The International Bluegrass Music Association is giving special thrusts to bringing bluegrass music into America’s classrooms. IBMA’s current promotions include a competition for devising a Bluegrass Lesson Plan and a special workshop for music teachers that will be held in October in Nashville, Tenn.

Both activities have one goal: “… to help more young people discover bluegrass music,” according to information from IBMA.

The deadline to enter the Bluegrass Lesson Plan competition is Nov. 30.

The lesson plan competition is designed to “encourage and reward the creation of instructional units at all grade levels that will expose students to the sounds and the analysis of bluegrass music,” according to IBMA.

Lesson plans are judged by a team of experienced teachers familiar with bluegrass, “with the aim of honoring plans that deliver high-quality instruction in an interesting way. We’re also looking for lessons that conform to nation-wide educational standards and are easily adaptable by other teachers (who may not be bluegrass musicians).”

Up to four prizes of $300 will be awarded to the best lesson plans in grades K-12, with up to six additional lesson plans receiving $100 “honorable mention” awards. The top lesson plans are posted on the IBMA Web site, for use by teachers and home schooling parents.

Lesson plans may be submitted until the Nov. 30 deadline. Winners will be notified in February 2008 and then will be recognized at a special luncheon at next year’s IBMA World of Bluegrass convention in Nashville.

An application with detailed information is available at www.ibma.org/events.programs/schools/lessonplancontest.asp.

The teachers workshop

The free workshop, Utilizing Bluegrass Music in the Classroom, is being offered from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 6 for elementary and secondary classroom and music teachers. It will be held in the Music City Ballroom’s 1 and 2 rooms at the Renaissance Hotel adjacent to the Nashville Convention Center during Bluegrass Fan Fest in Nashville. Participants will receive a certificate of attendance for professional development credit.

“During the seven-hour course, educators will see demonstrations of the instruments used and the vocal harmony structure of traditional bluegrass music, along with taking a group banjo lesson from Grand Ole Opry star Pam Gadd,” according to IBMA.

A presentation by Kim Samuel’s Gallatin Middle School Bluegrass Band from Warsaw, Ky., will give teachers some insight into how bluegrass school presentations can be organized and how to get children interested in playing bluegrass instruments.

The workshop will utilize IBMA’s “Discover Bluegrass” educational DVD on the history and development of bluegrass.

Teachers will also receive lesson plans, bluegrass music resources and take-home handouts, along with a free one-day festival pass for Saturday, Oct. 6.

Class size is limited to 50 participants.

Teachers can register by Sept. 25 by calling Nancy Cardwell at the IBMA office at (888) 438-4262, (615) 256-3222 or email at nancyc@ibma.org

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Karl Shiflett & Big Country
photo by Steve Mobley

The big stars are coming out Oct. 4, 5 and 6 at the annual Nebraska Bluegrass Festival, an indoor and under-cover event at the Lancaster Event Center on the eastern edge of Lincoln, Nebraska’s capital city. The Lancaster Event Center is a multi-building and modern facility that is one of Lincoln’s showcase attractions.

This year’s festival lineup includes Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Nothin’ Fancy, the Abrams Brothers, Wildwood Valley Boys, the Lonesome River Band, Karl Shiflett & Big Country and several regional bands.

All concerts will be held inside in an air-conditioned facility. A large tent will also be erected for jam sessions. The tent will be lighted to accommodate all-night and late-night jammers.

Festival promoters have also made arrangements to accommodate campers, including everyone from the RV traveler to the tent camper. Water and dump stations are available on the grounds and shower facilities are located inside the Lancaster Event Center.

Discounted advance tickets are available through Sept. 26.
Information, including reservations for concert tickets and camping, can be found at http://www.nebraskabluegrassfestival.com.

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Eddie Adcock

Eddie Adcock has been re-elected to another term on the International Bluegrass Music Association’s board of directors.He and three other new faces were selected during recent elections by professional members of the IBMA.

Adcock, with the Country Gentlemen for years, continues to pick up industry awards, including being inducted in 2006 into the Bean Blossom Hall of Fame in Indiana. A member of IBMA’s own Hall of Honor, Adcock will represent artists and composers on the IBMA board. A resident of Tennessee, Adcock now performs across the country in a duet act with his wife, Martha.

The three new faces on the board are:

• Janet Davis of Janet Davis Music Co. in Arkansas, who will represent merchandisers and luthiers.

• Rienk Janssen, editor of Strictly Country magazine and an event producer and record distributor from the Netherlands, who will represent international members on the IBMA board

• Dwight Worden, president of the San Diego Bluegrass Society in California, who will representing associations.
  The four were elected to three-year terms, which begin Oct. 1.

The board is IBMA’s governing body, which sets policy and determines long-range goals and priorities for the association. Members serve without pay and bear the full expense of attending IBMA events and board meetings held at least twice each year.

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