Avram w/ Peter Rowan and Bill Amatneek
photo by Tom Tworek

                  
True Blue  photo by Seymour Chatman
   

Private Lessons

Avram Siegel, banjo player with Kathy Kallick Band and True Blue, is accepting new banjo and guitar students for individual lessons, all ages, all levels. In private instruction, students get intensive help with development of technique, and understanding the mechanics of rhythm and melody as they relate to lead and backup playing.  The schedule for private lessons is flexible, with slots available during the day as well as evenings.  Adult lessons are one hour, children's lessons are 1/2 hour.

Classes

In addition to private lessons, Avram conducts group sessions:

Bluegrass jam class covers jam etiquette, style and standard repertoire to help participants get started or improve upon jamming skills, such as lead and back-up playing and bluegrass vocal harmonizing. It is limited to 2 persons for each lead instrument.  The prerequisites are the ability to play evenly at a moderate tempo, and to recognize simple chord changes by ear.  Previous singing experience is not necessary.  Jam class occurs in 8-week sessions.  The next one is scheduled to begin in May '05.

Fingerboard Fundamentals (Otherwise known as "music theory"). By popular request,  a new class has been added on the conceptual aspects of music: how melody works, and how it relates to the fingerboard.  The purpose is to help students learn how to improvise solos and play good accompaniment to other musicians in a jam or band context.  It includes elements of harmony, and how to bring out the melody of a tune or song while playing a solo.  Music theory class is offered in 6-week sessions.

Class days (evenings) currently are Wednesday and Thursday evenings, but changes may be made to accommodate participants’ schedules. 

Resume

B.A. in Music from Humboldt State University
Banjo Instructor, Puget Sound Guitar workshop
Banjo Instructor, CBA Bluegrass Camp 

Performance History (descending in time)

True Blue      True Blue home
Kathy Kallick Band       Kathy Kallick Band home
Crane Canyon
Vern Williams Band
Due West
Fog City Ramblers
Grant Street String Band

A bluegrass band clinic is available for established picking partners who want to improve their band's rhythm and polish their group sound. These clinics are individually scheduled as needed.

Member of Musicians Union Local 6