Classes

Midwest Banjo Camp offers highly specialized classes with subjects tailored to the expertise of our faculty. Most of our classes are "hands-on," meaning that teachers have a set of skills or a tune or two in mind to impart, and students should have their instruments in hand during class. All classes are one hour and fifteen minutes long.

Freedom to Pick and Choose. Once you've registered for MBC, you may attend any class you wish at any time throughout our program. You do NOT have to pre-register for any track, class, or teacher. The questions on the registration form regarding interests and levels are only there to help us plan our program. They do NOT commit you to pursue any particular level, style, or instrument.

Hand-Outs vs. Ear Learning. Many of our instructors offer written tabs, chord charts, and other handouts. This said, please understand that some very excellent teachers prefer to teach solely by ear. For this reason, we strongly encourage bringing a recording device to help you remember what was taught (the recording apps that come pre-installed in most smartphones these days are of sufficient quality for this task).

Banjo Classes

MBC offers four levels of instruction in both bluegrass banjo and old-time banjo. We also offer a  full-time program in tenor banjo.

Other Instruments and Special Classes

MBC 2025 offers full-time programs in bass, fiddle, flatpicking guitar, mandolin, and voice. We also offer a varied program of “special classes” focusing on instruction in still other instruments or in such related topics as clogging and instrument set-up (our special offerings are different every year, so be sure to check the 2025 MBC Program Schedule).

Note: We only offer novice-level classes for bluegrass banjo and old-time banjo. We do NOT offer novice-level classes for bass, 4-string banjo, fiddle, flatpicking guitar, or mandolin. Our voice program has no mandated prerequisite.

Our Format

Midwest Banjo Camp starts mid-afternoon on Thursday and runs through lunchtime on Sunday.

• Thursday Evening Program. Student orientation is held right after dinner; it is followed by a round of demonstrations and concludes with faculty-led jamming
• Hands-On Classes start first thing Friday morning; there are nine hands-on classes in all - four on Friday, three on Saturday, and two on Sunday. For more on this, go to Program/Classes, and then select these menu items: classes in bluegrass banjo & old-time banjo, and classes in other instruments
• Instructor-Led Jams. There are instructor-led jams on Thursday and Friday evening, and another instructor-led jam on Saturday afternoon (that's three in all!)
• Demonstrations. On Thursday evening, all full-camp attendees (including non-participating registrants) will have a chance to experience our entertaining and informative Demos - round robin presentations by our instructors on various themes.
• Faculty Concerts are scheduled on both Friday and Saturday evenings. Over the course of camp you will get a chance to hear our entire faculty in concert
• A free period is scheduled on both Friday and Saturday afternoons; this is an excellent opportunity to get to know your fellow attendees and jam on your own
• Saturday Evening Pizza Party & Free Jam. Following the Faculty Concert on Saturday enjoy the MBC Pizza Party and free jam. We will designate jamming areas and assign old-time and bluegrass jam leaders at different levels (or, organize your own jams!).

Can I Still Attend MBC Just from Friday to Sunday? (The Weekend-Only Option)

You can still register for MBC even you can’t be here on Thursday. Our “Weekend-Only Option” begins with lunch on Friday afternoon. Included are seven hands-on classes - two on Friday, three on Saturday, and two on Sunday - and all meals from Friday lunch through Sunday lunch. Also included are the two faculty concerts, staff-led jams on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, and the Saturday Evening Pizza Party. Rates for the weekend-only option appear on the Registration & Fees page.

Note: The weekend-only option now includes Friday lunch.

Starting and Ending Times

Full Camp. Check-in for the full camp is from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Thursday, June 5. Dinner is at 5:45 PM, Student Orientation takes place at 7:00 PM, and activities begin at about 8:00 PM. To get the idea, check out the 2025 MBC Program Schedule. Camp ends on Sunday, June 8 at 2:00PM.

Weekend-Only Option. If you choose this option, check-in is on Friday, June 6 between 9:15 AM and 1:30 PM. Pick up your schedule and orientation materials at the front desk; lunch is at 12:15 PM and your first class begins that day at 1:30 PM. To see how the Weekend Option works, check out the MBC 2025 Program Schedule. Camp ends on Sunday, June 8 at 2:00PM.

Activities at MBC: Breakdown by Day

• Thursday Evening: Dinner is followed by student orientation, a round of demonstrations, and faculty-led jamming
• Friday: Four sessions of hands-on classes; the evening program consists of a faculty concert and faculty-led jamming
• Saturday: Three sessions of hands-on classes, followed in mid-afternoon by a round of faculty led jams; the evening program consists of a faculty concert and the MBC Pizza Party
• Sunday: Two sessions of hands-on classes; Camp concludes after lunch

The MBC Program Schedule

For a sense of our event,  check out the 2025 MBC Program Schedule.

Use of Recording Devices at MBC

Many of our instructors prefer to teach by ear and example rather than by tab or other notation. Consequently, we encourage students to bring along their smartphones or compact recording devices, so that recordings made in class will be available after camp to serve as memory aids. As a courtesy, however, please ask each instructor at the start of class whether he or she permits the use of such recording devices.

Our Archive Page

Check out our Archive Page and learn about the Midwest Banjo Camp tradition, 2005-2024. It lists all our world-class faculties, gives thumbnail links to our group photos, and displays every one  of our "cool & unusual" T-shirt designs. Due to the Pandemic, there are no class photos or T-shirt designs available for 2020 0r 2021.