De Rotterdam Bluegrass Academy
Master the Grass!
This is your chance to take your bluegrass skills to the next (or higher) level! Join our Rotterdam Bluegrass Academy for bluegrass masterclasses, taught by top musicians who perfectly capture the essence of these genres. Whether you’re just starting out or already have some experience, there’s something for everyone!
Why join?
- Learn the tricks of the trade from the best in the field
- Develop your technique on instruments like banjo, bass, mandolin and guitar
- Make new friends who share your passion for this beautiful music
Costs:
Masterclass ticket € 65,- (including service fees)
Masterclass ticket + festival pass: €105,- (including service fees)
Get your ticket now and become part of our vibrant bluegrass community!
Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves
Instrument: Banjo and Fiddle
Date: Friday, July 4th, time TBA
Location: Nivon Huis, Dirk Smitsstraat 76, 3031 XE Rotterdam
Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves have played banjo and fiddle music together for close to a decade. In this masterclass Allison and Tatiana will share how they approach playing together; how the rhythms of each instrument interact, navigating through the sparsity of this configuration, and ideas for listening, responding and interacting. All levels of banjo and fiddle students are welcome, so bring your instruments.
Ben Weiss
(Pixie and the Partygrass Boys)
Instrument: Mandoline
Date: Friday, July 4th, time TBA
Location: Nivon Huis, Dirk Smitsstraat 76, 3031 XE Rotterdam
Ben Weiss is a lifetime musician. Beginning his musical journey with guitar at the age of 9, he studied Jazz Performance at the University of Utah before discovering his love of bluegrass and old time music. Picking up mandolin helped deepen his love for music as he explored the extensive overlap between all styles of American Music.
In this workshop we will explore the role of the mandolin in traditional American Music, both as a melodic lead instrument and an accompanying rhythm instrument. This will include: playing the melody, basic improvisation skills, different rhythms and chord shapes for accompaniment, and how to fulfill expectations of your “job” within a larger ensemble
Amanda Grapes
(Pixie and the Partygrass Boys)
Instrument: Fiddle
Date: Friday, July 4th, time TBA
Location: Nivon Huis, Dirk Smitsstraat 76, 3031 XE Rotterdam
Meet Amanda Grapes, the dynamic fiddlist of Pixie and the Partygrass Boys! With a rich musical heritage that spans classical violin training from age two and Appalachian fiddling from age seven, Amanda embodies a unique fusion of styles. Join Amanda for an interactive workshop where you'll:
- Learn an American fiddle tune by ear
- Explore accompaniment techniques to enhance your sound
- Get a crash course in American jam etiquette
- Discover essential folk music jargon
Come ready to play, learn, and jam with Amanda and fellow musicians! This experience will leave you inspired, energized, and empowered to continue growing as a musician with new skills and insights.
Adam Overacker
(Pixie and the Partygrass Boys)
Instrument: Double bass
Date: Friday, July 4th, time TBA
Location: Nivon Huis, Dirk Smitsstraat 76, 3031 XE Rotterdam
Adam Overacker is a seasoned musician and educator with a diverse skill set honed over 25 years of teaching and performing. He brings a wealth of experience in theater, jazz, and live performance to his teaching. With over 6000 live performances, Adam's experience is extensive and varied, having toured internationally with six Broadway musicals and performed with many notable artists. This extensive performance background provides a practical, real-world perspective that enriches their teaching, offering students not just technical skills, but a deep understanding of stagecraft, performance preparation, and the nuances of live performance. Adam is particularly well-suited to students with a variety of musical interests, helping bridge gaps between musical worlds.
Adam's workshop will focus on getting a good sound on the bass, proper technique, and bass setup so bring your bass! We will also discuss the role of the bass in a bluegrass group and take questions.
Katia Racine
(Pixie and the Partygrass Boys)
Masterclass: Permission to Make Bad Art – Songwriting, Chaos & Collective Joy
Date: Friday, July 4th, time TBA
Location: nivon Huis, Dirk Smitsstraat 76, 3031 XE Rotterdam
**Permission to Make Bad Art – Songwriting, Chaos & Collective Joy** Join Katia “Pixie” Racine (frontwoman of *Pixie and The Partygrass Boys*) for a workshop blending introspection, connection, and surprise creativity. Open to all levels of experience, this space thrives on zero pressure, organized chaos, and the idea that “bad” art is essential.
Pixie, a classically trained vocalist with degrees in Theater and Religious Studies, merges storytelling and collective joy. Using improv’s “Yes, and…” philosophy, absurdity reigns. Why not write a song about being eaten by bears because you had lunch instead of brunch? (A real life Partygrass example).
Through playful exercises, explore the voice as a bridge between body and world, dissect songwriting’s bones (verse = story, chorus = heart, bridge = twist), learn the rules and give yourself permission to break them. Dive into prompts and exercises to spark creativity, and discover “collective effervescence”—where individual voices merge into shared sound. Leave laughing, clutching your “bad art” drafts like treasure maps, and knowing songs don’t need to be “finished” - let them grow with you.
Ondra Kozák
Instrument: Bluegrass guitar
Date: Saturday, July 5th, Time TBA
Location: nivon Huis, Dirk Smitsstraat 76, 3031 XE Rotterdam
Guitar is the most popular instrument in the world. What role does it play in bluegrass music? We'll talk about approaches to playing rhythm in different types of songs and how the guitar can support the singer and other instruments so the band sounds the best. When it's time to play a solo, a knowledge of melody, licks and music theory on the guitar fingerboard comes in handy. Players of all levels, ages and nationalities are very welcome, as are questions from the audience.
Ondra Kozák & Radim Zenkl
Masterclass: Harmony Singing
Date: Saturday, July 5th or Sunday, July 6th, time TBA
Location: nivon Huis, Dirk Smitsstraat 76, 3031 XE Rotterdam
Three-part vocal harmony is one of the things that define bluegrass music. In this workshop, we'll choose a few standard bluegrass songs with easy lyrics and learn vocal parts to go with them. We'll add a few tips based on simple theoretical principles to help you create these parts yourself to your favorite songs.
Jordan Kroeger
(Chicken Wire Empire)
Masterclass: Double bass
Date: Sunday, July 6th, Time TBA
Location: nivon Huis, Dirk Smitsstraat 76, 3031 XE Rotterdam
The fundamental role of the Bass instrument is to bridge the melody and the rhythm. In this short clinic, Jordan Kroeger will show you a few techniques on the Upright Bass that do just that. Whether it’s creating a small bit of tension and release or putting emphasis on choice notes to help move the music there’s definitely something to gain from this clinic.
Jon Peik
(Chicken Wire Empire)
Masterclass: Banjo
Date: Sunday, July 6th, Time TBA
Location: nivon Huis, Dirk Smitsstraat 76, 3031 XE Rotterdam
This banjo workshop will focus on a fun and easy pentatonic shortcut built into your banjo: playing the dots. We’ll also explore finding and using chord clusters.
