The East Tennessee State University Bluegrass, Old Time and Country Music Program was founded by Jack Tottle in 1982, and is the only four-year university that offers an extensive study of bluegrass music. Students come from all over the world to experience the culture and music of Appalachia. The program's Director is Raymond McLain.
Our program boasts alumni as Grammy-winning Country artist Kenny Chesney, and member of Allison Krauss & Union Station, Barry Bales. Other former members include Grammy-winning guitarist Tim Stafford of Blue Highway, and Adam Steffey, of Mountain Heart. Seven of our former bluegrass students took home awards at the 2006 IBMA Awards Show.
Students in the ETSU Bluegrass, Old Time and Country Music Program have many opportunities to perform regionally and internationally. Just a few past performances by the ETSU Bluegrass Band include:
January 2005 - Performance tour of England and Scotland
December 2003 - Performance at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium
June 2003 - Ten Performances for the Smithsonian National Folklife Festival in Washington, DC
Summer 2001 - Performance tour of Japan
Summer 1990 - Performance tour of Russia
Courses include:
Band Classes - working bluegrass band classes with performances throughout the semester
- Bluegrass Band
- Old Time Band
- Country Band
- Celtic Band
Individual Instruction - private lessons, one-on-one with accomplished singers and instrumentalists
- Acoustic Guitar
- Mandolin
- Bluegrass Banjo
- Bluegrass Fiddle
- Dobro
- Acoustic Bass
- Old Time Banjo
- Old Time Fiddle
- Country Electric Guitar
- Bluegrass and Country Voice
Practical Skills Courses - in classroom settings
- Class Guitar I & II
- Bluegrass Harmony Part Singing
- Music Theory for Acoustic Players
- Fiddle Harmony
- Songwriting
Diadactic Courses - historical study of traditional music and influences
- Introduction to Bluegrass Music
- Bluegrass - The First Generation
- Roots of Bluegrass Music
- A Survey of Contemporary Bluegrass
- Bluegrass and America's Music
- Country Music Then and Now
Our course catalog is growing rapidly as were are working diligently towards the first ever Bluegrass Major - Bachelor of the Arts in Bluegrass Music
We currently offer a Bluegrass Minor
To find out more information about the East Tennessee State University Bluegrass, Old Time and Country Music Program, please feel free to follow the link:
http://www.etsu.edu/cass/bluegrass/
Or call our office at: 423-439-7072
