I know it's last minute, but I thought I'd share this with the hangout anyway.
I'll be on the faculty of the Colorado Roots Music Camp located in the mountains near Colorado Springs. Progressive Clawhammer will be the main emphasis of the workshops...
1) Introduction to Clawhammer Banjo: For those with little or no experience. We will focus on right hand technique, simple tunes, and accompanying the voice.
2) Intermediate Clawhammer: Effective practice tips and technique (practice loops, memorization, etc), alternate string hammers and pulls, skips (m-skipping, brush-skipping), efficient left hand position shifts, playing "up the neck", circle of 5ths (hearing chord progressions), etc. I might even spend the last couple of days running the class though a program I call "arrangement development"; a step by step approach to constructing effective banjo solos and backups.
3) Progressive Clawhammer: An intermediate/advanced course where we explore the use of clawhammer in genres outside the realm of "old-time" music. The emphasis will be on songs and techniques that teach clawhammer banjoists how to effectively fit into bluegrass, rock, blues, folk, and country ensembles. We will work on "listening" to what is going on around us and adapting our technique so as to not clutter the sound of the ensemble. We’ll also spend some time discussing basic improvisation ideas (scales, chords, licks, etc), which is something “old-time” banjoist generally don’t do!
Mike Iverson
More info: Colorado Roots Music