Mary McCaslin's Roundup
May 23, 2006
SUMMER MUSIC CAMPS
SUMMERSONGS WEST SONGWRITERS' CAMP
WHEN: June 18 - 23
WHERE: Arroyo Grande, CA (San Luis Obispo County)
INFO: (845) 246-0223 / sumsongs@aol.com / www.summersongs.com
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Early June, but some openings still available.
CALIF. COAST MUSIC CAMP
WHEN: July 9 - 15, July 16 - 22
WHERE: Sonoma County (Near Healdsburg)
INFO: (650) 306-0399 / info@musiccamp.org / http://www.musiccamp.org
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: June 9.
REDWOOD DULCIMER DAY
WHEN: Sat., July 29
WHERE: Boomeria, Bonny Doon
INFO: (831) 429-1691 / http://www.folkplanet.com/dulcimerday
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: July 22. Slightly higher price day of event.
When I was a kid the very last thing I would have ever wanted to do was to attend summer school. The nuns held me in academic captivity for nine months of the year and that was all I could take. During all those years no one ever mentioned anything about summer schools or camps for the study of music, something that would have interested me. Most likely they did exist somewhere in southern California where I grew up, but I never heard about them.
After I began traveling the country as an adult in the 1970s I came to find out that in the northeast summer camps offering classes in folk music and dance had existed for decades. They were and still are held at sites in places like the Catskill and Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York.
Music instruction camps differ from outdoor music festivals in that they are exclusively devoted to teaching and learning. Performances are often done by students who have come to broaden their abilities, whether as instrumentalists, singers, songwriters or dancers. Performing is part of the learning process. Usually teachers also perform as part of their instructional duties. Here on the west coast many music instruction camps have sprung up, continuing this tradition.
SummerSongs West Songwriters' Camp, started by singer-songwriter Penny Nichols, is an outgrowth of SummerSongs, which is held at world famous Camp Ashoken in the Catskill Mountains. SummerSongs West is for songwriters who are just starting out or those who have run out of fresh ideas after a long career. It takes place at beautiful Camp Arroyo Grande, approximately fifteen miles south of San Luis Obispo. The atmosphere is supportive and one of the ground rules is that no criticism, no matter how constructive or well intended, is allowed.
Classes and private sessions will be offered with master songwriters, along with classes in singing, harmony, the creative process, demo production, performing, instrumentation and more. Each night there will be song circles and a coffee house. Everyone is encouraged to participate. Teachers on staff include Wendy Waldman, Kenny Edwards, David Roth, Penny Nichols, Severin Browne, Mary McCaslin and more. The price includes all events, lodging and meals.
The California Coast Music Camp started in 1992 and is held at a retreat facility in northern Sonoma County, near the town of Healdsburg. The site nestles in a canyon surrounded by old growth redwoods with a river running through. The camp is broken into two weeks, which are back to back. Each week offers more than 30 classes in various acoustic instruments, percussion, voice, songwriting and more for students at all levels. The atmosphere encourages even shy beginners to stretch musically.
There are 36 teachers on staff this year, 18 per week. Included are Alice Gerrard, Clive Gregson, Cosy Sheridan and Del Rey. Styles taught encompass old time and bluegrass, jazz, classic rock and Hawaiian music. The price covers all events, lodging or camp space and meals.
Redwood Dulcimer Day, which boasts "total modal fun," takes place on Saturday, July 29th at Boomeria, a castle complete with moat in the hills of Bonny Doon. Students at all levels are invited for workshops, jams and a special Friday night concert on the evening of July 28th.
The mountain, or lap, dulcimer is usually thought of as an instrument that is limited to mountain music or quiet parlor music. But the appeal of the dulcimer has broadened as people continue to discover that this instrument can be used in Eastern music, jazz, classical, pop and almost any other type of music, as well as for accompanying vocals. The resident faculty for Redwood Dulcimer Day consists of renowned dulcimer master and owner of Gourd Records, Neal Hellman, along with Janet Herman and Peter Tommerup. Guest instructors are Joellen Lapidus, who seamlessly blends many styles of music, and Paul Furnas, who will be offering workshops on composing and canons / rounds. There aren't too many events that focus exclusively on the dulcimer, let alone that take place in a castle.
This just might be the summer to take up a new musical endeavor, or to brush up on skills that have gotten a bit rusty. Happy Trails!
Mary McCaslin will be teaching at SummerSongs West. Contact her at roundup@marymccaslin.com.