Instructor: Van Burchfield

Van Burchfield has been studying and playing traditional string band music for 15 years. He has attended countless old-time fiddle conventions, toured the country with different bands, and worked as a musician in New Orleans for several years.

Van’s first love is American fiddle music. He offers instruction in old-time guitar backup and old-time banjo and fiddle. Additionally, Van offers instruction in other pre-war guitar styles, including country blues and ragtime fingerpicking and accompaniment. As an instructor, Van seeks to help you learn to play the music you love while deepening your understanding of basic music theory and your ability to learn by ear. Van’s approach to accompaniment is informed by his experience playing fiddle and banjo as well as by the countless hours he has spent backing fiddlers as a guitarist. The result is an approach to backup guitar that is attentive to the needs and expectations of the other players in a string band. Above all, Van seeks to help you learn to play like the old masters while finding your own voice within the musical traditions that inspire us!

Van is available for Zoom lessons (he is based outside of Kentucky)!