“It's one thing to be a strong progressive banjo player; another to excel at the traditional end of the spectrum. To be able to add an indelible mark to the whole history of the instrument is getting ridiculous. High kudos to Bill Evans.” —Tony Trischka
“The banjoist has a world view shared by a precious few. It shows in the breadth of his own bluegrass playing and, especially, through his composing. Evans infuses his work with hints of jazz, classical and music of other realms, all fitting snuggly into his conception of the bluegrass sound. ” —David Royko, The Chicago Tribune
“The banjoist has a world view shared by a precious few. It shows in the breadth of his own bluegrass playing and, especially, through his composing. Evans infuses his work with hints of jazz, classical and music of other realms, all fitting snuggly into his conception of the bluegrass sound. ” —David Royko, The Chicago Tribune
INSTRUCTION
PRIVATE LESSONS
Bill is accepting students of all levels for one-on-one lessons online via Zoom or at his home studio in Alto, New Mexico. A professional player for over forty-five years, Bill has spent a lifetime learning and sharing knowledge with such bluegrass banjo masters as Sonny Osborne, J. D. Crowe, Alan Munde, Tony Trischka, Bill Keith and Ben Eldridge. Bill is the author of “Bluegrass Banjo For Dummies,” “The Parking Lot Picker's Songbook: Banjo Edition” and “Absolute Beginners - Banjo” and he has produced ten instructional video projects for Homespun Music, the Murphy Method and AcuTab Publications. In addition, he hosts four online instructional courses for Peghead Nation (www.pegheadnation.com) and he has taught at hundreds of banjo and music camps all over the world, including hosting his own workshops and camps in California, Tennessee and New Mexico. He has literally helped thousands of people of all ages find joy in playing the banjo, with students of all ages who live all over the world.
Bill's professional students include a new generation of banjo masters: Chris Pandolfi (The Infamous Stringdusters), Wes Corbett (The Sam Bush Band) and Erik Yates (Hot Buttered Rum). However, Bill equally enjoys teaching the adult learner who wants to just have fun playing with others in jam sessions and amateur bands.
Open to all levels of players including beginners, Bill's lessons are practical and hands-on. You'll first learn good right- and left-hand playing techniques including roll patterns, chords, first tunes (like “Cripple Creek” and “Cumberland Gap”) and the accompaniment skills you'll need to play with others in a beginner's jam session. You'll then move on to Scruggs, melodic and single-string styles with intermediate and advanced students studying back-up and playing in bands, working up solos and improvisation, playing in different keys, fingerboard explorations, learning J. D. Crowe style-banjo, music theory (only when needed!), repertoire and banjo maintenance and set up. Lessons are geared to each student's individual needs and goals. Bill will take you where you want to go! Detailed and clear tablature accompanies almost all lessons on all topics.
Lessons are $90 per hour and are payable via Venmo (preferred), Zelle, credit card, PayPal or personal check.
Bill invites students to his Alto, New Mexico home for longer or multi-day intensive sessions. Lodging is available next door at Bill and Babi's charming, custom casita with views of the Capitan Mountains. For more information, contact Bill at 510-520-7005 or .
Peghead Nation Online Instruction
Bill teaches four online courses for Peghead Nation:
Each lesson includes accurate and detailed tablature with email feedback to answer your questions. There are over 100 full-length video lessons + tab in Bill’s Bluegrass Banjo Course for intermediate to advanced students and Bill’s courses on Earl Scruggs and melodic and single-string banjo offer very deep dives into these topics, including material for the experienced player. Bill invites you to join him for The Banjo of J. D. Crowe, a new live workshop series beginning January 18, 2023.
Use the coupon code BillE to explore any single Bill Evans Peghead Nation course for a free month.
NEW MEXICO BANJO CAMP
2022 New Mexico Banjo Camp
Camp size is small, with no more than thirty students each weekend with open time in the schedule to allow students to absorb what they’ve learned in morning classes and interact one-on-one with Bill's world-class teaching staff. The emphasis is finding more joy in playing the banjo in a low-pressure, relaxing and fun learning environment designed around sessions to meet individual students’ needs and goals. Add to this the beauty of the Gila Mountains in southern New Mexico in spring and the healthy and delicious food and comfortable Southwest-style bed and breakfast accommodations of the Black Range Lodge and you’ve got the best banjo camp experience in the world. Visit https://www.nmbanjocamp.com to learn more.
Pete Wernick, Bill Evans & Alan Munde