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Steve Kaufman's Page
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Profile Information
- Favorite Flatpickers
- All of them but top of the list Doc Watson, Dan Crary, Norman Blake, Bryan Sutton, Dave Grier, and too many to list
- Favorite Flatpicking Tunes
- Ragtime Annie, Blackberry Blossom, Dill Pickle Rag, Tico Tico, Jerusalem Ridge and all the rest.....
- Favorite Guitars
- Ken Miller Guitar, Collings OM-3, Gallagher 7 String SK Model, Rockbridge Braz and Cedar
- Tell us more about yourself (place a Bio here if you wish)
- Steve Kaufman was born into a musical family in 1957. His father was a jazz piano player and his mother was a classically trained pianist. Music was always around. At four Steve started plinking at the piano and did so for several years. He then moved on to the electric guitar at 10 for a few years and put it away. Next came the cello in 5th grade for a few years. After this Steve picked up the acoustic guitar again and blazed right through a "Folk Guitar" method book. When finished he thought if this is as hard as it gets it's not for him. Then his younger brother, Will, started playing the banjo and his instructor told him he needed a rhythm guitar player to help with his timing. So Steve then picked up his guitar again and got into the bluegrass rhythm. One day Will brought home a Flatt and Scruggs LP, which featured Doc Watson on guitar, and Steve was hooked on flatpicking.
Steve practiced hard with his newfound love of music, sometimes up to 8 hours a day. At age 18 he entered the National Flatpicking Championships in Winfield, KS and made the top 10. The following year was a wash. In 1977, Steve took 2nd place to Mark O'Connor and in 1978, at 21 years old, he returned to win the championship. Then after being barred for 5 years he returned on the 6th year to win the 1984 championships again. Winfield bars the winner for 5 years and they can come back on the 6th year but in 1986 they decided to open up the contest to everyone and not bar the past years champs. Steve returned to win his goal. He became the winner and the first and, at this writing, the only Three Time Winner of the National Flatpicking Championships. He is also noted to have 3 consecutive wins in the Nationals because he was barred all the years he did not enter.
Steve continues to work hard in the world of music. He began producing books and videos in 1989 after teaching private lessons for close to 20 years. His catalog of instructional materials is close to 75 items. His listening CDs and Videos number over 14. Steve began touring the world conducting seminars, workshops, clinics and concerts in 1990 and after 5 years he and his wife, Donna, began "Steve Kaufman's Flatpicking Camp." Every other year they have added more camps into their agenda and now under the title "Steve Kaufman's Acoustic Kamps" they host a Fingerpicking Kamp, Old Time Banjo, Bluegrass Banjo and Mandolin Kamp as well. They have grown into the largest Kamps of their kind in the world with students traveling from around the world to Maryville, Tennessee. Since 2002, Steve Kaufman and Donna Dixon have received the Gold Award from a reader's poll in Acoustic Guitar Magazine for running the "Best Workshops, Seminars and Camps." Since 1990 Steve has developed the reputation of being the "World's Guitar Instructor."
Steve stays busy being a husband and father, running his Kamps, tour schedule, writing books and recording videos and CDs (see www.flatpik.com), as well as owning and operating The Palace Theater in downtown Maryville - the area's premier acoustic venue as well as an espresso bar (See www.palacetheater.com).
- Do you have a website?
- http://www.flatpik.com
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This group is for those who attend, or have interest in, the Peaceful Bend Americana Music Festival.
Yeah, that's what we always played.
From the Gift Store
This group is the place to share recording tips, tricks and techniques. Equipment discussions welcome.
This group is for those flatpickers who are fans of Steve Kaufman's Acoustic Camps.
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Comment Wall (31 comments)
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LJ
I'm planning on Hatteras in January
and am encouraging my students as well to attend the workshop.
If you have any extra Kaufman Propaganda,
I'm happy to hand it out. Mis-leading Catalogues, News Letters etc.
See you soon
Amy
Hope you're doing fine.I really had a great time with you in Slovenia last August.
Thanks so much for picking along with me.What an honor!
Best,
Yiannis
Robin Kessinger was here in Norfolk last Saturday for a workshop
and is playing the Folk Festival in Richmond this weekend.
The news about Jo is exciting. Give her my best and Donna too.
Thanks as Always,
See you in Hatteras!
Amy
You got me started Flatpicking and now I can't stop!
You are the greatest teacher and your Kamp is tops.
Thanks
Kellar
Dan
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