My Personal Blog

Hello Everyone! I am writing this to inform all of you about my upcoming Bluegrass Jam Camp in Greer, SC! As many of you know I have conducted camps/workshops in the past instructing individuals on how to play with others as a group. This is the foundation of my website www.laynepublications.com and Jam Camp material. While my individual songs have served many individuals at home it’s now time again to take some of that knowledge and put it work in the “real world”. This Jam Camp (starting mid to late October) will be the same as previous camps in the since that we will take people on the following instruments:

Guitar (Rhythm and Lead)

Mandolin and/or Fiddle

Banjo

Bass


We will also still meet weekly (for 12 weeks) for one hour, go out to a public jam to play (which you will receive a DVD of), and use the Jam Camp material. However, this time around we are not going to be doing the same songs as before. Since the number of songs I have completed has grown greatly in the past couple months, we will allow YOU to chose the songs. We will seek input from each individual involved on which songs they would like to learn and incorporate them into our 12 weeks.

As we draw near the end of our 12 weeks we will go into a studio and professionally record, as a group, the songs that you have learned. Once this CD is finished it will be professionally printed and given to you, along with your DVD, as a “certificate” of your accomplishment.

I have also partnered with a booking agency from the area for this Camp. After you have completed your 12 weeks we are going to book you on 2 local shows, as a group, to give you the experience of playing on your own (some of you might be a little intimidated by this idea. Trust me, after the 12 weeks you WILL be ready!).

I can already hear some of you saying to yourselves as I write this. Well...Christmas is coming up and the kids will be out of school. Things will be busy then and I better not commit until next time. We will take a week or two off (depending on what the group wants) to accommodate for Christmas and New Years. The day of week that we conduct the camp is yet to be determined and will depend on everyone's schedule.

This camp is open to people of all ages. For prices and more information please visit www.laynepublications.com/jamcamp.php.

I’m pleased to announce the release of my newest CD – Back Porch Hymns – “More Old Time Favorites”. This is the second installment in my Back Porch Hymns series of recordings. On this CD you will find the same “down-home” playing that people love so much and associate with traditional hymns. There is everything from breakneck bluegrass to soulful worship. To listen to parts of this CD please be sure to visit www.jordanbourland.com/bphv2.html.

We have added 4 new Jam Camp Lessons to the growing list at www.laynepublications.com.

This week we have added Flop Eared Mule, Tennessee Waltz, Jesus Loves The Little Children and Devil’s Dream for guitar, mandolin, and banjo.

These lessons include a TAB, chord chart and two professionally recorded mp3’s. The first mp3 includes an entire bluegrass band with a note-for-note recording of the provided TAB. The second is the exact same recording without your instrument so that you can practice playing with a real band!

To listen to these songs please click on your instrument’s link above and then click on the song title you would like to view.

Purchase these today for just $2.99 each!

Remember! - If you refer a friend to sign up for our newsletter, you will both get a free lesson of your choice!

We have also added Banjo video lessons for the first solo of Cripple Creek! These are note for note lessons taught by Jordan Layne Bourland in high quality video. Here you will see three camera angles with close-up’s on both of Jordan’s hands. These lessons are available in two purchase options. First, the TAB, Chord Chart and Video. Or you may purchase the complete package of TAB, Chord Chart, Video, and both Jam Camp mp3’s!

We have added new Jam Camp Lessons to the growing list at www.laynepublications.com.

This week we have added A Beautiful Life, Keep On The Sunny Side, Drifting Too Far, and This Little Light Of Mine for guitar, mandolin, and banjo.

To listen to these songs please click on your instrument’s link above and then click on the song title you would like to view.

These lessons include a TAB, chord chart and two professionally recorded mp3’s. The first mp3 includes an entire bluegrass band with a note-for-note recording of the provided TAB. The second is the exact same recording without your instrument so that you can practice playing with a real band!

These lessons are available for just $2.99!

