Sore Fingers Summer School (SFSS)

After I had been playing for a year or so my teacher, Martin Blake, suggested I might benefit by attending SFSS. And when I discovered he was the tutor for the beginners Bluegrass class I signed up immediately.

SFSS is a 5 day residential course held at Kingham Hill School in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire. The Cotswolds is one of the most beautiful regions of England with its stone built houses and fields bordered by dry stone walls. I drove to Kingham from Herefordshire on a glorious sunny day. The scenery was beautiful, I was excited but a little nervous.

The Cotswolds courtesy of candypop.uk.com

Tuition is provided for all the instruments used in Bluegrass and Old-Time music. After formal lessons in the day the evenings are filled with jam sessions in the bars. I found that meeting like-minded people who play different instruments and are at the same level (or a little better) than me to be both beneficial and enjoyable.

The Refectory and Social Centre at Kingham Hill School

A jam session with Tall Paul taking centre stage on the banjo

Left to right, Martin Blake, Chris Aggs, Simon Winner and Gillie Guest

The cost of the summer school is composed of three parts: tuition, accommodation and food. I decided to go for the complete package in order to soak up the full experience. The accommodation is mostly dormitory style and pretty basic. I had a bunk bed and since my bad back precluded me from climbing the ladder I had to move the mattress to the floor. The toilet was a fair walk away and the food could only be described as school dinners - I guess we were in a school.

I did return to SFSS the following year but this time I signed up for tuition only. It is possible to camp on the site but I decided to stay in a local hotel, for me this was the best of both worlds. Remember the most important part of this week is the music, the learning experience, meeting good musicians and the friendships forged with fellow students.

One of the benefits of attending SFSS is that you get to meet and chat with top musicians from the Bluegrass world. I was able to socialise with Leon Hunt, Tony Trischka, Richard Bailey (Steeldrivers) and Greg Cahill (Special Consensus). All of these top name players found the time to chat and give advice. The latest album from Special Consensus is called "Country Boy" and is a tribute to the late John Denver. To hear a track from the album follow the link.

Tony Trischka photo courtesy of banjohangout.org

Leon Hunt photo courtesy of www.vebidoo.de

Students are encouraged to meet in the evenings and to set up "scratch bands". The idea is that these newly formed units will perform at the Student Concert on the Wednesday evening. Fortunately playing at this concert is not mandatory and I was able to decline the invitation. I was certainly not good enough at the time and anyway I would have never conquered my nerves!

The culmination of the week is the Tutor's Concert on the Thursday night. The link takes you to Tyler Grant, one of the guitar tutors, performing with a group of other tutors.

The class of 2011, Martin Blake in the centre, me (with no banjo) top left

The next SFSS will be the 20th and held on 6 - 10 April 2015. To book contact Moira Wirtz.