The new Murphy Method Blog has officially launched.

The Murphy Method has launched it’s own blog with the likely title of the Murphy Method Blog.

It was officially kicked off Tuesday with some preliminary posts.

“We will blog about what we’re doing, about teaching, about instruments, or whatever happens to be on our minds at the moment. We will also answer your questions,” said Murphy Henry.

Murphy, Casey, and Red Henry will rotate posts.

“We invite you to bookmark it and visit often. We’ll have at least one new post every weekday (we’re saving Saturday and Sunday for actually doing the things we’ll write about,)” Murphy Henry said.

In other news from the Murphy Method family of bluegrass instructional materials, Casey Henry is filling in this month on banjo with the Dixie Bee-Liners.

The blog and other information about the Murphy Method line of materials can be found at www.murphymethod.com

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Murphy Method releases DVD on improvising - “Slow Jam” Instructional video reviewed in Bluegrass Unlimited.

The Murphy Method has  released Improvising: The First Stage on DVD for banjo which is geared towards teaching how to take the licks you know and re-arranging them into new breaks for songs you may not know.

The Murphy Method’s “Slow Jam with Murphy and Casey,” which was released last year, is reviewed in the June issue of Bluegrass Unlimited magazine.

“This DVD should work nicely for all instruments, though the banjo gets some extra mention here. A good share of the tunes are in G, with occasional capoing up to higher keys. Anyone wishing their local jams would just ratchet down to about half speed (and keep it there) should find this DVD very, very useful.” Bluegrass Unlimited

Bluegrass Festival and Events Calendar

June 5-7 — American Heritage Music Festival - Grove, OK. Features the Grand Lake National Fiddle Fest and the Grand Lake National Clogging Contest.

June 5-7 — Preddyfest held in Franklinton, NC. Three big days of Bluegrass with James King, Lorraine Jordan and Carolina Road, The Grascals, The Gibson Brothers, Marty Raybon and Full Circle, Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice along with many more. Single day tickets are $20, $25 and $30 or a weekend pass for $60 available at the gate.

June 5-7 — Melody Ranch Bluegrass Festival - Tom Bean, TX. Bluegrass bands set to perform include Prairie Night, Copper Canyon, Boggy River Boys, Vern Young and Lost Highway. The Festival also features jamming, camping, concessions and indoor, air-conditioned shows with seating provided.

Got an item for the calendar? Looking for Festivals, Special events, Jam Sessions, etc… If it relates to the world of Bluegrass we want to know about it. Send us the who, what, when and where and other details you’ve got and we’ll do our best to let everyone know about it. Send your Bluegrass Calendar items to subscriber@bluegrassjournal.com.

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In honor of Ralph Stanley’s 72nd birthday on Feb. 25th, Murphy Method is having a sale on their Ralph Stanley Style DVD. The sale price is only $20.00 plus shipping and the sale price is good from now through February. The DVD teaches the popular “Clinch Mountain Backstep,” the huge hit, “Man of Constant Sorrow” and more.

Casey Henry has been added to the staff at Banjo Camp North, which takes place May 16-18, 2008 near Groton, Mass. Casey, along with Bill Evans, Alan Munde, Janet Davis, Bill Keith, and others will teach classes for all levels and lead jams in the evenings. There is a pre-camp show on Thursday, May 15 in Lexington, Mass.

And finally a clip from Chris Henry’s January 16th, 2008 Station Inn show earlier this month: a triple-mandolin version of “Farewell to Long Hollow.” featuring Chris, Red Henry, and Brian Frazier. The tune appears on Chris’s CD “Monroe Approved.”

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The Murphy Method is proud to announce that they have recently signed a wholesale distribution deal with Mel Bay, who will supply music stores around the world with their instructional DVDs. Overseas customers should now contact their local music store for Murphy Method products, or call Mel Bay directly. US and Canadian customers can still order directly from Murphey Method through their website or by telephone at 1-800-227-2357.

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Bluegrass Rhythm
Guitar Vol. 1

Responding to customer requests, the Murphy Method has put “Bluegrass Runs on Guitar Volume 1″ on DVD.Now re-titled Bluegrass Rhythm Guitar Volume 1 it is designed to add embellishments to the beginning rhythm guitarist’s work. This DVD teaches runs between G, C, and D chords, shows the F chord with the “rocking bass” and also includes some runs in the key of C.

Also added to the DVD format is Murphy Method’s Intermediate Bass, which is a follow-up to the Beginning Bass DVD. It introduces runs, shows players how to put them into songs, talks about waltz time, explains how to play in the key of B, and even teaches the “boogie woogie” on the bass.

The new DVDs and Murphy’s entire catalog of instructional videos can be viewed online at www.murphymethod.com

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