Wesley Corbett
Banjo - Traditional Bluegrass & Progressive
A respected performer and teacher of traditional music, and a banjo player of uncommon grace and facility, Wesley Corbett began classical piano at the age of two. During high school he converted to the banjo and has spent the last 15 years studying, touring and teaching. Wesley has recorded and performed with numerous musicians, including Molly Tuttle, Joy Kills Sorrow, The Bee Eaters, The Biscuit Burners, the David Grisman Quintet, Mike Marshall, Darol Anger, Robert Earl Keen, Crooked Still, Matt Glaser, Tony Trischka, Alan Munde, and others. Wesley served as the professor and grant manager of the banjo program at Berklee College of Music between 2011-2015. He toured internationally with the critically acclaimed acoustic string band Joy Kills Sorrow until 2014 which was featured on NPR’s A Prairie Home Companion and Mountain Stage. Wesley Corbett has more than 10 years teaching experience, including 4 years as the banjo professor at Berklee College of Music. He enjoys playing and teaching all styles of 3 finger banjo. With a vital fluency in Scruggs style, he is additionally adept in blending single string and melodic style within composition and improvisation. His music instruction focuses on enabling students to effectively practice on their instrument which in turn, fosters self-learning and creativity. He currently tours with the 2017 IBMA guitar player of the year Molly Tuttle.
www.wescorbett.com
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS
Harmonized scales in G (Adv Beg/Int): In this session we will cover some simple shapes that make playing melodies way easier. With these two note positions you can unlock classic bluegrass backup and lead playing that will help you jam on just about anything.
Playing melodies with the forward roll (Adv Beg/Int): During this class we will take a look at one of the coolest ways to play simple melodies on banjo. Just play a forward roll and place the melody note on your index finger of your right hand. Okay it's not quite that simple, but it's a great way to use the banjo the way it sounds best. We will learn a great version of "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" as an example of this technique.
The Magic of JD Crowe (Int/Adv): In this class we will learn a couple classic Crowe breaks and what makes his playing so special.
Guidetone Chord Shapes (Int/Adv): This class is dedicated to two simple shapes that when used correctly can transform your backup. Do you like the classic Scruggs tune "Foggy Mountain Special"? Come learn how to make it sound even better!
Rolls and Licks (Int/Adv): Do you like players like Tony Trischka, Alan Munde, and Greg Cahill? Come check out some of the licks and concepts that make their voices on the banjo so unique.
Note for Note Fiddle Tune in Both Octaves (Int/Adv):: In this session we will learn to play "Road to Malvern" in both registers of the banjo. This tune sits really well in one position at the 12th fret and is a great first tune to play up there.