The Wayne Erbsen Beginning Bluegrass Banjo Workshops will be held on Friday, February 24, 2023, from 2:00 – 4:00 pm. They will be led by Wayne Erbsen.

Registration Fee: $35

Rental Fee: $10 banjo rental (or bring your own banjo)

Payment in full is confirmation of your registration. The registration fee is non-refundable.

$35 Registration includes admission to workshops with Wayne Erbsen from 2 – 4 pm and the Wayne Erbsen concert at 7 pm.

SPACE IS LIMITED, so make sure to sign up now to reserve your spot!

WORKSHOPS:

The workshops will take place in the Arts Center (across the street from Andy Griffith Playhouse) and will include bluegrass banjo. Participants will be given the opportunity to learn from our bluegrass and old-time master Wayne Erbsen. The bluegrass banjo workshop is for total beginners with zero experience with the banjo. We’ll learn such songs as “I’ll Fly Away” and “Jed Clampett.” Banjos will be available for a rental fee of $10 per banjo.

LOCATION:

Arts Center, 215 Rockford Street, Mount Airy, NC 27030

Wayne Erbsen

Wayne Erbsen met and learned from many of the masters of Southern Appalachian music, including Charlie Monroe, Tommy Jarrell, Kyle Creed, Albert Hash, Jim Shumate, Wiley and Zeke Morris, and Jimmy Buchanan. Wayne then began presenting programs of North Carolina traditional music to students of all grade levels. He also continued to teach banjo and guitar, which he had been doing since the early 1960s in his native California.

Wayne has written dozens of music instruction books and songbooks for all levels, including the bestselling Bluegrass Banjo for the Complete Ignoramus. He teaches old-time music at the University of North Carolina-Asheville and at the Log Cabin Music & Cooking Center in Asheville.

As a musician, Wayne is a master of old-time, bluegrass, folk, Appalachian, cowboy, pioneer, railroad, and gospel music and music of the Civil War. He plays clawhammer and bluegrass banjo, fiddle, mandolin and guitar. Wayne has performed at across America and in western Europe. He has recorded many solo CDs and written dozens of music instruction books and songbooks. Wayne has won numerous prizes at fiddler’s conventions, including 1st place in clawhammer banjo (Galax, Virginia, 1973) and 1st place in senior old-time fiddler (Fiddler’s Grove, North Carolina, 2004).

FAQs

By attending any event associated with the Surry Arts Council, you are acknowledging that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. By attending the event, you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold the Surry Arts Council liable for any illness or injury.

Handicap Accessible?

No special seating is required. For mobility issues, drop-off is available in front of the venue. 

What is the refund policy?

Tickets cannot be changed and are non-refundable.

Do I need to buy a ticket for my child?

Children of all ages are required to have a ticket at all Surry Arts Council events, unless otherwise specified. 

What are my parking options for the event?

Free Parking available (with no time limit):

-Arts Center, 215 Rockford Street, Mount Airy, NC 27030

-Andy Griffith Playhouse, 218 Rockford Street, Mount Airy, NC 27030

-Mount Airy Public Library, 145 Rockford Street, Mount Airy, NC 27030

-Municipal parking (bus parking), 127 Franklin Street, Mount Airy, NC 27030

What time does the Box Office open?

Advanced registration is required.

Restrooms?

ADA compliant restroom facilities are available. 

Are Pets Allowed?

Only service animals are permitted.

Only dogs that are recognized as service animals under titles II and III of the ADA.

Service animals are further defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.

Each service animal must remain with its owner and be restrained at all times.

How can I contact the organizer with any further questions?

You can email the organizer at heatherw@surryarts.org, or call 336-786-7998 for more information.