Hello Everyone,



I hope this message finds all of you well. Things have been going well for Rebecca and me. I have started teaching again here in Rocky Mount. I am currently teaching at The Imperial Centre which is Rocky Mount’s arts center. I began Tuesday and greatly enjoyed my students. I look forward to filling the day and meeting more students in the coming weeks.



Aside from teaching my “side-business” Layne Publications has re-launched at www.laynepublications.com. The previous focus of this website was to provide instructional videos of popular rock and pop songs. However, after much consideration we have completely re-worked this website with a new direction in mind. Building on the success of the Bluegrass Jam Camp material we are producing songs for individual download in the same style.



If you are not familiar with my Jam Camp let me give you a brief explanation. The songs for sale here are directed towards the beginner and intermediate student. Songs are categorized by instruments; guitar, mandolin, and banjo. Upon downloading a particular song you will receive a .zip file including the following:



TAB(s)

Chord Chart

And two .mp3’s



The first .mp3 will have a recording of the song with banjo, mandolin, guitar, and bass. This will be a “medium” tempo of the song. I say medium because this is typically slower than what you would play it on stage or in a jam session but our purpose here is to learn, not smoke the competition. The recording of your particular instruments solo will be note for note as the included TAB. The second .mp3 will include the exact same recording, but without your instrument. This way you have a chance to practice the song with other instruments, but without the assistance of the recorded solo that you are playing.



So far we have included the original 10 songs from my book:



Bill Cheatham

Billy In The Lowground

Blackberry Blossom

Blueridge Cabin Home

Cripple Creek

Down The Road

I’ll Fly Away

Mountain Dew

Shuckin’ The Corn

Wildwood Flower



Along with 17 new songs:



Amazing Grace

Arab Bounce

Arkansas Traveler

Ashokan Farewell

Banjo Signal

Bluegrass Blues

Bury Me Beneath The Willow

Bile Them Cabbage Down

Cumberland Gap

Foggy Mountain Breakdown

Gold Rush

Jingle Bells

Old Joe Clark

Old Time Religion

Salt Creek

Santa Clause Is Coming To Town

The Great Speckled Bird



Please check the website often for updates. We will be adding new songs regularly to the website as well as instructional videos for each particular solo, taught by myself.



If you don’t see the song on there that you want to learn, or perhaps it’s not in the same key your friends play it in, I will be happy to take custom orders.



I’m very excited about this website and based off of many of my student’s encouragement, I believe this will help educate many musicians.



Again, thank you all for your support.

Hello everyone,

I hope that everyone is doing well and enjoying their summer. Things have been going well for Rebecca and me. The shows at The Randy Parton Theatre have started and we are now in our third week. Playing there is a blast and the crowds are the friendliest you will find anywhere. I will finally begin my teaching in Roanoke Rapids at the end of the month. I will be teaching at the theatre either Thursday or Friday’s. Also, I will begin my teaching in Rocky Mount at the end of this month as well. I have been talking with a few organizations about renting space from them. Hopefully, by the end of the month I will finalize a place and will be able to start lessons.

I will be appearing on Rocky Mount’s WHIG-TV’s Late Night show Friday August the 17th. I will travel to the station after the concert on Friday and should appear around 11pm. For those of you in the area please be sure to tune in!

I have put the final touches on my Bluegrass Jam Camp books and will be offering them for sale through my website in my “store”. I hope to have these available by the end of the month. The cost for the downloaded version of the book will be $15 and to have one mailed will be $20 + $5 shipping and handling.

Live online lessons are also now available via webcam. For more information please visit http://www.jordanbourland.com/lessonschedule.html.

I have submitted my songs to iTunes (US and Japan), Rhapsody, and Napster to be sold through them. These should be available on October 4th, 2007.

I will also have all of the completed tabs from my latest CD, Back Porch Hymns – “Old time hymns played the old time way.” available for download by the end of next week. Please be sure to check them out if you are interested in learning hymns on the guitar, mandolin, or banjo.

