Myrtle Beach, SC
November 2-5, 2023
Thursday 4:00 - 8:00 Friday and Saturday 10:00 - 6:00 Sunday 10:00 - 4:00
KOA Resort Kampground
Luxury camping in your RV, trailer, cabins and tents.
Click to pay deposit ($100.00) via Square.
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What it's like
We love the KOA at Myrtle Beach, and they love us. Everything from super luxurious paved camp sites with tables, grill and hammock and umbrellas to "primitive" tent camping. The cabins come in all sizes. Some with decks and kitchens, others are more basic.
We gather in the morning for coffee and snacks at our campsite. Then we break into groups and get to the music. Leigh creates lunches and we're all on our own for breakfast and dinner.
October in Myrtle Beach is typically real nice weather for open air jamming, camp fires and fellowship. Plenty of tall pines and places to walk. Dogs welcome. Feed the ducks on the little lake, bring your golf car and tool around. There's a little food cabana by the pool and the beach is a real short shuttle drive away.
Small Groups
The way bluegrass is supposed to be played.
We'll arrange small groups for you according to skills, interests, instruments, singing to get you the best ensemble experience. Sometimes we’ll mix groups so you can jam with a variety of people.
Large Group Instruction . . .
happens periodically as the occasion calls.
Especially first meeting of camp and typically mornings but other times too. These sessions are for everyone to get on the same page together. There we can set a theme, a principle or topic that we’ll pursue further in our small groups.
Breakout and Topical Sessions
Mixed groups according to topic like:
Finding melody - Faking a solo when you don't know or haven't practiced the melody - Leading a song or following one. Singing and also Harmony singing - Instrument specific breakouts - Pick up notes - Fills - tone, timing and technique - Learning strategies - How to find your key(s) - capos and transposing. Who knows what will come up. We can't always hit everything but some things we always get to work on.
After Hours Jamming
Pretty much a spontaneous and less rigorous time just letting it all hang out.
Spontaneous after hours jamming can happen at anyone's campsite. Sometimes an impromptu crowd of KOA guests may gather around for a few tunes. There's a stage by the lake that we're welcome to use too. Noodle quietly with a fellow picker or join in a raucous jamboree. Faster or slower stuff - straight up bluegrass or off the beaten path. Or you may just want to retire and nurse your sore fingers.
The Food
Each full day Leigh creates one of her famous lunch dishes. Everybody's on your own for breakfast and dinner.
Leigh creates good home cooked lunches like your mama made. If you have special diet restrictions please let us know and we'll do our best to take care of you.
Tuition, meals and lodging
are all separate.
Tuition - $425.00
Lunches - (included in your tuition)
Lodging - by separate arrangement with KOA
Click here to pay deposit ($50.00) via Square
There's a variety of campsites and cabins for every taste and budget. We can help you if you have questions (we recommend it) and we can always consult with the folks at KOA. Things can get pretty booked so get your place on the early side. - Here's their link for you to visit.
Gilbert Nelson
aka Dr. Jambo
Gilbert Nelson is your host. He leads jammers to green pastures. A passionate player and teacher of the music. Gilbert can hone in on where you're at and guide you in ways to break out with more knowledge and pathways to improvement. He knows how to bring out the best in you and he leads jam camp by example with inspiration, energy, and insight.
Leigh Nelson
aka General Leigh
Affectionally known as "General Leigh" Leigh is Gilbert's "backup brain" She's part musician, part organizer and problem solver. Leigh knows jamming. She's a master with gentle and knowledgeable instruction making learning fun. Leigh plays Bass Fiddle, Guitar, Mandolin and she's learning banjo now. She’ll even sing for you if you’re nice.
We love the Wernick Method
A common sense approach to getting musical fun and success in bluegrass jamming.
You'll be jamming in the first 5 minutes. We use Pete Wernick's time tested methods to get you understanding, how to techniques and plenty of action in a friendly circle of people just like you.
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Find out what's coming up for you.
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