Project Description
Reno McCormick launched his bluegrass journey when he won the band contest at Bill Monroe’s Bean Blossom Festival in 1976. He played for many years with the Easy Pickin’s Band in Aspen, Colorado, making multiple appearances at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Reno has appeared in many bands (Mars Hillbillies, Back Porch Bandits, Boys in the Woods, Blue Moon Trio, Copper Canyon) at festivals, fairs, clubs and gatherings from Colorado to California to Arizona.
In recent years he has played at Pickin’ in the Pines, the Prescott Bluegrass Festival, Tres Rios Nature Festival, Alpine Bluegrass Festival and the Blazin’ M Ranch in Cottonwood among many other venues.
Reno is a multi-instrumentalist who plays guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo and dobro, as well as singing lead and harmony vocals. He has won both vocal and specialty instrument contests at the Wickenburg Bluegrass Festival.
Reno operated a music store for many years in California and then Arizona, and is a patient and experienced music teacher.
Guitar, Fiddle & Banjo for Bluegrass, Cowboy & Country Classics
This course will help novice to intermediate guitar players to improve their skills. Starting with tips for changing chords with ease, knowing the “number names” for chords so can play in any key and proper use of the capo. Moving on to right hand technique – rhythm and syncopation, fills, runs and palm muting. Then will work toward playing leads, improvising for breaks, playing instrumental tunes like fiddle tunes. Primarily will focus on bluegrass and country music but also will look at other styles. We will also practice singing while playing.