I have added a new video to my website entitled Jerusalem Ridge. This was taken during a rehearsal at the theatre while I was playing my solo to our bands number. Please be sure to check this out at, http://www.jordanbourland.com/video.html.

Again I hope that everyone is doing well and your prayers for Becky and I are always appreciated as we continue our ministry.

Jordan Layne Bourland

Hello everyone,

Life has been very eventful and fun lately. Practice at the theatre is going great. These are some of the best musicians I’ve ever played with. I know that this show will surpass everyone’s expectations. It will be a full blown show with the best music and lights you’ve ever seen. I’m so excited about this and hope everyone will be able to come to one of the shows. The opening show starts on July 26th.

I have started booking lessons in the area as well. I will start teaching at the Randy Parton Theatre in Roanoke Rapids, NC. I have also started offering lessons via the internet. These will be LIVE one on one lessons given over the computer. For more information on this please check out the information at http://www.jordanbourland.com/lessonschedule.html. I’m very excited about this new service. I hope to continue to teach some of my former students as well as people from all over the world.

Next, we are in the process of redesigning and adding a lot of material to the “Instruction Area” of the website. I will be writing new articles for instruction on a variety of instruments and for all still levels. I will also be adding TABs for many songs that I have used with my students from over the past few years. All of these will be provided free of charge. Please look for this change in the near future. For the current instruction area please visit, http://www.jordanbourland.com/freelessons.html.

For those of you that are interested I’ve updated my contact info on the website. I have listed a new PO Box that I can be reached at by mail.

Again thank you all for your continued prayers for Becky and me. We greatly appreciate them and look forward to what God has in store for us in the future. These are very exciting times for the both of us.

Sincerely,

Jordan Layne Bourland
www.jordanbourland.com

Hello everyone, there are many updates and changes being made to the website this month so I want to give a heads up and an introduction to them all.

First of all I want to announce the return of the Forums. They are back, up and running, with the help of www.roanokerapidslife.com. The wonderful people here have been helping me get settled in my new town and have provided a place for all my fans to join in on forum discussions. If you go to my website and click the “Forums” link you will be taken to this site. Just register as a user and discuss away. I will be stopping by the forums regularly to join in on the discussions. Roanokerapidslife.com will also be displaying my BLOG and more information about me so many thanks to Gerhard and all the folks there!

Secondly, I will be adding a “gear” section to my website. This will show photos and descriptions of all the instruments and gear that I play as well as my current endorsements. This will allow everyone to get an idea of what I consider to be the “best out there” in the way of instruments, strings and other gear. Please keep an eye out for this in the next week or so.

Lastly, I have started accepting new students in the Roanoke Rapids, NC area. I will be teaching guitar, banjo, mandolin, bass and Dobro to students of all ages and ability. If you are interested in lessons please contact me at jordan@jordanbourland.com or by phone at 828-302-5909.

I’m very excited about this move to Roanoke Rapids. I’m looking forward to meeting everyone in town and making many new friends.

Life has been very eventful lately, to say the least. For those that do not know, on April 28th I married Rebecca Reno. Married life is wonderful and she is such a help and blessing to my life! I enjoyed seeing everyone that could make it to the wedding and all the cards and calls where greatly appreciated. For our honeymoon we took a 7 day cruise to the Eastern Caribbean.

I have also taken a job playing guitar, mandolin, and banjo for the brand new Randy Parton Theatre (www.rptheatre.com) that was just built in Roanoke Rapids, NC. I’m really looking forward to this opportunity to work with Randy Parton and all the other band members. This will be a great move for Rebecca and I as we follow God’s will for our lives.

Please keep us in your prayers and be sure to catch the opening show on July 26th 2007!!!!

Everyone please check out the video's from this weeks Bluegrass Jam Camp. I'm having a great time with these guys and their hard work has really payed off. We're only coming up on our fourth week of this camp and these guys are getting better and better each week. I can really tell they're getting a lot more comfortable playing with others now. They made some great music this week!