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Paul Mullins holding an instrument for a portrait

Paul “Moon” Mullins, Legendary Broadcaster

This is an excerpt from Industrial Strength Bluegrass: Southwestern Ohio’s Musical Legacy (edited by Fred Bartenstein and Curtis W. Ellison, © 2021 by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. Used with permission of the University of Illinois Press.). The book chronicles the important roles Cincinnati, Dayton and surrounding areas played in the development of…

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Jack Tuttle playing his fiddle

Jack Tuttle

Influencing Generations of Bluegrass Pickers Jack Tuttle is a multi-instrumentalist, author, and teacher based in the San Francisco Bay Area who has the distinction of being one of, if not the first to ever teach a bluegrass jam class. For more than four decades, Jack has taught bluegrass mandolin, guitar, banjo, fiddle, vocal, and jam…

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Happy and Jane Traum circa 1980s

Homespun Heroes

For Over 50 Years, Great Homespun Artists Have Taught Us How to Play Music For many bluegrass musicians who have tried to improve their skills over the last 50 years or so, whether it is professional artists or campground pickers, the Homespun Music Instruction Company has played a part in their journey. There is most…

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Pete teaching class // Photo by Kevin Slick

Making Friends With Music, Making Music With Friends

It’s hard to imagine a bluegrass fan who has never heard of Pete “Dr. Banjo” Wernick. After all, he’s well known as the banjo player for longtime fan favorites Hot Rize. His 1974 instructional book, Bluegrass Banjo, has sold roughly a quarter-million (!) copies. He was the first president of the International Bluegrass Music Association…

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Ben Clark smiling and playing his banjo

Banjo Ben Clark

Video Instruction for the 21st Century If you are a banjo, mandolin, or guitar player and spend any amount of time on YouTube, you will know about Banjo Ben Clark.  Ben was one of the first instructors to start teaching video lessons via YouTube and he has grown those humble beginnings into a bluegrass instruction…

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Students smile for a group photo at the Monroe Mandolin camp

Monroe Mandolin Camp

Building Bluegrass Community  Music camps and workshops provide students with an opportunity to interact with, and learn directly from, professional musicians and music heroes. While at camp, students also have the opportunity to make new friends who share common interests and, of course, there is the jamming. It is learning via the total immersion method….

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