More About Me

Larry Kamps has been playing the banjo since 1976 and started teaching in 2005. He is an accomplished musician who plays and teaches banjo, acoustic guitar, and the hammer dulcimer as well. One very important thing he offers is how best to practice certain techniques. This varies from student to student based on their musical background. Many of his students have never played a musical instrument before!

The style I play and teach for banjo is five-string bluegrass (3 finger Scruggs). Beginners start out learning by tablature - a very basic and easy system that is similar to note reading but not note reading that anyone can understand. You will learn some basic patterns and left hand techniques and then use them in some fun songs. As your skill progresses, you will learn and master more challenging techniques and songs as well as playing basic back-up so you can effectively jam with other musicians. A recording device is highly recommended.

After completing the program above, or for more advanced students, the second method of instruction is learning to play by ear. The ultimate goal here is that after mastering this skill, you will be able to move forward and advance on your own as I have. A recording device that is capable of slowing down the playback speed at least 50% is required for this type of instruction.

My email is: Lakamps1006@gmail.com
(630) 746-8066

Below are testimonials from former students:

“I would recommend taking lessons with Larry Kamps to any 5-string banjo player that wants to sharpen and enhance their banjo playing ability. After only four lessons, I’d say I’ve already learned at least ten times more than with any other banjo teacher I’ve worked with in the past. I attribute this to Larry’s willingness to share tips and techniques he has learned and developed over many years of playing the banjo. I thoroughly enjoy my lessons with Larry and always look forward to seeing what the next lesson will bring”!
Mark K. (Naperville)

“I have studied banjo with Larry Kamps for 5 years. I would recommend him as a music teacher to any beginning or intermediate student. He has taught me to play using tablature and progressed to learning to play by ear. Larry is accommodating to the needs of the student, whether you have previous musical experience or are truly a beginner. He has kept the lessons interesting by asking if I have particular songs I want to learn and has even learned some of them himself so as to teach me. We have fun together when he accompanies me with his guitar. I have learned a tremendous amount about the banjo and about music in general”.
Alison M. (Yorkville)