this person) on 8/11/2009

Overall Comments

I learned alot at this camp.
The Camp was held at Fur Peace Ranch in Miegs County Ohio, a beautiful musician-friendly Guitar Ranch obviously designed with musicians in mind. The friendly people there are obviously proud of the place and so they should be. The food and coffee were also second to none. This is a top-notch facility.
The Camp was hosted by Dan Levenson and Bob Carlin. I was under Bob's supervision for the weekend and his classes were very valuable to me. To put it mildly this man knows his stuff...he discussed banjo choice/set-up, listening, technique and practice/interpretation and he also explored some clawhammer styles. While I didn't have alot of contact with Dan over the course of the weekend he approached me on two seperate occasions, of his own free will, and helped me with a tune I was working on and with my right hand (which was something I was anxious to address given that I probably won't be in America again any time soon).
What I really liked about this weekend was that no-one tried to teach me a tune. I can do that at home. The emphasis here was in teaching us how to approach tunes in terms of technique and interpretation.....it advertises itself as a skill-based workshop and that's exactly what it is. Tunes were only used as vehicles. At this Camp they teach you how to learn tunes.......not tunes. This is far more valuable to me.
The price was also very reasonable for two night's accomodation, three day's food and all those workshops.
I can't recommend this Camp enough.

Overall Rating: 10