ºÚÁÏÃÅ

Banjo, Fiddle and Tradition: Exploring the Roots of Bluegrass
Four Zoom Sessions
Mon., Oct. 27, Nov. 3, 10, 17, 2025, 6:30-8:30 pm MT

If you close your eyes and let your mind travel over the rolling hills of Appalachia, you can sometimes hear the distinct and soul-soothing sounds of bluegrass music―the fiddle’s whine, the banjo’s ping, the mandolin’s chime. They’re sounds clearly built on driving rhythms, close vocal harmonies and instrumental virtuosity. But where did the sound come from, really? Why has it had such staying power? And how has it evolved over time?

In this course, professional bluegrass musician and educator Martin Gilmore answers those questions and much more as he explores the origins and development of the genre. Beginning with its roots in Scots-Irish ballads, fiddle tunes, shape-note gospel and the blues, the course examines how these influences informed the music we know today. The course also covers the key figures in bluegrass history, from Bill Monroe, Flatt and Scruggs, The Stanley Brothers and Doc Watson to more recent artists like David Grisman, Hot Rize, Béla Fleck, Chris Thile, Molly Tuttle and Billy Strings.

Gilmore also considers the impact of bluegrass on other genres and the ways in which it continues to evolve. Whether you're a musician, a fan, or simply curious about its history, this course serves up a deeper understanding of bluegrass music and its place in American culture.

, a professional musician, has toured the world playing bluegrass, American folk music and more. In 2024 he won the Telluride Bluegrass Festival Troubadour songwriting competition and the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival Songwriting competition and recently released his solo acoustic record Thea is a Light Blue. Gilmore teaches music at the University of Northern Colorado and at Swallow Hill Music Association.