More About Me

https://www.josephdecosimo.com/teaching

With 15 years of banjo teaching experience including a stint at the premier site for studying banjo and fiddle in in higher education, Joseph Decosimo performs, researches, and teaches Old-time fiddle and banjo traditions from the Southeastern US. He is an expert at helping Old-time banjo players dig deeper into the tradition and learn how to interpret old music in ways that are fresh yet rooted. He empowers them to learn on their own. Raised on Tennessee's Cumberland Plateau, he is recognized as a leading interpreter of the region's rich fiddle, banjo, and song repertoire. He has introduced listeners around the US, Canada, Europe, and Australia to the vibrant beauty of these traditions. Joseph served on the faculty in ETSU's Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country Music Studies Program, teaching Appalachian Studies and Old-time fiddle and banjo. His desire to help learners engage with the historical and contemporary contexts in which the music has been made complements his dedication to teaching the music thoughtfully. Besides performing and teaching the music, he researches it and holds a PhD in American Studies and an MA in Folklore. He has been invited to teach fiddle at the Swannanoa Gathering, Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, Augusta Heritage Center, Ashokan Southern Week, Mars Hill Old-time Week, NimbleFingers Bluegrass and Old-time Workshop, the California Bluegrass Association summer workshops, and numerous other workshops.

Based in Durham, North Carolina, his fiddling and banjo playing can be heard on recordings by Hiss Golden Messenger, the Blue Ridge Broadcasters, the Rocky Creek Ramblers, and the prize-winning string band, the Bucking Mules. His playing has earned him blue ribbons at the most prestigious fiddle contests around the South, including a National Old-time Banjo Championship and a win in the Clifftop fiddle contest. The Bucking Mules have won the Clifftop band contest a number of times. He has studied under master musicians Clyde Davenport and Charlie Acuff.

For more info, please see: josephdecosimo.com