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 Ensembles are an integral part of the CCMC experience. Students will spend almost four hours of the weekend in ensemble rehearsals, followed by a performance on the Grange Hall stage early Sunday afternoon.
Students may wait until the camp to choose an ensemble, or they may choose in advance. Some ensembles will rely on students' advance preparation, while others will not. Both reading and non-reading approaches will be used. For students who do not read standard notation or tablature, "by-ear-only" ensembles are offered -- although these ensembles may also appeal to readers.
Students who
are interested in advance preparation of written music should
email the instructor. Ensembles directed toward these students
will be of varying levels. All of the written arrangements will
contain easy parts as well as more difficult parts -- so don't
hesitate to choose the ensemble that interests you most! Once
you've chosen an ensemble you'll receive more music, in standard
notation and/or tablature (if you've chosen a reading ensemble!).
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Sample Ensembles from past and future CCMCs:
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Western Swing Ensemble
Leader: Keith Baumann
Level: Intermediate/Advanced
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Chicago mandolin veteran returns with his ever-popular Wetsern Swing Ensemble! Participants will work on group dynamics, blend, and accompaniment skills.
Written parts will be made available in standard notation and tablature well in advance.
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The Parlor Ensemble
Leader: August Watters
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
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Join us in exploring popular mandolin music from the days of the mandolin orchestras! The Parlor Ensemble will play AUTHENTIC arrangements written for mandolin ensembles between 1890 and 1925. We've recently inherited an extensive collection of original sheet music from this era, and are looking forward to recreating this timeless and beautiful music.
Parts will be made available in standard notation and tablature by request.
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Bluegrass Band
Leader: Roland White
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
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Bluegrass veteran Roland White will lead the bluegrass band. We'll work on melody, harmony parts, improvisation, and ensemble playing skills.
Guitar, banjo, fiddle and bass players are welcome in this ensemble (and some others, just ask). Members of this ensemble will prepare parts in advance, using standard notation and tablature.
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By-Ear Ensemble for Beginners
Leader: Beverly Woods
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These ensembles
will learn to play tunes and songs in various styles by ear,
with each participant taking an active role in creating their
own parts, as is typically done in performing acoustic bands.
There will be plenty of guidance and coaching from the instructor
on how to come up with your own parts, improvisation, creating
solo breaks, fills, harmonies, bass lines and chordal accompaniments;
how to listen and respond to what everyone else is playing, and
how to blend in effectively as a band. Repertoire may include
Appalachian, Celtic, bluegrass, blues, klezmer, Scandinavian,
Balkan, etc., depending on interest of the participants. Previous
experience or expertise in playing by ear isn't required to take
part in these ensembles, just a willingness to try.
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Klezmer Ensemble
Leader: Seth
Austen
Level: Beginning/Intermediate/Advanced
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Klezmer is the
traditional folk music of Ashkenazi (eastern European) Jews and
was typically played for weddings. Although much modern klezmer
music tends to be oriented around wind and brass instruments,
the music of 19th century eastern European Jews was mostly string
based, played on violin and tsimbl (hammered dulcimer). There
was also a tradition of playing this music on mandolin. In this
ensemble, we'll arrange klezmer tunes by ear for mandolin family
and other instruments.
Music will be taught by ear, however sheet music will also be available if needed. No previous klezmer experience is necessary.
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String Band: Blues
Leader: Jim Dalton
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
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Blues and mandolin belong together: long before other styles came to dominate American mandolin music, mandolin players made the blues their own in the music of the great string bands of the south. Play and sing some great tunes as we put together some catchy arrangements and even throw in a solo or two.
Guitar and bass players are welcome in this ensemble. Music will be taught by standard notation and tablature.
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A Note about Guitar
(and other instruments):
There is some room in most of these ensembles for guitarists. Other instruments such as fiddle, banjo, dulcimer, autoharp, pennywhistle and bass are also welcome in some ensembles. Not all the workshops are mandolin-specific, so these other instrumentalists will find opportunities to study theory and style. In addition, many of our faculty are multi-instrumentalists, and can help with fitting these instruments into the ensembles. If you have questions, please
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