PacJAM Adult Summer Workshops 2024

Monday & Tuesday classes:

Adult Mandolin – Will Trakas

Adult Fiddle – Ashley Brooker

Adult Guitar – Devin Jones & Gaye Johnson

Adult Banjo (clawhammer & 3-finger welcome) – Cassidy Beentjes & Carson Moore

Wednesday & Thursday classes:

Bluegrass JAM – Will Trakas, Ashley Brooker, Devin Jones & friends

Using Theory to Become a Better Musician – Cassidy Beentjes:  Get a sneak peak of the class Bela Fleck asked Cassidy to teach at his upcoming banjo camp!  Don’t be scared by words like counterpoint… instead take a gentle dive into theory with Cassidy & see how your own musical ideas immediately improve.  All instruments welcome.  (With help from Carson Moore.)

Crew

• Cassidy Beentjes, from Wrightington, England, is a brilliant composer, guitarist & 3-finger banjo player who studied at Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester, England.  Cassidy currently performs and teaches in Philadelphia, and is writing, per Bela Fleck’s personal request, an arrangement of Rhapsody in Blue for 100 banjos, to be performed at this year’s Bela Fleck’s Banjo Camp.
• Ashley Brooker is legendary locally as one of the best fiddle players around.  Surrounded by bluegrass from a young age, she started with bass and soon picked up the fiddle.  She performs with Pilgrims Bluegrass & has a busy private studio.  She also serves on her church worship team and singing and playing guitar.
• Devin Jones & Carson Moore are joining PacJAM camp from Berklee School of Music.   Devin hails from Fredricksburg, Virginia and is excited to introduce flat-picking and bluegrass back-up to PacJAM’s guitar students.  Carson returns to his bluegrass home looking forward to guiding JAMs and teaching improvisation.

            PacJAM teachers Gaye Johnson (guitar, vocals) & Will Trakas (mandolin, guitar, vocals) round out the camp line-up.