Bluegrass Camp – June 23-27, 2025
Page-Walker Arts & History Center, 119 Ambassador Loop, Cary, NC
PineCone’s Bluegrass Camp in Cary features classes in Guitar, Mandolin, Beginner Fiddle, Intermediate Fiddle, Songwriting and this year Banjo (banjos available upon request)! This is a exceptional camp for kids who have some familiarity with their instruments and want to play bluegrass. Campers will learn tunes, get personal attention on their instruments and have fun making music with friends. Players at all levels will get something out of this camp experience. For more info, visit our Camps page.
Bluegrass Guitar (morning session)
Learn some new tunes this summer! Whether you are starting to explore the guitar or have played for a while, this camp will inspire you. Helpful if campers already know at least G, C, and D chords and can play a simple song or two. Improve your guitar technique alongside peers with a similar interest in bluegrass music.
Instructor: Charles Pettee
Beginner Bluegrass Fiddle (morning session)
An introduction to bluegrass fiddling. Learn basic melodies, rhythm playing and peek into the world of improvisation. Campers should have some experience playing violin and be able to play a simple song (aka Suzuki Book 1 or below), but do not need to have mastered tuning, bowing or finger placement.
Instructor: Pattie Hopkins Kinlaw
Bluegrass Songwriting (morning session)
Campers will learn about song craft by listening to bluegrass songs, generating song ideas, developing lyrics, and exploring melody and chords to create and arrange an original group song for final performance. Students with songwriting experience will be encouraged to think critically about technique. For all levels of songwriting experience.
Instructor: Lynda Dawson
Intermediate Bluegrass Fiddle (afternoon session)
For campers who have mastered basic fiddle skills (can tune their instruments, keep time, play the principal scales, aka Suzuki Book 2 or above) and already play a few tunes with confidence, this class will introduce additional techniques and bluegrass repertoire to help students prepare for Jam Camp.
Instructor: Pattie Hopkins Kinlaw
Bluegrass Mandolin (afternoon session)
This camp will challenge both beginner and more experienced mandolin students. Helpful if campers already know at least G, D, and A chords and can play a simple song. This class will help the student to advance from wherever they currently are, and to gain experience playing with other mandolin students. A great opportunity to learn and improve mandolin technique.
Instructor: Charles Pettee
Bluegrass Song Savvy (afternoon session)
Have fun exploring bluegrass music, the songs, history and musicians who have defined the genre. Campers will listen to bluegrass standards and modern bluegrass songs with a critical ear. They’ll learn the lyrics, melody and chords to various bluegrass songs, and sing and/or play their own instruments as we work and play together in both large and small groups. For all levels of musical skill, beginner to advanced.
Instructor: Lynda Dawson
Bluegrass Banjo (afternoon session)
Welcome to the world of banjo! Students will work on melody, rhythm and chord progressions using a bluegrass-style 3-finger roll to play and accompany songs. Whether you are starting to explore the banjo or have played for a while, this camp will inspire you to take your playing to the next level. Helpful for campers to know a few chords and/or tunes on any bluegrass instrument prior to camp.
Instructor: Hank Smith
