Help/Advise: Musical Vacations

Subject: Help/Advise: Musical Vacations
From: Sean Belt
Date: 19 Feb 00 - 06:49 PM

I'm looking ahead to vacation season and need some advise. some of the possibilities I'm thinking about are heading out to Merlefest, The Swannanoa gathering for dulcimer workshops, and/or the Augusta Heritage Center for old-time banjo workshops.

Does anyone have experiences they can relate about any of these venues? Recommendations? Warnings?

Subject: RE: Help/Advise: Musical Vacations
From: Osmium
Date: 19 Feb 00 - 06:56 PM

Both these places sound like Usa based venues. If you would consider going further afield try searching the WEB on The Boghill Centre, If it comes up County Claire you've hit the right place.

Subject: RE: Help/Advise: Musical Vacations
From: Sean Belt
Date: 19 Feb 00 - 09:15 PM

Yes, they are USA based. North Carolina and West Virginia.

Subject: RE: Help/Advise: Musical Vacations
From: Willie-O
Date: 19 Feb 00 - 09:40 PM

Best summer of my life was spent at Augusta in the five-week instrument-making program, in 1979. Extraordinary value--tuition was $300 plus materials costs for two quality instruments both of which I still have 20 years later. (Hammered dulcimer and banjo). Don't know if it still is, at the time all beer in WV was 3.2 percent--so we could and did party and jam late every night--and then be running a bandsaw at 8 a.m. next morning without hands shaking...(OK maybe 8:30)

Never made the time to go back, more's the pity...

Willie-O
older no wiser

Subject: RE: Help/Advise: Musical Vacations
From: momnopp
Date: 20 Feb 00 - 12:27 AM

There's an amazing list here from Dirty Linen of events around the world. I've been toying with the idea of either planning a vacation itinerary around events on this list (pick a week any week) or putting together a Mudcat Tour for Americans to go visit our UK counterparts. . .

I would really consider organizing such a thing (especially if a few eligible bachelors went along. . .) if other people were interested. . . say for Summer 2001.

Happy music making!

JudyO

Subject: RE: Help/Advise: Musical Vacations
From: Sorcha
Date: 20 Feb 00 - 12:47 AM

You might think about MerleFest,April 27-30 in Wilkesboro N.C. A Watson Festival Superb! Link here I hope!

Subject: RE: Help/Advise: Musical Vacations
From: Crowhugger
Date: 20 Feb 00 - 04:00 AM

What worked for me was to attend one, any one, and ask around. Especially ask the people who have a sound you especially like. You probably won't get more of the same, but you'll get more leads than you can follow in a lifetime.

Now, closer to the Mason-Dixon line than County Claire is the Province of Ontario. That's in Canada. There's a great festival every weekend, often two. Between weekends, well you practise the new licks you learned and check out the exquisite beauty of the Canadian Shield, Ottawa Valley and St. Lawrence Lowlands. Can't be beat.

CH the camping Ontarian.

Subject: RE: Help/Advise: Musical Vacations
From: folk1234
Date: 20 Feb 00 - 01:38 PM

Dear Sean:
Go! You'll truly enjoy the experience of a week-long imersion in traditional music.
I've been to Swannanowa for contemporary folk music week, and to Augusta during Irish week (I took the week-long string ensemble workshop with Cathy Barton, Dave Para, Larkin Byant, Becky Blakley, et. al.) However, my favorite place is Pinewoods (I've been 3 times) during Folk Music Week. At Pinewoods there seem to me to be a much closer overall "community" relation with the other student/campers and with the guest artists/instructors.
Please be forewarned. After a full week of song, dance, learning, and sharing, it is most difficult to get back into the pace of the "real world".

Subject: RE: Help/Advise: Musical Vacations
From: Sean Belt
Date: 20 Feb 00 - 03:34 PM

Thanks to all for the replies!

Folk1234,
Is there a website or other contact point for Pinewoods? I tried a search on the net and got back too many possibilities to find the right one. However, your recommendation makes the place sound good. Where is it? In the USA? Canada? eh?
- Sean

Subject: RE: Help/Advise: Musical Vacations
From: folk1234
Date: 20 Feb 00 - 04:07 PM

Pinewoods is in Plymouth, MA. It is operated by the Country Dance and Song Society. Contact (blue clicky thing "www.cdss.org").
Pinewoods is very isolated and pleasantly rustic. Do not bring a radio, portable TV, or the Wall Street Journal! Rarely does anyone leave during the week. Everyone, including artists/instructors, caled staff, live in cabins. They run from 2 person cabins to about 12 person houses, with two person rooms. I think there are a few single rooms too.
Everyone is assigned (volunteers for) a small task like sweeping a dance pavillion, manning the book store, or clearing tables which usually takes 30 minutes to an hour per day. In addition to a full workshop schedule during the day, performances and dances at night, you can always find individuals or small groups jamming, learning, and sharing throughout the day and night in the woods, along the banks of the ponds, or in one of the many other cozy gathering places.
You'll love it.

Subject: RE: Help/Advise: Musical Vacations
From: Sean Belt
Date: 20 Feb 00 - 06:14 PM

Folk1234,
Thanks again for the info. I just took a look at the CDSS website and liked what i saw. Now I've just got to decide what program to choose. A tough choice. But it beats the heck out of thinking about going back to the office tomorrow!:-)
-Sean

Subject: RE: Help/Advise: Musical Vacations
From: GUEST,olfar
Date: 20 Feb 00 - 06:50 PM

By all means, try Pinewoods out. It's been my experience that, while I didn't have the time I expected to havem I always did have a great time. Wonderful music. Nice people. Pretty good food. Last time I went, I actually planned to use the camp as cheap accommodations while I did a bit of sight-seeing. Never left the camp. Too much music to miss.

Have a blast.

Subject: RE: Help/Advise: Musical Vacations
From: folk1234
Date: 21 Feb 00 - 10:03 AM

Dear Sean:
Sara Grey is the director of Folk Music Week at Pinewoods this year and next. She is lovely, very talented, and alot of fun. I know she has put together a great staff. I told her I would go this year and I hope I can keep my promise. I'm trying to get a van load of Okies to go with me. For me, however, the time is much more of a burden than the cost.
BTW, Pinewoods is a full 7 days. Check in at 3:00 pm on Sat. Program starts before dinner with tours and orientation, Then a great dinner in the communal mess hall, performances, dance, then jams - all before you go to bed late Sat night/or early Sun AM. You're kept busy (if you want to be) 'til Sat AM breakfast, then the sad good bys.
I hope to see you there.
Any other mudcatters interested? As long as I'm out that'away, it would be a great time to get together with some Nor'easters!

Subject: RE: Help/Advise: Musical Vacations
From: GUEST,Petr
Date: 21 Feb 00 - 07:50 PM

There is the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes in Port Townsend Wash. June 25-July 3 or so. Ive gone the last 3 years and never want to miss one again. Its a week of workshops, dancing concerts and sessions that run day and night. Also a great location. Lots of diff. styles to choose from Old time, Irish, Cape Breton, Cajun, French canadian etc. Great time. Petr.

Subject: RE: Help/Advise: Musical Vacations
From: Lucius
Date: 22 Feb 00 - 07:58 PM

Pinewoods! Pinewoods! Pinewoods!

Forget about spending a week. Quit your job and spend the summer. Take it from someone that did--there is nothing like it. Hey Olfar, whaddayoumean, pretty good food??? I cooked there in 1992-3, could it have changed that much?

Lucius