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Kids’ Academy

Again this year, Podunk is offering an instructional & performance program for young bluegrass musicians aged 7-17. Individual and group instruction will be provided.

Check out pictures from the program!

See what parents had to say about our program!

Our Instructors

This year’s program will be provided by members of the Rhode Island Bluegrass Alliance (RIBA) Click here for instructor bios

Meeting Times

Friday – 6:00 – 7:00 pm Meet & Greet and ice cream
Saturday – 10:00am – 12:00 pm first session, 12:00-1:00 lunch for academy participants, 1:00 – 3:00 pm second session
Sunday – 11:30 AM get ready for the show, 12:35 AM Performance on the Main Stage!

*If your child will not be able to attend the Friday evening Meet and Greet session, please e-mail Sal Sauco at salsauco@gmail.com.

Songs we’ll be learning will be:

Old Dan Tucker in G
Down the Road in G
Little Liza Jane in D

Registering Your Child: Kids 14 and under are admitted free to Podunk. Kids 15 and up need a ticket to attend the festival.

Join the Rhode Island Bluegrass Alliance’s (RIBA) Kid’s Academy during Podunk Bluegrass Festival. It is FREE for festival attendees, and includes two days of rehearsals and a performance on the Main Stage, Sunday.

Children seven to seventeen are invited to participate, regardless of their ability to play an instrument or sing.  Requirements:  must be able to attend all rehearsals and the performance on Sunday; Must supply his or her own instrument (guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, or bass).

The Kids’ Academy does not give family members free admission to the festival.

Pre-registration is not required, however we are requesting that parents send an e-mail to Sal prior to the festival if at all possible. Please e-mail Sal at salsauco@gmail.com with the following information:

  • Name of Child
  • Gender of Child
  • Age of Child
  • Instrument (if applicable) Length of time playing this instrument
  • Parent or Guardian’s Name & Cell Phone Number

If you have any questions about Kids’ Academy, please e-mail Sal Sauco at salsauco@gmail.com.

Recommendations

We recommend that students bring a tuner to class with them. This can be an electronic tuner (such as those made by Intellitouch), a tuning fork, or pitch pipe. Guitar and banjo students should bring a capo suitable for their instrument.

Podunk Bluegrass Music Festival is extremely grateful for The IBM Community Grant it received to help run our Kids Academy @ibmvolunteers.IBMlogo