Bluegrass Ensemble (9-Week Class)
- Americana
- Bluegrass
- Country
- Fiddle
- Folk
- Guitar
- In-Person Classes
- Instrumental
- Roots
- The Folk Collective
THIS IS AN IN-PERSON CLASS
The Passim Bluegrass Ensemble is a 9-week group class that offers a relaxed space to learn new music and gain experience playing with other musicians. This extended format gives class members more time to get to know one another, develop a shared repertoire, and grow together as an ensemble.
This class will focus on bluegrass and bluegrass-adjacent styles of music, studying the elements of melody, harmony, and groove that create the ear-catching sounds we know and love. We will discuss the different roles that instruments in the ensemble can play and how those roles interact with one another. In addition to learning new music, class members will work on essential jamming techniques such as leading a tune and learning songs on the fly. With nine weeks together, the group will have more time to build confidence, strengthen its ensemble sound, and develop real musical chemistry.
Class members should have basic knowledge of chords and be comfortable learning music by ear or with sheet music. All musicians – instrumentalists and vocalists – are welcome!
Class Schedule
Mondays: September 14, 21, and 28; October 5, 12, and 19; November 2, 9, and 16
Bonus Open Jams: November 30 and December 7
Following the 9 instructor-led classes, participants are invited to return for two additional open jam sessions. These informal gatherings will not have an instructor, giving class members a chance to keep playing together, revisit the group’s repertoire, and put their new ensemble and jamming skills into practice.
Time: 6:30–7:45pm ET
Location: Passim School of Music, 26 Church Street, Cambridge, MA(Classrooms are located on the second floor; unfortunately, there is no elevator.)
Ages: 18+
Please Note:Pre-sales are highly encouraged! Online sales end two hours before the class begins. A minimum of four students is required for the class to run. If canceled due to low enrollment, you will be notified and receive a full refund.
Maxfield Anderson
- Bluegrass
- Roots
Maxfield Anderson is an American roots multi-instrumentalist, teacher, writer and music director, currently living in Somerville, MA. As an artist, Maxfield aims to bring new light to honored traditions and to share the joy of making music with others.
Growing up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Maxfield’s home was filled with an array of musical styles. After years of playing violin, his attention was taken hold by bluegrass and western swing fiddle, quickly leading him to discover the mandolin. He moved to Boston to study mandolin and American roots music at Berklee College of Music. Additionally, Max is a proficient guitar player, and after a year of isolation, finally broke down and added clawhammer banjo to the repertoire.
Teaching music has always been a big part of Max’s artistry. He believes that traditional music is an excellent vessel for understanding an instrument and finding your own voice as a musician. Teaching at Club Passim since 2020, Max has taught group courses in Beginner & Intermediate Mandolin, Bluegrass Ensemble (co-taught with Trevin Nelson), and Intro to Tune Writing. He also offers private instruction on mandolin, fiddle, guitar, music theory, and tune writing out of his home studio.
In addition to performing and teaching, Maxfield recently wrote and music directed the ‘Homegrown Stringband’ roots trio at Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, OH. The trio performed authentic bluegrass, folk, and old time string band music throughout the summer season of 2022.
Maxfield graduated from Berklee College of Music with a BFA in Music Performance. He is an active gigging musician in the Boston music scene, and has toured throughout the Northeast playing listening rooms, ball rooms, bar rooms, back rooms, front porches and festival stages.
