All Instruments | Ben Nelson | All levels | Period 3 | Week 3 (July 20-25, 2025)
Our driving question will be: How can we find more playfulness in playing our instruments together? We’ll work to articulate many interactive nuances of old-time music that often go unspoken. Musically, this means exploring how to play by ear, hear chord changes & patterns on the fly, and create a tight rhythm. Socially, this means practicing open communication about style, repertoire, and social dynamics of jams. Anyone who has curiosity about these questions is welcome; prior experience playing a string instrument will make it much easier to participate musically.
About the InstructorÂ
Ben Nelson grew up in a family of old-time musicians in the mountains of southwest Virginia. A passionate educator and community builder, he has worked as an elementary school science instructor, naturalist, traditional music teacher, and square dance caller. Ben has taught music and dance at Warren Wilson College, the Junior Appalachian Musicians program, and traditional music camps throughout the U.S. He was a founding member of the prize-winning string band The Moose Whisperers, and studied traditional music abroad as a Thomas J. Watson Fellow.