“I feel like I’m learning how to think banjo, not just play tunes.”

“Imagine sitting down with your best friend who happens to be a masterful banjo player, gifted composer, skillful teacher and all around decent human being and you have the real vision of what it is like to attend a Tom Collins online banjo boot camp. Good wit and humor pervade the experience as he interacts and affectionately banters with an international array of attendees. I continue to learn and improve so much in an environment where questions are welcomed and playing along with Tom pushes me to improve while having fun along the way. What a gift.”

Bernie G

“Every time I participate in one of Tom's bootcamps, my playing levels up dramatically. I used to be stuck just strumming a bum ditty but now add so much dimension to my songwriting with drop thumbs, alternate-string pull offs, M-skips and other fancy tricks I picked up from these sessions!”

Amanda Lemay

“The Sawmill Survival bootcamp was just what I needed. As an intermediate clawhammer player I found the instruction to be clear, the exercises just challenging enough and the practice entertaining. That last part is especially important for me as I can be easily distracted. The camp held my attention from beginning to end and I felt meaningful progress in my technique.”

Dave O’Keefe

“As an intermediate to advanced player, my approach might be a little different, but it has been incredibly useful. Even as an advanced player, these boot camps help me pinpoint exactly what I need to work on. When I am working through a tab and hit a specific hiccup or a tricky phrase, I jump into the boot camp archives to find the exact drill or breakdown I need to smooth it out. Honestly, the format is almost meditative. The structured repetitions are a powerful troubleshooting tool that helps tighten up my fundamentals.”

Adrien Belugou

“Taking Banjo Quest Bootcamp is the best thing you can do for your playing. My speed and accuracy get better every time and my playing has become more musical. The secret for me is learning a more efficient use of time spent practicing the banjo as well as how to work through things that are giving you trouble. There is an emphasis put on asking questions. Tom makes sure you know there are no stupid questions. To top it off, he has grown a community of banjo players who are supportive, helpful, creative, and at times quite hilarious. This community support extends beyond the Bootcamp into the Banjo Quest Discord community. If you want to play clawhammer banjo you can't go wrong by learning here at Banjo Quest.”

Sheri Lane, Dripping Springs, TX

“Tom, thank you for this incredible boot camp, the second one I've done live. Learning from you, I feel like I'm learning how to think banjo, not just play tunes. You don't just show us where to put our fingers, you give us the tools to understand why things work, so we're not simply memorizing tunes, we're becoming musicians who can solve problems and build our own playing. One of the things I admire most about your teaching is how you take something that initially looks impossible and, through a series of small, logical steps, make it feel completely achievable. Sawmill Survival School II is a perfect example. I had been stuck around 140–150 BPM for months. After working through the boot camp, I'm now playing the first three lines at 170 BPM, something I honestly didn't think I could do with only 350 days of banjo. But even more valuable than the speed is that I now understand why my playing improved. There are many phenomenal banjo players, but being a phenomenal player doesn't automatically make someone a phenomenal teacher. You are both.”

Corina Dima

“Tom's boot camps—and, more generally, all of his content on YouTube and Patreon—are extremely valuable and helpful for banjo players of all levels, from beginners to professionals. No one feels left out, because Tom considers all the different stages an individual might be at on their banjo journey. He is one of the few well-known banjo teachers and players who knows how to pass on his knowledge and skills in an engaging, professional, systematic, and understandable way. I've found everything I need to improve on my banjo journey right here at Tom's.”

Jozef Matyo

“What a great camp. At the start of camp it was not immediately obvious to me why the technical challenge of Sawmill Survival School II is invaluable. I learned it's a 'you have to do it to get it' thing, for me at least. You have given me a map to explore sawmill. Armed with this I am wandering Falls of Richmond, Twin Sisters, The Cuckoo and Shady Grove. With your reference in hand I may survive. Want to note the musicality of measures 15 and 16, the brushes in particular, so beautiful.”

Seoras Ashby

“Bootcamp was awesome yet again. I remember thinking it felt so out of reach the first time, keeping up seemed impossible. But your encouragement to just keep tempo using the easier measures where needed meant I kept progressing. After showing up to 3 bootcamps (now 4 I think?) I feel so confident in approaching more challenging arrangements. Thank you SO much for doing what you do, there's nothing out there like it.”

Amanda Lemay

“Thanks again for another awesome Boot Camp. As always, I learned lots of things: strategies for incorporating difficult passages into the flow of the tune, strategies for increasing tempo by alternating faster and slower speeds, and lots of practice teasing out what was challenging in difficult measures and how to approach learning them. I think one thing that is special about your Boot Camp is how all of us support each other in learning and also in generating enthusiasm in each other. Your care in creating these camps is so inspiring! Nobody else comes close! You are the best banjo teacher out there, hands-down.”

Chuck Markowitz

“I echo what another boot camp attendee said, you are a master at what you do. Not all amazing players can teach. It takes special skills to be able to break learning into small enough pieces so that one can systematically progress. You do it effortlessly, no matter the skill level of the player. Your ability to engage us through a silent camera is stellar. It's evident you put heart into it too. I've done several bootcamps, maybe four. Each camp has been well worth my time. I'm confident that no matter what content you create—video, bootcamp, or livestream—the experience will be gold-level.”

Lisa Waggoner

“Tom's Boot Camps have had the single most positive impact on my playing! Each time a Boot Camp is completed, and in the days and weeks following, I experience a surge of ability and confidence in my playing and I feel bolstered with new approaches to technique, expressiveness and style. There's truly something for every banjo player in these Boot Camps (and Tom's content overall), from rank beginner to seasoned professional. Tom makes each session so much fun with his witty banter, and also keeps us structured so we learn deeply and in a very creative way. The pace of the Boot Camps is just challenging enough to ensure that we all experience gains in our playing, yet tempered to ensure every player's ability is catered to. Plus, the outstanding community Tom has built around his Boot Camps and Patreon offerings is such a bonus. I will continue to recommend this amazing resource and Tom's super professional and approachable offerings.”

Tina Jones