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registration is open

​​A 3-day teaching camp from Tuesday July 28 to Thursday July 30, 2026 with possibility of accommodation
The goal is to help you, whatever your level, improvise and take part in a Bluegrass jam with autonomy and confidence: "learn to play without being tied to tablatures!"
​Workshop "band labs", formed during the workshop and coached by one of the tutors, kick off the festival on the main stage on Thursday.

​The camp takes place at Lycée Sainte Famille, La Roche sur Foron (74800)
Limited to 120 participants with 100 available beds on site
Morning : Instrumental Classes  •  Song writing
Afternoons : Wernick Method coached Jams  • Bluegrass harmony singing • Band Labs

The school is open from 3 pm on Monday July 28 and there is a welcome drinks and dinner on Monday evening, hosted by the festival organisation.
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Is this camp for me?
This camp is for you, if ...
  1. You love Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs or the Stanley Brothers, and you recently started playing a bluegrass instrument (guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, Dobro, double bass) and you are able to change chords comfortably between the 4 major chords: G, C, D and A.
  2. You already play an instrument in another musical genre and you have the intuition that bluegrass music can help you progress technically and in improvisation.
  3. You are an advanced bluegrass musician and you want to go further, to explore new directions by moving to a higher level and sharing fantastic moments between musicians.​
What will I learn?
The workshop is organized around 4 themes:
1- Instrumental classes : (3 full mornings) : bluegrass playing techniques on your favorite instrument, rhythmics, phrasing, licks, solos...
2- Workshops : bluegrass vocal harmonies, advanced instrumental techniques, thematic modules (composition, clear cues for improvisation...)
3- Wernick Method jam teaching: in small groups divided by level, each group being marked by one of the teachers. The best way to learn!
4- Band Labs: groups formed during the workshop and coached by a teacher with the aim of playing one or two pieces on the festival's main stage on Thursday night.

More than 20 hours of instrumental or vocal lessons with the teachers of your choice, covering all the essential aspects of bluegrass music, not to mention informal meetings and exchanges!
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 Agricultural 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
When should I arrive?
The school will be open from 3pm on Monday afternoon to register and move into your rooms.
There will be a reception at 6.30 with food and drinks hosted by the festival organising committee and the teaching team.
Can I stay for the festival?
Students at the camp may keep their room during the festival if they wish. The price will be the regular rate and you must inform the organisation of your intention to stay when you sign up for the camp. 
The organization has decided to grant trainees a special rate on the 4-day pass for entry to the festival.

    Contact
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The camp opens on Monday evening with a welcome drink and meal hosted by the festival organising committee with introductions by Festival Chair Christopher Howard-Williams and the Camp leader Gilles Rézard.
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TIMETABLE

The Wernick Method

The Wernick Method is part of the camp since 2023.
The students will have access to the bluegrass jam materials carefully prepared by Pete Wernick, to learn in the best conditions.

ABOUT THE WORKSHOPS

This camp is not a discovery workshop: if you have never played an instrument before, you will need to get some practice beforehand. See the "Need To Know" tab.

It is intended for :
People who have their own instrument and have already started, even recently, in the bluegrass style or with at least some notions such as
- Quick tuning
- Accompanying in rhythm, at slow or medium tempo (60-70)
- Being able to change chords comfortably between G, C, D and A.

For experienced musicians who wish to take advantage of these three days and the festival to make significant progress, to take new references, to learn new notions, new pieces, to find new ways to improvise, arrange, sing...

