Banjo | Corbin Hayslett | Advanced | Period 3 | Week 3 (July 20-24, 2026)
The banjo is one of the most unique and storied instruments in our America and far beyond. Like with most instruments adapted to music of the layman, there are countless traditional examples of how folks brought music out of their banjo. In this course we will survey the gamut of ‘left hand’ techniques up and down the neck as well as ‘right hand techniques in varying fingerstyle, up-picking, and brushing techniques. In this course we will visit right hand mechanics from throughout Appalachia and beyond referencing traditional recordings and sources. Build your banjo confidence by adding a new set of tools to your musical toolbox.
About the Instructor
Corbin Hayslett is a Virginia-born multi-instrumentalist and singer whose deep roots in old-time and bluegrass music have shaped him into one of the most promising young talents in Americana today. A recent graduate of The University of Virginia’s College at Wise, Hayslett’s musicianship and authentic sound earned him national recognition when he was selected from a multitude of entries to record on Orthophonic Joy: The 1927 Bristol Sessions Revisited—a tribute to the historic Ralph Peer recording sessions often called the “Big Bang” of country music. Music has been a lifelong companion for Hayslett. Raised in a home filled with song, he grew up harmonizing with his parents—his mother, a gifted singer and pianist who led church music, and his father, a passionate singer with a love for vintage bluegrass. Surrounded by the sounds of old-time tunes and bootleg radio recordings from the 1980s, Hayslett developed a natural connection to traditional Appalachian music.
Today, his skill with stringed instruments—especially his masterful command of the banjo—combined with his warm vocals and deep respect for musical heritage, make Corbin Hayslett a standout voice in the continuing story of American roots music.