A slew of great bluegrass tunes filled the gym at Mile 108 Elementary School and students got a bit of a crash course in that musical genre when an American band stopped by on March 25.
Students clapped their hands and cheered the musical stylings of the band, The Special Consensus. They also heard about the types of acoustic instruments the musicians played and about the origins of bluegrass music, a sub-genre of country music made famous by the legendary Bill Monroe, a Kentucky musician known as the father of bluegrass.
While very entertaining, the hour-long visit by the Grammy-nominated band was also educational. The Special Consensus tours nationally and internationally year-round. The band created the Traditional American Music Program to introduce students and teachers to bluegrass music.
“The presentation is adapted to reach all age groups, from pre-school and kindergarten to middle school, junior high, high school and college level students.”
The Special Consensus band members also acted as instructors at the 108 Cabin Fever Workshops at The Hills Health Ranch, March 25-29. Those 12th annual workshops drew dozens of musicians of all skill levels. The Special Consensus also performed at an instructor concert on March 27.
The four-person band’s origins date back to the Chicago area in 1975. According to its website, the band has released 17 recordings and has appeared on numerous radio programs and cable television shows.
The band has toured Australia, Canada, Europe, South America, Ireland and the United Kingdom. Banjo player Greg Cahill is the band leader. The band’s 2012 release, Scratch Gravel Road, was Grammy-nominated for Best Bluegrass Album.
Other players include Dustin Benson on guitar, Rick Faris on mandolin and Dan Eubanks on bass. Keith Yoder played guitar with the band at Mile 108 Elementary School.
