In the Spring of 2013, in the woods above Nashville, TN, there will be a camp for flatpickers of all levels and most ages. It will be held in a beautiful home surrounded by trees and creeks and bonfire pits perfect for late night jamming. Many of the greatest flatpickers alive will be teaching there but only 15 students will be allowed to sign up - guaranteeing the most incredible learning experience offered in modern music camping. You will stay on-site or travel from your home each day and learn from the masters. In the afternoons there will be jams where you may very well find yourself picking Red Haired Boy or Big Sciota across from Bryan Sutton, Kenny Smith, or Adam Chowning or maybe David Grier. One special afternoon you will have a chance to record a tune with one of these flatpicking heroes with an IBMA award-winning recording engineer. It's mind-boggling, really.

If you are a seasoned veteran or brand new to flatpicking we want you to come to this camp. Beginners aren't made to feel silly here - there are classes geared to everyone's learning speed. Everyone is welcome, no matter his/her level of accomplishment.

The price for on-site lodging, tuition, and food is a mere $500. The price for traveling to and fro each day (we call this being a "day camper" which includes tuition, lunch, and snack) is $400.

Instructors include Bryan Sutton, Kenny and Amanda Smith, David Grier, and Adam Chowning along with staff musician Nick Bryant.

Nashville Flatpick Camp is proud to be associated with D'Addario Strings. We all love our D'Addarios!

Register early - with only 15 spots time is of the essence...

Join us for the smallest, most personal, most real live flatpicking learning experience in the known universe. We get learning done.

Here are 3 of our Spring teachers doing what they do best. More instructor bios, videos, and FAQ's follow below...


Bryan Sutton
Born near Asheville, NC in 1973, Bryan started playing the guitar at the age of 8. By the time he graduated from high school, he was already immersed not only in bluegrass, but jazz and rock and roll, playing in an array of bands and making his first recordings. In 1995, Sutton joined Ricky Skaggs' Kentucky Thunder, then still chiefly a country act. As the group metamorphosed into a bluegrass band over the next two years, his fiery guitar solos and punchy rhythms grew more prominent. By 1998 he was not only turning heads with his work behind Skaggs - as a member of Kentucky Thunder, he shared in that year's bluegrass Grammy award - but also appearing on some of the highest-profile releases bluegrass had to offer, including Aubrey Haynie's Doin' My Time, Jerry Douglas's Restless On The Farm, and Don Rigsby's A Vision (all on Sugar Hill), as well as Bobby Hicks' IBMA award-winning Fiddle Patch. With his broad-ranging musical interests, he also turned in stellar performances on albums as diverse as the all-instrumental Hats Off: A Tribute To Merle Haggard, and alternative country singer Hayseed's critically acclaimed Melic.

Few artists have come so far so fast - and yet, at the beginning of 1999, Bryan followed his heart and retired from Kentucky Thunder to devote himself to the recording work he finds so fascinating and rewarding. As a leading session guitarist, he continues to appear on numerous recordings, from gospel albums to Rhonda Vincent's Back Home Again to million-sellers like the Dixie Chicks' Fly. His guitar playing anchors Dolly Parton's sensational bluegrass albums, Little Sparrow and The Grass Is Blue (Sugar Hill), and the singer returned the favor by contributing to Bryan's album, Ready To Go. Filling in for the injured Tony Rice with the Bluegrass Sessions gave Bryan continued acclaim as he continually amazed audiences with his distinctive precision guitar leads. In the fall of 2000, Bryan was honored by the International Bluegrass Music Association as "Guitar Player of the Year".

Bryan will be teaching all three days of camp. Need we say more?

Bryan takes the flatpick standard Texas Gales to new heights...


Kenny and Amanda Smith
Originally from Nine Mile, Indiana, Kenny is widely considered one of the most important and influential flatpicking-style guitarists of his generation. A two-time IBMA Guitarist of the Year award winner, his professional credits include six years with the popular Lonesome River Band and an exceptional solo CD, Studebaker, released on Sugar Hill Records in 1997. Kenny is in great demand at guitar workshops and master classes, teaching at the renowned Roanoke Bluegrass Weekend series and at guitar workshops at major events such as IBMA. He has just released a two-DVD instruction set on AcuTab Publications.