In case of any doubt, please feel free to contact us.
American teachers
Musicians from Kristy Cox Band based in Nashville Tennessee with Ondra Kozák as an extra tutor
Kristy Cox - Songwriting
Kristy Cox is a multi-award-winning bluegrass and country artist known for her unique voice, sincere songwriting, and deep love for traditional acoustic music. Originally from Australia, Kristy is currently based in Nashville. She has built an international career with tours and performances at major festivals in the United States, Europe, and Australia. Kristy has released 10 albums that frequently topped the charts and collaborates with the most respected musicians in bluegrass and roots music. As a seven-time Golden Guitar Award winner, Kristy passionately shares her knowledge of bluegrass vocals, harmonizing, songwriting, and stage presence. She loves helping musicians connect with the core of the music while simultaneously boosting their confidence.
Jason Bailey • Mandolin
Intermediate & advanced

​Mandolinist Jason Bailey has been performing and teaching professionally for over 25 years. Originally from Birmingham (Alabama), Jason relocated to Nashville shortly after completing his third solo album release, ‘Mandolbug’, in 2010. This record, produced by mandolinist extraordinaire Matt Flinner, expresses Bailey’s talents in New Grass, jazz and Celtic inspired genres. Jason currently has five album releases. Jason is also a founding instructor for the Alabama Folk School’s Bluegrass and Gees Bend camp that is approaching its 20 year anniversary. You can also see Jason on the stage with acts like Kristy Cox, Barry Waldrep, Taylor Hicks, Jimmy Hall and more.
Carter Lester • Banjo
Intermediate & advanced

​Carter Lester is a banjo player from Glade Spring, Virginia, and a student at East Tennessee State University, where he studies finance. He previously performed with Seth Mulder and Midnight Run, building a strong foundation in traditional bluegrass.
Ellie Hakanson • Fiddle
All levels

​Ellie Hakanson has played bluegrass all her life, performing with her family band, various regional groups. She toured internationally for five years with Jeff Scroggins and Colorado (including at La Roche) and nowadays plays with Missy Raines and Allegheny (in La Roche en 2022).
In January 2019, Ellie released her first full length album and was nominated for several IBMA Momentum awards: in 2017 for Instrumentalist of the year, in 2018 for Vocalist of the year, and in 2019 for both Vocalist and Instrumentalist.
In addition to performing, Ellie has been teaching private fiddle lessons and workshops at festivals since 2003, and currently teaches fiddle and vocals at camps and in individual lessons.
​Tyler Griffith  • Bass
All levels

Tyler Griffith comes from a musical family and began performing with a family band at the age of four. He plays an arsenal of instruments, but in his professional career, he has focused primarily on double bass, electric bass, and guitar. Tyler has played internationally in various professional and semi-professional bands. The most well-known groups he played in are Jeff Parker and Colin Ray, the Farm Hands, the Tennessee Bluegrass Band, King Springs Road, and Seth Mulder & Midnight Run. Tyler toured with Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper for eight years and played bass on Mike’s album ‘On Down the Line’ and on the Grammy-winning album ‘Tall Fiddler’. With Flamekeeper, he won three IBMA awards for ‘Instrumental Group of the Year’. Recently, Tyler released his first solo single, ‘Please Stay’, on all music platforms. Although he was born and raised as a ‘Hoosier’ in Avon, Indiana, Tyler currently lives partly in Piney Flats, Tennessee, and partly in Drachten, the Netherlands. He lives there with his Frisian wife, Nienke, who also plays bass.​
We don't have a photo of Tyler with a double bass but we believe you won't mind that much !
​Ondra Kozák  • Guitar
Intermédiaires et avancés
​
​​Ondra Kozák is one of the main figures of the Czech and European bluegrass music scene. He is a singer and multi-instrumentalist (guitar, violin, mandolin, bass, dobro), composer, studio engineer and a sought-after collaborator and teacher. He has been actively involved in music since 2000 and professionally since 2016. 
He has recorded two solo albums ("Ataman" en 2014 and "Overtones" en 2019) and contributed to more than 30 other studio albums. Ondra won the title "Guitarist of the Year" 5 times in the Czech Bluegrass Music Association poll. With various bands, he has won the prestigious competition for European Band of the Year at the French La Roche Bluegrass Festival 4 times and has collaborated with prominent figures of the world music scene, e.g. Mike Marshall, Bill Evans, Casey Driessen, John Reischman, Dale Ann Bradley, Steve Gulley, Cia Cherryholmes, Mike Compton, Radim Zenkl, etc. Ondra organizes several music camps in the Czech Republic and often appears as a guest lecturer at camps in Europe and the USA. He is the author of several publications, a podcast and other materials, which he publishes on his own teaching platform "ATAmusic".
French teachers
Raphael Maillet • Fiddle
All Levels

