Camp workshops, July 2024

Upon registering, students select their favorite four workshops to attend. Workshops are listed alphabetically by category.

instrumental:

  • All About Double Stops: Double stops (playing two strings at once) are a common and well-loved technique in many fiddling styles, but they can be tricky to master! We'll investigate patterns that can be moved around the fingerboard and look to the playing of bluegrass fiddler Bobby Hicks for ways to take our double stops to the next level. Open to intermediate + advanced strings; taught by Tessa Schwartz.

  • Beginner Guitar 101: Students will strengthen their guitar technique through practicing down and up strums, identifying finger placement for common open chords, and reviewing rhythms and counting. We’ll practice several strum patterns and switching between chords smoothly, and then learn a complete tune together that we can share at our evening camp jam. Open to guitar and ukulele; taught by Heather Grove.

  • Bluegrass Fiddle Tune: Learn a standard bluegrass fiddle tune together by ear through call and response echos. We’ll move at a moderate pace with lots of repetition.Open to all instruments; taught by Leah Wollenberg.

  • Can You Swing It: An introductory swing fiddle workshop taught by ear. We’ll first learn the mechanics of how to swing on the fiddle and then apply those techniques to a classic swing piece together. We'll also explore how this applies to multiple genres. Open to all instruments; taught by Leah Wollenberg.

  • Fiddler’s Survival Guide to Jams: Want to jam with others but don't know where to start? This encouraging crash course will give you a simple road map for understanding tune structure, common chord patterns, rhythm bowing options, and how to play lead and back-up. Open to all strings; taught by Amie Ferrier.

  • Get Rhythm: What is time? What is rhythm? We'll explore the many ways that time and rhythm are a part of music - - and of life all around us. We'll use drums, percussion tools, and our own melodic instruments to feel and understand things like tempo, meter, subdivision, accentuation, syncopation, backbeat, and polyrhythms. We'll also explore ways to make practicing with a metronome easier and more fun. Open to everyone; taught by Sam Devine.

  • Improvisation + Soloing, Level I: We’ll start with vocal and rhythmic exercises before moving to melodic methods on instruments. Being able to play a scale or two will help with concepts in this class. Sam is masterful at making this intimidating subject accessible to beginner students of all ages. Open to all instruments; taught by Sam Devine.

  • Improvisation + Soloing, Level II: This workshop is for students who have studied with Sam in years past and are ready for the next level, or those with prior experience seeking to strengthen their skills. Students should have a working understanding of major scales and the basics of music theory to take this workshop. Open to all instruments; taught by Sam Devine.

  • Irish Fiddle Tune: Learn a standard Irish fiddle tune together by ear through call and response echos. We’ll move at a moderate pace with lots of repetition. Open to all instruments; taught by Leah Wollenberg.

  • Old Time String Band (ensemble class): With basic facility on a stringed instrument we’ll learn and jam on tunes in the old-time music repertoire and style. You should know basic chords and be able to play in time in the keys of G, C, A and D. Learn skills for contributing to the group sound, with ideas towards joining in even if you don’t know the tune! Open to intermediate + advanced instruments; taught by Evie Ladin.

  • Songwriting For Everyone: Students will examine a few basic musical structures and themes as a guide for working step-by-step through the composition process. We’ll ask ourselves what defines a song, and then write some ourselves. Simple! Open to everyone; taught by Sam Devine.

  • Tips + Tricks For String Jams: Many folk jam sessions shift keys, feels, and styles. Practice skills for playing in ways that contribute to the jam while being mindful of what’s appropriate and possible. Become more confident in leading a song, or taking or supporting solos. Must have basic facility on your stringed instrument and an open mind. Open to intermediate + advanced instruments; taught by Evie Ladin.

singing:

  • Harmony Singing For Beginners: Learn to add harmony parts to a song and hold your own part while still listening to others. We'll also learn some music theory to better understand what makes harmony "work"! Open to everyone; taught by Tessa Schwartz.

  • Let’s Swing - Singing Jazz Favorites: This beginner singing workshop will use familiar jazz standards to discover what swing timing means in song. Students will explore syncopation and phrasing alongside the history of storytelling through jazz music. Open to everyone; taught by Heather Grove.

  • Old Time Harmony Singing: Using the Carter Family as a jumping off place, we will work with simple three part harmony in this beautiful style. Finding harmony lines that sometimes weave around the melody, sometimes cross or create unisons, students will develop a better ability to hear and find parts, as well as learn what gives these harmonies their particular old-time country sound and power. Open to everyone; taught by Evie Ladin.

dance and movement:

  • Body Music Around The World: Come explore some traditionals styles including hambone (US), kecak and saman (Indonesia), rus (Morocco), palmas (Spain), and more. No previous experience necessary. Open to everyone; taught by Keith Terry.

  • Body Music Rhythm Blocks: Using the oldest instrument on the planet -- the human body -- we clap, slap, snap, step, and vocalize our way through some very fun and funky, original and traditional rhythmic music. BODY MUSIC is an effective way to deepen your rhythmic skills. Open to everyone; taught by Keith Terry.

  • Dancing With Others: Swing dance, square dance, two step, waltz, more - basic skills for dancing with a partner is not something people generally learn anymore, and yet gives so much juice to any style in which you'd want to dance with others. Basic weight sharing, leading, following, turns, footwork - it's easier than you think! No experience needed. Open to everyone; taught by Evie Ladin.

art:

  • Beginning Watercolor - Your First Painting: Let’s explore and learn how the paints and water interact together. We’ll talk about colors and color mixing as well as learn some fun techniques to use in your artwork. All supplies will be provided. Open to everyone; taught by Jan Fenwick.

  • Intermediate Watercolor - Plein Air: More exploratory fun with paints. We’ll learn how light and shadow will give your paintings depth, and identify good subject material as we paint some of what we see around us in our beautiful location. All supplies will be provided. Open to everyone; taught by Jan Fenwick.

  • Intro To Storytelling: Do you have a great true tale to share for our evening story slam at camp? Hone and prepare your original story on the theme of ‘School Days’ with our Master of Ceremonies, Eli, or simply stoke your inner storyteller as you consider what makes stories worth telling - and why we love to listen to them. Open to everyone; taught by Eli Ferrier.

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