Born in the small town of Davisville, West Virginia, Amanda grew up singing in church choirs and participating in talent contests at local fairs. "I always sang, my mom and dad said, even before I can remember," she says. She started playing guitar in high school to accompany herself, and soon discovered bluegrass music through female artists such as Rhonda Vincent and Alison Krauss.

Amanda met Kenny at a Lonesome River Band concert, and the couple began dating and playing music together almost immediately. "I wouldn't say it was love at first sight, but there was definitely something there," she says. Their shared Christian faith, love for bluegrass and desire to perform together led them to record a debut CD, Slowly But Surely, in 2001. Recruiting several of their favorite players for the session, the album surged up the bluegrass charts on the strength of their hit song, "Amy Brown." Winning IBMA's Emerging Artist Award came as an unexpected thrill for the band. "We were blown away just to be nominated; we didn't know whether anyone was even paying attention to what we were doing" says Kenny. "So to hear our names called and to go up on that stage was just amazing." The band's second release, House Down The Block, on Rebel Records, further solidified its position as one of the best new bands in bluegrass. Their third album is 2005's Always Never Enough. In early 2007, Tell Someone, the band's first-ever all-gospel project, was released on Rebel Records.

Kenny will be a flatpicking and rhythm instructor during the entire camp while Amanda will help out with some singing workshops as well as in the evening jams. Their shared energy, kindness, and mastery of the music makes us so excited to have them at camp this year.

Here's Kenny tearing up "Studebaker"


Kenny and Amanda performing one of our favorites "Pacific Time"


David Grier
The most award-winning guitarist in recent memory is David Grier. For the past several years, he has been voted by the members of the International Bluegrass Music Association as Best Guitar Player of the Year. He has also appeared on two Grammy- winning recordings: "True Life Blues-A Tribute to Bill Monroe" and "The Great Dobro Sessions." David is also included in the book, "1,000 Great Guitarists." His inspiration to learn guitar came from exposure to Bill Monroe while his father, Lamar Grier, played banjo for the Blue Grass Boys in the middle 1960s.

David's first solo recording "Freewheeling" appeared on Rounder Records, as did his acclaimed 1991 duet project "Climbing the Walls" with mandolinist Mike Compton. David's "Lone Soldier" project is listed in Acoustic Guitar Magazine's "100 Essential Acoustic Guitar Recordings of All Time. " His most recent solo release is "I've Got the House to Myself." His work is also captured on a Homespun video called "Building Powerful Solos." In addition to touring solo, David also appears as the guitarist for Psychograss, who are currently celebrating a critically acclaimed new album, "Now Hear This".

David will be leading a couple afternoon jams at camp. He knows more tunes than we do so he's really the best man for the job. Sit on a stump and pick with one of the greatest guitar players in modern history.

Here's David playing a gorgeous original tune called "Wheeling"


Adam Chowning
Many people know Adam Chowning, but they don't always know everything he's done. He's quiet about his accomplishments but they are many. He's won and placed in guitar contests all over the Southeast, including the Kentucky State Championships, the Athens Fiddlers Convention and the Adams and White House Flatpick Contests and has toured with country and rock stars, including American Idol favorite Bo Bice. But he's not just a great player. Adam has built and repaired guitars for famous people and weekend warriors alike. His craftsmanship on both acoustic and electric guitars is revered around the country. He restores classic guitars and builds new guitars that sound like the classics. He has recently partnered with world-renowned luthier Sim Daley to make Daley Guitars, a sponsor of this year's camp.

