The String Band Summit gathers musicians, teachers, students, and scholars engaged in string band music to explore traditions, histories, practices, instruments, and pedagogy, seeking to foster collaboration and understanding both within and among different musical cultures. After two successful years at East Tennessee State University, the third annual SBS is taking place at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee April 4–6, 2024. The event will be hosted by MTSU’s Center for Popular Music in cooperation with MTSU Center for Chinese Music and Culture, combining the resources of these two world-class music research centers with the musical riches of the Nashville region and far beyond.

The SBS brings together people who perform, teach, and study global string band musics from a variety of genre fields, and from different walks of life.  The organizers seek to support professional, intellectual, and artistic development, deepen connections among institutions where string band musics are taught and studied, and foster collaboration and understanding between researchers and string band artists, allowing participants to interact and collaborate with their peers who work in different places, traditions, and disciplines.

Registration:

Registration is now open! $150 for regular in-person participation; $40 for virtual participation; student registration is FREE!

In-person registration includes lunch and dinner on Friday and Saturday. A wide variety of other dining options is available on and off campus.

Register here

 

Schedule:

Thursday April 4, 2024

7:00–9:00 pm

Opening Reception and Album Release Show

Uncle Shuffelo and His Haint Hollow Hootenany

(MTSU Chris Young Café)

 

 

Friday April 5, 2024

8:30 am–2:30 pm

Coffee and refreshments available

Exhibit: Pulling a Few Strings

(Center for Popular Music, Bragg Building, Room140)

 

9:00–9:50 am

ETSU Global Strings workshop

(College of Education, Room 153)

 

10:00–10:50 am

Fredy & Claudio Vega workshop

(College of Education, Room 153)

 

11:00–11:50 am

Hakka Ensemble workshop

(College of Education, Room 153)

 

12:00–1:15 pm

Lunch

(Center for Popular Music, Bragg 140)

 

1:15–2:00 pm

Break

 

2:00–2:50 pm

Cylinder Recording Demonstration w/Martin Fisher

(Bragg Building, Room 103)

 

3:00–3:50 pm

Guided Tour of the Center for Popular Music

(Center for Popular Music, Bragg 140)

 

4:00–4:50 pm

Keynote Presentation

Larry Witzleben, “The String Band in China and the United States: Music Making and Aesthetics”

(Bragg Building, Room 103)

 

6:00–7:15 pm

Dinner

(Center for Popular Music, Bragg 140)

 

7:30 pm

String Band Summit Showcase Concert

Hakka Ensemble

Fredy & Claudio Vega

Bryan Sutton Trio

Cathy Fink, Marcy Marxer, & Chao Tian

 

 

Saturday April 6, 2024

8:30 am–2:30 pm

Coffee and refreshments available

Exhibit: Pulling a Few Strings

(Center for Popular Music, Bragg Building, Room140)

 

9:00–9:50 am

Open Forum: Bluegrass in Britain & Ireland

Hosted by Lee Bidgood, Matthew Ord, & Pete Ward

(Bragg Building, Room 103)

 

10:00 am–12:00 pm

Paper Session

Heather Grimm, “Uncovering the Mytho-Historical Narrator of Bluegrass Music”

Mei Han, "Bluegrass to Redgrass: Rediscovering the Creative Musical Roots in Chinese Music"

Greg Reish, “Hearing the Past in Conjunto Fiddle: Evocations of Pre-Accordion Music in South Texas”

Mike Doubler, “Uncle Dave Macon and the Fruit Jar Drinkers”

(Bragg Building, Room 103)

 

12:00–1:15 pm

Lunch

(Center for Popular Music, Bragg 140)

 

1:15–2:00 pm

Break

 

2:00–2:50 pm

Stephen Seifert & Randy Raine-Reusch dulcimer workshop

(College of Education, Room 153)

 

3:00–3:50 pm

Cathy Fink, Marcy Marxer, Chao Tian workshop

(College of Education, Room 153)

 

4:30–5:30 pm

Guided Tour of the Center for Chinese Music and Culture

(Bell Street Building, Room 1600)

Transportation departs from Bragg at 4:15

 

6:00–7:15 pm

Dinner

(Center for Popular Music, Bragg 140)

 

7:30–9:00 pm

Open Jam Session

(Center for Popular Music, Bragg 140)

 

Venues:

Bragg Media & Entertainment Building

College of Education Building

Chris Young Café (Woodmore Building)

Bell Street Building

Interactive Campus Map: https://w1.mtsu.edu/maps/interactive.php

Parking: Bragg Lot (passes available for Friday daytime in the Center for Popular Music; no pass needed at night and on Saturday). NB: Do not park in any red Residence lot at any time. You will be ticketed.

      

If you have any questions, please contact Greg Reish (greish@mtsu.edu).