2nd Banjo Camp Munich - a resounding success!

The 2nd Munich banjo camp took place this year from 7 - 9 November
on Munich’s south side.

Nearly 30 banjo enthusiasts from Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland experienced an unforgettable weekend in a friendly atmosphere, packed full of intense learning and joint jam sessions.

The Munich Banjo Camp was launched 2007 by Adiaha Bürkmiller, herself an enthusiastic banjo player. Ruediger Helbig, her long-time banjo teacher, fully supported her idea to organize a Banjo Camp, and since then she is working to expand it even more. After Ross Nickerson (USA) in 2007, 2008 brought John Dowling (UK), the winner of the U.S. National Bluegrass Banjo Championship, to the camp.

Ruediger Helbig and John Dowling understood perfectly that the camp’s participants experience level varied greatly and each provided a wealth of appropriate practical training and tips, and information for the banjo, while proving to be patient and humorous instructors.

Friday through Sunday midday were spent learning and drilling banjo and fretboard theory, back-up techniques, new songs, with small group practice, culminating Sunday afternoon with a full participant concert. For realism, 2 guitarists and bassist were enlisted to give the students the chance to play “live” with a band, accompanied by two world class banjo players. This resulted in perhaps Germany’s largest bluegrass band, and was not only fun, but was also visibly motivated each student to continue banjo playing.

One highpoint of the camp was Saturday evening's concert in Weyarn with “Ruediger Helbig and the Huckleberry 5", in which John Dowling demonstrated and proved his outstanding skills.
 
The overwhelming feedback from the participants over the last two years encourage the organizers to do it all again. Because of rising demand a new location had to be found.

The 3rd MBC (Fall 2009) is planned to be held at Lake Chiemsee in a music seminar hotel. This will have the advantage that all learning, practice, jamming, food, drink and sleep will all be under one roof. Requests are already in to also include classical Bluegrass instruments.

Interested parties can find more information at www.banjocamp.de.

---
Information:
Adiaha Bürkmiller
www.banjocamp.de
banjocamp@gmx.de
Phone: +49-176-23 64 07 02