We’ll shift the mindset from:
"I don’t know the melody, I don’t have sheet music, so I can’t play with you" to :
"I don’t know the melody, but I understand some key elements, so I can play with you."
This fun, adaptable, and highly educational approach will encourage musical exchanges at all levels.
​
Patrick Peillon • Guitar
All levels

Prerequisites: Be comfortable with using a flatpick and playing Bluegrass rhythm guitar.

This workshop will provide you with all the fundamentals needed to learn how to improvise and build your own solos.
We will work on arpeggios, cross-picking, and scales, and explore how to apply them to create Bluegrass improvisations that stay true to the melodies.
Expect plenty of practical applications and exercises to understand and improvise on fiddle tunes.​
Dorian Ricaux • Mandoline
All Levels

Program:
  • Right hand: Position, attack, tone, and speed
  • Left hand: Simple and complete shapes (transposition, chord construction)
  • Rhythm (chops), backup (adapting your playing to the context)
  • Learn traditional tunes
  • Start improvising: How to begin (arpeggios, scales, simple tools to embellish melodies)
Thierry Loyer • Dobro
All Levels
​
Explore the instrument, Bluegrass techniques, and other styles, both as an accompanist and improviser.
If you have a resonator guitar or a similar instrument, whether you’re a beginner or experienced, and want to learn, share, improvise, accompany, or refine your skills, this workshop is for you.
Christian Labonne • Banjo
All Levels

First, bring your banjo, fingerpicks, and a desire to learn.
A workshop offers the opportunity to meet banjo players, allows you to take your first steps in playing with others and provides a chance to share a relaxing moment (and not feel too alone when that dumb little finger refuses to land on the right fret !)
The topics covered adapt themselves to requests but generally include things like :
  • Revisiting the most well-known rolls and discovering new ones,
  • Working on right-hand dynamics (left-hand if you are left-handed),
  • Playing in keys other than G,
  • Working on harmony,
  • Adapting songs from other repertoires into bluegrass.
Marie Clemence • "False" Beginners in mandolin and guitar
Elementary class - Mandolin and Guitar

Discover and practice the various accompaniment styles typical of bluegrass music.
Understand the role of each instrument within a group (groups will be formed on-site).
Depending on participants' requests, we can cover any questions related to technique in general, how to manage self-learning and practice, an introduction to improvisation, how to pick out a melody by ear… (non-exhaustive list).
Optional opportunity to play on stage, with no obligation.

Prerequisites:
Bring your own instrument, pick, capo (for guitarists), and tuner.
Be able to form chords with your left hand and use a pick.
Gilles Rézard  • "False" Beginners in banjo
​Elementary class - Banjo
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  • ​Become familiar with the specific vocabulary of bluegrass banjo.
  • Learn and practice rolls and automate them.
  • Be able to play a simple rhythm over standards.
  • Find a melody by ear and play it on the instrument.
  • Gain confidence and enjoy learning to play in a group.
  • Opportunity to perform on stage, with no obligation.
​
Prerequisites :
  • Have your own instrument, fingerpicks, capo, and tuner.
  • Be able to form chords with your left hand and use all three fingerpicks.

WHERE THE MUSIC CAME FROM

Picture
1925 - 1945 : the slow maturing
Bill Monroe, mandolinist of genius, is inspired by the most popular styles of the time with the idea to invent a new style.
The popular styles from which he was strongly inspired are :
- The gospel (and the religious music): it comes from a family of notables very practising
- The fiddle tunes : instrumentals imported by the Irish fiddlers, direct influence of his uncle : "Uncle Pen
- The blues : his best friend, Arnold Schulz, was an appreciated bluesman with whom he animated many balls,
- Ballads : songs with stories of British tradition, peddled in particular by the Carter Family,
- Western swing: huge commercial success, "American-style" shows, with superstars like Bob Wills. In 1938 was born from these various influences a group named by Bill Monroe: "The Blue Grass Boys".

