Newest workshops with Ross Nickerson Click here for full upcoming Workshop Schedule
|
|
Country Music Television voted Blazing the West as one of the top ten albums of 2003 The International Bluegrass Music Association named Blazing the West one of the top 15 instrumental CD’s of 2003. |
Pictures from Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival, Ireland
Bela Fleck, Ross Nickerson, Tony Trischka
|
 Tony Trischka / Ross Nickerson at concert in Somerset, KY 2008 Click here for workshop schedules, flyers and to register online |
|
My
daughter Theo has graduated Law School and is a trial attorney for the US
Dept of Justice. My
son Jackson finished as the top graduate in the Air Force Air Traffic Controllers
School. His reward for being top grad was permission to pick the base he's stationed
at. |
|
Ross
Nickerson - Biography
Jan. 4, 2005 - Five-string banjo master Ross Nickerson has been playing
professionally since the age of 17. Ross is signed with major bluegrass
label, Pinecastle Records and recently released The Banjo Encyclopedia,
Bluegrass Banjo from A to Z, another Mel Bay Publication. Ross has been
a member of some very successful bands, including the distinction of being
two time winners of the Telluride Band Contest, being selected for contracts
at Tokyo Disneyland and Opryland in Nashville, two time winners at the Four
Corners Bluegrass Festival Band Contest, and winners of Newspaper Readers
Poll Best Band contests three times. Ross has been performing and teaching
for many years both nationally and internationally, most recently Canada,
England, Ireland, The Netherlands, Germany, and Sweden. Ross has appeared
with the New Grass Revival, Hot Rize, Riders in the Sky, Del McCoury Band,
The Oak Ridge Boys, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and many other noted artists.
Ross has also picked and appeared with some of the best banjo players in
the world including Earl Scruggs, Bela Fleck, Bill Keith, Tony Trischka,
Alan Munde, Doug Dillard, Pete Seeger and Ralph Stanley
Ross's current release with Pinecastle, Blazing the West, was named as "One of the Top Ten CD's of 2003" by Country Music Television, True West Magazine named it, "Best Bluegrass CD of 2003" and Blazing the West was among the top 15 in ballot voting for the IBMA Instrumental CD of the Year in 2003.
Ross is a full-time musician and on the road 10 to 15 days a month doing concerts, banjo workshops and expanding his audience. He was selected to be on the faculty of the Maryland Banjo Academy, Ireland's Johnny Keenan Memorial Banjo Festival, the Mid-West Banjo Camp and he is the founder and coordinator of the Nova Scotia Banjo Camp and the annual Banjo Cruise.
Ross is hard at work this year touring and writing new material for a CD. He is also recording two new DVDs, completing more books, and continuing to offer more services for banjo players at his website, BanjoTeacher.com. Ross Nickerson is the author of The Banjo Encyclopedia, published by Mel Bay Publications in October 2003, which has already sold out of its second printing.
Check out the sound bytes page to hear some of what Ross sounds like.
Ross Nickersons Upcoming Schedule
 Ross Nickerson sitting in with Riders in the Sky-Tucson, AZ |
Ross Nickerson at Athy Bluegrass Festival in Ireland. Clem O'Brien Guitar. Niall Toner Mandolin. |
|
|
Ross and Doug Dillard. Doug Dillard was one of the Darlin' Family on the Andy of Mayberry show. |
|
|
 The Banjo School is at my home in Catonsville, MD. This is where I give private lessons. |
 Update! I moved. This is my new home. I live in Tonawanda, NY. Near my daughter who is going to law school at Buffalo/Suny. An old friend traveled all the way out and painted the house. It looks a lot better. I have a view of the Niagara River from my office. Niagara Falls is close too. What an awesome area. |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
THE BANJO GAZETTE - London, England
Interview with Ross Nickerson
by Phil Morley
As I was so impressed with Ross's CD I had to get an interview with him. So I wrote and sent him a copy of BG with his CD review in it. Ross kindly sent back this interview plus a tab for San Antonio Rose. This tune is one taken from Ross's CD and if you haven't gotten it yet. I suggest you do it's fantastic.
BG. When did you start to get interested in the banjo?
RN. A good friend of mine in High School played the guitar and he encouraged me to buy a used one. I really got interested after I went to the Union Grove Fiddlers' Convention in North Carolina.
BG. At what age did you start playing?
RN. I was 16 or 17 when I began playing.
BG. Who were your main influences?
RN. I was influenced and inspired early on by the Will The Circle Be Unbroken album which included Earl Scruggs and John MCuen. I thank all the great players and publications that have made tab available to learn from.
BG. What was your first banjo and what is now your current banjo?
RN. The first banjo I had was a Kay. I've had a variety of other banjos including Mastertones, and a Stelling. I now play a Goldstar. I call it the Masterclone. I also have a Deering Crossfire that Deering made custom for me.
BG. Did you play in bands as you were developing your style?
RN. I was in a band after only playing the banjo for nine months. Playing with others helped me progress more than anything. Also I practiced a lot in the first year.
BG. What style would you say mostly ( Scruggs, melodic, etc..?
RN. I play a mixture of Scruggs, melodic, and single string. I use whatever technique best fits the material I'm playing.
BG. What gauge strings do you use?
RN. I use 11,12,13,20,11.
BG. What height bridge do you use and type of action?
RN. 11/16 or 3/4.
BG. What gauge finger picks do you use?
RN. I use shelor picks with the cobalt coating from Bob Perry and a variety of thumbpicks. I cut down the blade and cut the lip that wraps around the tumb back so it won't catch in the strings.
BG. How many hours of practice do you do?
RN. When I first started, I practiced about four hours a day. Now I practice on an as need basis. For instance, if I have an upcoming gig or recording session I practice specifically for that.
BG. What advice would you give someone who is starting out?
RN. Practice a lot. The banjo masters credited with developing a style named after them such as Keith, Crowe Adcock, Fleck etc. are all quoted as practicing 8 or more hours a day.
BG. Do you listen to other forms of music other than bluegrass?
RN. I grew up on a normal diet of Rock and Roll. I got drawn into a love of bluegrass through my interest in the banjo. I've been able to use the many influences I have in different band situations I've been in.
BG. Do you play any other instruments?
RN. I play electric guitar and some Dobro but banjo is my main instrument.
BG. Do you read music notation or do you play from feel.
RN. I started with a little tab, by tape and sharing licks. Then I learned a lot from tab. Now I play mostly by ear.