As a teacher, Adam is known as one of the most versatile and well-rounded teachers in Middle Tennessee. He teaches all styles of acoustic and electric guitar and many of his students are award-winning and professional players. He teaches in his home but has recently branched out to teaching lessons to people all over the world via Skype. 5 days a week you'll find Adam heading the guitar division at the Daley Instrument Co. building some of the finest acoustic guitars in the world. Adam is co-director (with his wife Megan, director of the super famous and awesome FiddleStar Camps) of Nashville Flatpick Camp and is trying to take over the entire flatpicking instructional world from the comfort of his own home. NFC is held at Adam's house so it appears he's right on track with those plans. This year, Adam will be focusing on helping the less experienced players at camp. He's really nice and very easy to understand so he's perfect for the job.

Adam takes on the East Tennessee Blues, while in West Tennessee...


Sim Daley
Master luthier and instrument builder Sim Daley (his instruments are played by people like Adam Steffey, Sam Bush, Dan Tyminski, and Adam and Megan Chowning) will be on-site at camp to help with all your setup and repair needs. If your guitar needs help, Sim is the man - one of the best in the world...

Sim is profiled in the upcoming documentary The Porchlight Sessions

Luthiers from Porchlight Sessions on Vimeo.

The Facts
Camp Tuition - $500 includes on-site lodging and meals. $400 includes lunch and snack and no on-site lodging. All travel expenses are the responsibility of the student (except transportation to and from the airport, we'll come get you!) but NFC can help you find the best travel deals, just let us know if you need help.

For more information or to register by phone, email us at registration@nashvilleflatpickcamp.com or call 615.636.9925.

FAQ's
What is the lodging like?
This is a house camp. It is held in our home, a large place on a couple acres out in the woods just north of Nashville proper. The beds are bunk style and each room houses a few people. There are regular bathrooms and showers in the house as well as a cabin on the property with bunks and a shower. The bunks are comfortable and we provide all the bedding and towels. But make no mistake, it is a house and therefore you will be sharing your space with other people. That is what makes this camp so special. Many of the instructors will be staying in the house with you and you will get to actually spend quality time with everyone involved.

Are There Rooms Available for Couples?
Currently, we do not have rooms available for couples, or single, unshared rooms. However, we are able to put up nice tents (it's flat and shady!) for couples who would like to stay on-site instead of getting a hotel in town. You would pay the full lodging price and have access to all the showers and the full three meals a day, etc.

If I Don't Get in to the On-site Lodging Where Should I Stay?
The closest hotel is the Deerfield Inn in Greenbrier, TN. It is nothing fancy but it's close (5 minute drive), clean, and comfortable. Tell them FiddleStar Camps sent you. Prices are very reasonable. Also, any hotel in Goodlettsville, TN (which is a little closer to civilization) is about a 12 minute drive and there are several familiar chain hotels available.

What If I Have Food Allergies or Dietary Restrictions?
No problem. Just let us know. We'll work with you.

When Should I Arrive?
Camp arrival time is any time after 5 p.m. on Wednesday (3/27) evening. If you are a day camper you're welcome to stop in Wednesday evening but it's not necessary. You can arrive before the start of classes Thursday morning at 9 a.m. If you are flying in, please schedule a flight that arrives after 5 p.m. on Wednesday evening and we'll come get you from the airport!

When Should I Plan my Escape?
Anytime after 3 p.m. on Saturday (3/30) is just great with us.

Do I Need to Be Able to Read Music or Tab?
No. Most camp classes are "call and response" style so the most important thing you need is a desire to learn and the patience to know that sometimes you might not process every piece of information the week of camp. That's OK, just bring a recording device and you can enjoy learning and revisiting the information all through the year after camp!

What Level Player Should I Be Before I Can Attend?
Can you hold your instrument? Can you pick out a tune or two, or make some basic chords? You're gonna be just fine. We want everyone to get something out of camp so we try to tailor classes to your ability. If you are feeling overwhelmed during camp, or maybe like things are going too slow (either way!), let us know and we will work to fit you into a more appropriate class.

© 2012 Nashville Flatpick Camp
Web Site by STG Creative Group | SitesToGo,Inc