Contests & Events

Pete will give both group and individual pointers on instrumental technique, harmony signing, and the how-to's of a variety of jam situations. If you play guitar, mandolin, banjo, fiddle, bass, resonator guitar, even autoharp or dulcimer, you can be part of a bluegrass jam. As a basic requirement to attend, you must be able to tune your own instrument (electronic tuning devices welcome) and change smoothly between simple chords.  You don't need to be able to solo, but it helps.

Attendance is limited.  Available jam space will be allocated preferentially to under-represented instruments (usually bass and fiddle) and to those able to sing verses of some bluegrass songs. Non-picking singers welcome!

For MerleFest 2007, the Bluegrass Jam Camp will take place on April 23 through 26 at the lovely Herring Ridge YMCA Camp located in Boomer, NC about 12 miles from the festival site. Special accomodations and meal packages will be available.

For more info or to sign up, please visit www.drbanjo.com.

For Jam Camp and MerleFest lodging info at Herring Ridge, please visit www.campharrison.org/JamCamp.cfm.

" I attended the Merlefest edition of Pete Wernick's Jam Camp last month and found it to be profoundly helpful to me both in terms of my development as a banjo player and in learning to play with others. "
-- T.L., NC

"Thanks so much for offering the jam camp and for coaching us through the course.  It was a great experience for me!  I think you're doing a huge service by getting us novices comfortable in the shallow end of what could be a very deep and intimidating pool."
-- T.L., MA

"Jam camp was everything I had hoped for.  It was fun, educational and motivating.  Most importantly it has helped get me out of the psychological shell I had created.  The voice that says "you're not really good enough to play music with other people" has been replaced by a new voice saying . "you aren't that good but this is so much fun who cares...you'll get better" 
-- H.L., TX