1945: success at last!
After many evolutions, the success occurs finally thanks to the arrival in the group of a young guitarist with the perfect voice for the style: Lester Flatt, followed by a banjoist still unknown: Earl Scruggs.
This was the missing ingredient and the spark that set the world on fire!
After a historic performance on Nashville's main stage in 1946 at the Grand Ole Opry (now the Ryman), a veritable musical revolution took place.
During a few years, money flows and the bluegrass style starts to influence groups that will become legendary:
Jim & Jesse (1945), Stanley Brothers (1946), Flatt & Scruggs (1948), Jimmy Martin (1949), Reno & Smiley (1950) and Osborne Brothers (1953).

WHAT TO LISTEN TO

The main bands, in chronological order:
1945 - 1960 (traditional bands) : Bluegrass Boys, Jim & Jesse, Stanley Brothers, Flatt & Scruggs, Jimmy Martin, Reno & Smiley, Osborne Brothers, Doc Watson, Country Gentlemen, Del Mc Coury, Kentucky Colonels, The Dillards.
1960 - 1980 (the innovatives): Seldom Scene, Bluegrass Cardinals, JD Crowe and new South, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, Bluegrass Album Band, Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, Bluegrass Alliance, Country Cooking, Newgrass Revival, Country Gazette, Muleskinner, David Grisman Quintet, Hot Rize, Tony Rice Unit, Skyline.
1980 - today (modern bluegrass): Alison Krauss and Union Station, Nickel Creek, Alison Brown Quartet, Crooked Still, Punch Brothers, Billy Strings...

The jam favorites:
The bluegrass repertoire fortunately contains many 3-chord songs, with the same grid and sometimes the same melody between verse and chorus.
This is the place to start, especially if they are jam favorites with nice melodies!

Here is a list of some of the 20 most popular 3-chord songs:
  1. Banks of the Ohio
  2. Blue Ridge Cabin Home
  3. Bury Me Beneath The Willow
  4. Handsome Molly (2 accords)
  5. I am a Pilgrim
  6. I'll Fly Away
  7. I'm Coming Back But I Don't Know When
  8. Little Darling Pal of Mine
  9. Long Gone
  10. Long Journey Home
  11. Man of Constant Sorrow
  12. My Home Across the Blue Ridge Mountains (2 accords)
  13. New River Train
  14. Nine Pound hammer
  15. On and On
  16. Roll in my Sweet Baby's Arms
  17. Take This Hammer
  18. Will The Circle Be Unbroken
  19. You Are My Sunshine
  20. Your Love is Like a Flower

WHAT TO LEARN TO PLAY

Bluegrass music is essentially learned by ear from our favorite bands and musicians, and then with the pleasure of playing with friends.
For that, this music has the particularity to be accessible instrumentally or vocally without any previous musical notion, even if at the same time and on the same pieces our favorite musicians reach summits of virtuosity!

No need for theory, just listen, memorize a melody, and jump in, trying to follow the chords.

Three chords will be enough to start: G, C and D.
So start by practicing changing chords comfortably, at a slow tempo (or even very slow...), and just in rhythm: poum-tchac or with long notes on the fiddle.

You still feel a little bit lost and want to know where to start?
There are some possibilities to start:
  • Either you prefer to start on your own like on YouTube: La Chaine Bluegrass
  • You want to learn faster, please feel free to visit the Ecole Bluegrass website.
  • You want to know about bluegrass in France: see the FBMA website

Registrations for 2026

​If your class is full, you can sign up for the waiting list.
We will keep you informed of any cancellations.