Taught by Austin Scelzo using the Wernick Method*
Norwalk, CT at Eco Evolution
135 Washington St, Norwalk, CT 06854
Wednesdays, September 15 – October 27, 2021
(Previously scheduled to start Sep 1)
6:30-9:00pm each Wednesday; no class on September 29 or October 13
Tuition: $150 for 5 sessions
$50 deposit reserves your spot. 50% refundable for cancellations more than one month in advance.
Austin Scelzo was introduced to various fiddle traditions at Mark O’Connor’s early Berklee String Camps and over time picked up all the bluegrass instruments along with singing, songwriting, and jamming. While enjoying four years as a middle school music teacher. Austin’s bluegrass journey began with CT-based groups The Angry O’Haras and On the Trail, on fiddle and vocals.
Now performing with The Rock Hearts, respected New England bluegrass veterans, he is active in the bluegrass community, creating and managing the Bluegrass Coffeehouse performance venue, hosting jams, and launching the Connecticut Bluegrass Music Association.
Austin’s students say:
“Austin is a gifted musician, teacher and just all around good guy.”
“A dedicated and enthusiastic teacher.”
“Austin was a fabulous teacher. He was able to help everyone in the class, with all their levels of expertise.”
“The atmosphere among all of us was very collaborative, supportive and fun, and Austin did a super job of setting that tone and keeping up a strong pace of learning at the same time.”
* Wernick Method Classes teach real bluegrass jamming!
- All bluegrass instruments welcome
- No jamming experience necessary
- You will be jamming the first class!
- Friendly, encouraging, knowledgeable teaching.
- Gentle tempos! Mistakes expected!
- Music reading not needed or used
- Singing not required, but encouraged and taught.
- Easy 2- and 3-chord songs, slow speeds.
- Soloing not required! “Faking” solos taught.
- Understanding, low-pressure, time-tested teaching
- Intermediates welcome, and given added challenges
- Hands-on learning in large and small groups
- Learn many bluegrass standards
- Full ground rules and etiquette of typical jams
- How to lead songs and how to follow new songs
- How to find melodies, fake solos, sing harmony
- Ear skills taught and emphasized, as in real bluegrass
- Group and individualized instruction on backup skills
Do you qualify? It’s easier than you may think!
If you play guitar, mandolin, banjo, fiddle, bass, or dobro… you can be part of a bluegrass jam.
Only requirements:
- You must be able to tune your instrument (electronic tuning devices welcome) and
- change smoothly between G, C, D, and A. (Fiddles and basses need to know which notes work with which chords)
For more info or to send payment in the mail, email office@letspick.org.
Click any photo to enlarge.
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