Learn to build your own banjo with Patrick Sawyer, owner of Pisgah Banjos. Patrick has been teaching these workshops since 2013 with every student walking away with a completed banjo from scratch in less than a week! No woodworking skills necessary. See below for upcoming classes.
***No workshops currently planned. We are taking a temporary hiatus on workshops. Thank you for your interest!
Take your banjo-building skills to the next level at John C. Campbell Folk School!
This intermediate/advanced workshop dives deep into the art of neck carving, precision fretwork, flawless finishing, and professional setup techniques.
Work alongside two instructors; founder of Pisgah Banjos and a renowned finisher and repair expert. If you have built a fretted instrument before and want to refine your fretting and setup skills, this is the class for you.
Some evenings required.
Instructors:
Patrick Sawyer has been building and playing clawhammer banjos for over a decade. Originally from western North Carolina, he has a passion for renewable energy, banjos, and Appalachian heritage and culture, especially in regard to its music tradition. Patrick owns and operates Pisgah Banjo Company, where he hand-builds open-back clawhammer banjos using native Appalachian hardwoods. When he is not in his shop, you can see him playing his banjos at jams and festivals across the region.
Joseph Swierupski is a seasoned luthier with over two decades of experience in instrument repair, restoration, and craftsmanship. He has served as the lead technician at Mountain Song Guitars and Chicago Fretworks, specializing in high-quality structural and finish work on both acoustic and electric instruments. With a background that includes roles at Fender USA and as an instructor at the Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery, he brings a deep knowledge of guitar/banjo construction, repair, and teaching to his craft.
To sign up, visit the folk school’s website.
Tuition: $870
Materials Fee: $750
Class size is small and usually fills up quickly. We hope to see you there!
