Kids On Bluegrass Europe

Experienced teachers

This annual workshop is taught by international and Bluegrass passionate teachers, who use to share and teach all year long.

A special teaching

The course content is carefully designed to develop and put into practice the abilities of young musicians to find their place within a band.

Above all : all together

Bluegrass music aims to be shared and built as a band, always. Every picker is supported by the others, and supports every one.

End-of-internship diploma

After their performance on stage, the kids are given a diploma attesting to their participation in this unique course in Europe.

The project

To bring young people from 6 to 16 yo together around Bluegrass music so that they can learn to play in a group, on stage, as part of an international festival.

They can thus transcend cultural barriers and enjoy a true living music experience within the international Bluegrass community.

The first two KOBE (Kids On Bluegrass Europe) courses, in La Roche Sur Foron, France, welcomed young pickers from Spain, France, Netherlands, Portugal, Hungary, Poland, Belgium, Czech Republic, and the teaching of Spanish, German, Czech, and French teachers.

Musical practice, playing and discussing with international musicians, acquiring basic practices, and performing on one of the festival stages, this internship is for young musicians a unique opportunity in Europe to develop their artistic and musical abilities.

Strongly supported by the Bluegrass In La Roche festival, the project has since continued. In 2023, 14 young people from France, Hungary, Belgium, Poland, Spain, Czechia, and the Netherlands attended the workshop with the Czech teacher Petr Brandejs.

If your child plays a Bluegrass instrument (guitar, bass, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, dobro, or even ukulele), this could be a good experience.

Look carefully on the stage. We take a promotion picture, and at the same time, a very small boy (4 or 4) is dreaming on stage with a fiddle in his hand. It talks to our hearts, does'nt it?

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The first poster for the first edition of the first European workshop for kids!

Video of the 2022 edition during the Bluegrass In La Roche festival. 9 young people from France, Portugal, Spain and Netherlands attended the workshop with teachers Lluis Gomez (Spain), Maribel Rivero (Spain), Julia Zech (Germany) and Ti' Pierre (France).

Video of the 2023 edition during the Bluegrass In La Roche festival. 14 young people from France, Hungary, Belgium, Poland, Spain, Czechia, and the Netherlands attended the workshop with the Czech teacher Petr Brandejs, Thomas Marinello (France) and Ti' Pierre (France).

The 2024 workshop

A 3 day music workshop with experienced Bluegrass teachers. Tuition : 50 €.

Where?

La Roche-Sur-Foron, Haute-Savoie, France.

When?

August 01, 02 & 03 2024, during the Bluegrass In La Roche festival.

Schedule and price

Thursday 01, 09:30 - 14:30. Friday 02, 09:30 - 14:30. Saturday 03, 09:30 - 12:30. Tuition : 50 €! Thursday and Friday, bring your lunch : jam after the meal!

Please note : students remain under the responsibility of their parents or designated chaperone during the workshop.

Instruments

The Bluegrass instruments are guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, dobro & acoustic bass. Ukulele welcome.
Please read our short gazette:

Kids On Bluegrass Gazette #3.

Teaching

The teaching is build on listening and playing as a band. No sheet music, we play and sing all together using 4 basic chords: G (Sol), D (Ré), C (Do), A (La), and simple melodies.

On stage

The workshop ends with a stage performance at noon on Saturday.

Teachers in the heart of Bluegrass music

A regular team and a guest teacher, choosen for his skills, experience and teaching.

Ross Mc Kerrell

Ross Mc Kerrell is Scottish and has been living in France for years, teaching music and languages. He started playing in bands in Edinburgh at 15 and never stopped. Now he plays with the Hokum Cheiks and The Stringtone Poets bands. He also runs the Fontainebleau Bluegrass jam. Ross Mc Kerrell on Youtube.

Thomas Marinello

A young and passionate musician and teacher, Thomas has great pleasure in helping and sharing. He has been playing Bluegrass since he was twelve and now plays the six bluegrass instruments. He plays in the Froggy Hill and Lurcy Sessions Bluegrass bands, and in many sessions.

Ti' Pierre

A musician and music teacher for almost 40 years, Ti’ Pierre plays with the Froggy Hill and Lurcy Sessions bands, teaches in L’Armadelle Bluegrass & Old Time music school, works for the Jam Hall and EBMA associations, and drives the Aoste Bluegrass jam.

Give it a try!

See for yourself if you can play these tunes that we will play in August.

You just need 4 chords.

Ain' Got No Home

D - G - A.

Y' All Come

G - C - D.

Foggy Mountain Rock

G(7) - C(7) - D(7).

Words, chords and scores

Download this 2 sheets document.

Registering

Please note : students remain under the responsibility of their parents or designated chaperone during the workshop.

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Kids On Bluegrass EuropeLa Roche 2024

Bluegrass playing in a band for young pickers

Inside Europe N°1 Bluegrass Festival