Everyone’s welcome! Beginners and advanced students alike. Study old-time, bluegrass and modern picking styles. Dig into music by Dock Boggs, Earl Scruggs and Béla Fleck. Learn tunes, technique and improvisation.
Jayme Stone has been playing, composing and teaching music on the five-string banjo for sixteen years. He embodies the banjo’s diverse history with a unique approach that includes two-finger, three-finger and modern picking styles as well as jazz, classical and folk music from around the world plus, of course, the many branches of American roots music.
Stone has years of experience teaching yoga as well as studying the Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais and Zen. He naturally incorporates ergonomics, posture and mindfulness into his work with banjo students.
In addition to teaching privately, Stone offers one-on-one lessons through the magic of Skype. All you need is a webcam and high speed internet. Lessons can be designed to address your specific needs and tablature is always included. Examples of lesson topics include:
- Traditional Bluegrass
- Fiddlistic ideas
- Arpeggios
- Phrasing
- Melodic Style
- Three-finger single string
- Melodic patterns
- Earl Scruggs inventions
- Béla Fleck techniques
- Bluegrass backup
- Arranging tunes
- Chops and grooves
- Scales and modes
- Exercises galore
- Musical ideas from West Africa, Scandinavia, Brazil and beyond
Rates are $50 for an hour’s lesson or $180 for four, prepaid. Paypal is accepted and preferred. Please contact for more information or to schedule a lesson.
“An intent focus on all aspects of music…one of the most open-minded banjoists around.”
→ banjo news
“The spark in his expressions communicates a deep commitment to the music.”
→ bluegrass unlimited
“Stone combines a jazz musician’s sense of timing and sureness of touch with a pop musician’s brevity and directness.”
→ the guardian
“Stone is the consummate team player… always right in the middle with his polished, inventive banjo playing.”
→ downbeat
“What roots/jazz banjo virtuoso Jayme Stone doesn’t know about his instrument probably isn’t worth knowing.”
→ toronto star