what will I learn?
The workshop is organised around 4 main teaching elements
- Work on your Primary Instrument (3 full mornings)
- Work on an optional subject: accompanying yourself or other musicians (singing or playing lead); singing class; kids class; using blues, jazz or rock in Bluegrass; more work on your primary instrument if perferred
- Supervised jams with at least 1 tutor on different themes: traditional, modern, swing, fiddle tunes, slow jam (for elementary players)
- "Band Labs" are formed on site and coached by a tutor to perform one or two songs on the main festival stage on Thursday evening
Altogether you will spend up to 20 hours of tutored instruction on your main instrument, in an optional class, in a supervised jam and in a band lab.
how will i spend my time?
The three days are organised as follows:
Time |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Morning |
Closed |
Instrument Class |
Instrument Class |
Instrument Class |
Afternoon |
Arrivals & Registration |
Optional classes Supervised Jam Band Labs |
Optional classes Supervised Jam Band Labs |
Band Labs final rehearsal |
Evening |
Welcome Dinner Open Jam |
Supervised or Open Jam |
Visit the Street Festival in town |
Play the Festival |
who will teach me?
Our teaching faculty is mixed, with the 6 American members of Rapidgrass from Colorado and 9 seasoned French music instructors.
Guitar - Mark Morris, Philippe Checa and Jimmy Josse (rhythm guitar)
Fiddle - Coleman Smith and Raphaël Maillet
Banjo - Erik Yates, Pierre-Yes Le Chat and Pierre Bastide (natural style)
Bass - Carl Minorkey
Dobro - Billy Cardine
Mandolin - Alex Johnstone and Dorian Ricaux
Singing - Léopoldine Guillaume and Mathilde Cousin
Kid's Class - Fred Vilain
Faculty coordinator - Pierre Bastide
Guitar - Mark Morris, Philippe Checa and Jimmy Josse (rhythm guitar)
Fiddle - Coleman Smith and Raphaël Maillet
Banjo - Erik Yates, Pierre-Yes Le Chat and Pierre Bastide (natural style)
Bass - Carl Minorkey
Dobro - Billy Cardine
Mandolin - Alex Johnstone and Dorian Ricaux
Singing - Léopoldine Guillaume and Mathilde Cousin
Kid's Class - Fred Vilain
Faculty coordinator - Pierre Bastide
where will i stay?
The workshop is fully residential.
All classes and meals take place in Lycée Sainte Famille (High School) of ESCR, the La Roche Catholic School Association.
Students sleep in the residential part of the school (2-5 to a room with shared bathrooms) or at the ENILV school next door (the National Agriculutral College for the Milk and Meat Industry).
Both schools are partners of the festival. ESCR also runs Sainte Marie Junior High School, which hosts the festival itself.
Students may also choose to sleep elsewhere and take only meals in the school dining room.
For more information about where the school is or where to stay, see the maps of La Roche and where to stay.
All classes and meals take place in Lycée Sainte Famille (High School) of ESCR, the La Roche Catholic School Association.
Students sleep in the residential part of the school (2-5 to a room with shared bathrooms) or at the ENILV school next door (the National Agriculutral College for the Milk and Meat Industry).
Both schools are partners of the festival. ESCR also runs Sainte Marie Junior High School, which hosts the festival itself.
Students may also choose to sleep elsewhere and take only meals in the school dining room.
For more information about where the school is or where to stay, see the maps of La Roche and where to stay.
wifi is available on the ground floor of the main Sainte Famille building
how much will i pay?
Tuition fees
- Standard price - €180
- Early bird price - €150 (enrollment before June 15)
- Junior price - €120 (under 18)
- Full board - €81 (€27/day with bed, breakfast, lunch and dinner - from Monday dinner to Thursday lunch)
- Individual Meals - €8.50 per lunch and dinner. Sign up on enrolment
- Extra nights during festival weekend - €10 per night per person, including breakfast. Sign up on enrolment
what is my playing level?
The table below is a rough guide to help you identify your level and is not an official musical ability scale!
0. Beginner |
Not admitted in the workshop |
1. Elementary |
Minimum requirement for Workshop Knows the main major and minor chords, knows some songs (preferably Bluegrass standards), has some (even limited) experience playing with others. |
2. Intermediate |
Plays confidently in the basic song formations (rhythms and some simple solos), has some experience playing with others in a band or jam context, and lacks confidence to improvise on unknown songs and unfamiliar chord sequences |
3. Proficient |
Is comfortable playing rhythm or simple instrument back up on most standard songs with unknown players and wants to build confidence taking breaks on unfamilar songs |
4. Accomplished |
Standard playing on the instrument is mastered, even on unfamilar song and unfamiliar chord shapes, and wants to take personal knowledge to new levels in new directions in order to enhance personal fulfilment on the instrument |
5. "Rapidgrass!" |
You should be teaching the workshop! |