Guitar camps — worth the bucks?

Subject: Guitar camps — worth the bucks?
From: ddw
Date: 08 Mar 01 - 12:43 AM

I'm considering going to one of two guitar camps this summer — either the blues week at the Augusta Heritage Center (Davis & Elkins College, Elkins, W.Va) or Jorma Kaukonen's Fur Peace Rance in Ohio.

Both have pretty impressive-looking lineups of instructors, but both are pretty pricey — more than $600 US, which is more than $1,000 Cdn. I'm just wondering if it would be worth it. I could buy a lot of private instruction, books and CDs for that kind of coin.

I had blown it off as too expensive, but my wife is encouraging me to go. Any alumni of these things among M'catters? What was your expeience with them?

Love to hear your tho'ts.....

david

Subject: RE: Guitar camps — worth the bucks?
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 08 Mar 01 - 01:41 AM

David, I don't know about those camps, but if they're anything like the Puget Sound Guitar Workshop in Washington State, I'd say GO! I went to PSGW a few times in the late 80s, and loved every minute. Learned a lot, too. At PSGW there were 2 or 3 class periods a day for a week, classes were at every level from beginner to pro, there was lots and lots of jamming and individual "pickup" instruction, two nights of faculty concerts and a student concert that kept the entire camp in its seats (except for the standing ovations!) until 1 AM or so. The faculty were all very accessible, and for the student concert you could ask other students or faculty to accompany you (which was how I got to share the stage with Gordon Bok and his 12-string). OK, I'll shut up now and yield to somebody with experience in the ones you're interested in.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Guitar camps — worth the bucks?
From: Justa Picker
Date: 08 Mar 01 - 01:48 AM

Go. Have some new and interesting musical experiences, and take a tape recorder with you.

Subject: RE: Guitar camps — worth the bucks?
From:
Date: 08 Mar 01 - 10:58 AM

go if you can reasonably afford it. If price is out of your league, there are lots of "amatuer" type camps for $50-75 for the weekend...Seattle, Portland, Vancouver B.C. on this coast...some are more in the $200 range...there are lots and lots of very good people but no guarantees and no real staff but you can still have fun. Don't know of Sing Time Frolics in Portland is sold out for March 23..probably is...one in B.C. is last weekend in June I think on a beach south of Vancouver. Very nice and inexpensive. More for singing that guitars though. Or you could always start your own..find a church camp not used during the winter and go for it.

mg

Subject: RE: Guitar camps — worth the bucks?
From: folk1234
Date: 08 Mar 01 - 11:02 AM

I've been to Pinewoods for Folk Music Week three times, The Swannaowa Gathering once for Contemporary Folk Week, and Augusta Heritage once for the Stringed Emsemble Workshop (During Irish Music Week). All were great experiences, well worth the expense and time.
If you consider that you are paying roughly $100/day for room, board, and first-rate instruction, coupled with the opportunity to meet many others who share your love of music, the price is quite reasonable. In my case I had to add the cost of travel and lodging to and from the camp, but it still was a bargain.

Subject: RE: Guitar camps — worth the bucks?
From: GUEST,black walnut
Date: 08 Mar 01 - 11:38 AM

An excellent Canadian camp devoted to top-of-the-ladder folk music and dance:

There are always a great guitar teacher on staff, and plenty of opportunities to jam. Lots of Mudcatters there, too!

~black.walnut

Subject: RE: Guitar camps — worth the bucks?
From: GUEST,black.walnut
Date: 08 Mar 01 - 11:40 AM

I don't know how my above mistake happened...the link was supposed to say "THE WOODS MUSIC AND DANCE CAMP". Oh, well, a click will still get you to the right site.

~black walnut

Subject: RE: Guitar camps — worth the bucks?
From: jeffp
Date: 08 Mar 01 - 11:51 AM

I have been to Augusta for Irish Week four years in a row - once for guitar, and three times for fiddle. I'm going back this year to study Irish Songs and Ballads with Jim Flanagan and Frank Harte. Personally, I think the price is a bargain for what you get - 5 hours a day of instruction from incredible people, room and board, and the opportunity to meet and jam with people from all over. I have forged some wonderful friendships at Augusta, which are renewed every year. I think I have learned as much outside of class as I did in class. The setting is quite nice too. There is a place I always go to practice which looks out over the town to the mountains beyond and allows me to really get into the music.

jeffp

Subject: RE: Guitar camps — worth the bucks?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 08 Mar 01 - 12:02 PM

I second what Black walnut says. Been an instructor three times at "The Woods" and had a ball. It beats lyin' on a beach.

Rick

Subject: RE: Guitar camps — worth the bucks?
From: GUEST,oj
Date: 08 Mar 01 - 02:51 PM

i'd say they're well worth the money. i've taught at several camps and i've seen quite a few people make real breakthroughs in their playing. i think the time away from "real world" issues (meals,jobs, families) and the company of like-minded folks plus the opportunity to ask instructors any questions you can think of allows people to reach levels of concentration that they don't regularly get to. of course, don't forget that you will have to put in your time and effort while you're there and try to carry some of the energy home with you to carry on your learning but i don't think the value of what you can gain from this kind of hands-on experience can be compared to videos and books. if you can afford the money and time i'd say give it a go.

Subject: RE: Guitar camps — worth the bucks?
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 08 Mar 01 - 06:16 PM

oj, I guess that you are Orville Johnson? I was talking to Martin Simpson last weekend and he was eulogising your playing, so people, take note of what this man says. Of course if you are not Orville Johnson, I apologise.

Murray

Subject: RE: Guitar camps — worth the bucks?
From: ddw
Date: 08 Mar 01 - 06:21 PM

Thanks, all — not a negative in the bunch. Most of the arguments seem to run to exactly what my wife and friends have been saying, so I think I'll give it a go. Just looked over the Fur Peace Website and see that most of the workshops I'd be interested in are full, so I'll go for the Augusta, if I can still get in.

david

Subject: RE: Guitar camps — worth the bucks?
From: ddw
Date: 08 Mar 01 - 06:24 PM

Ratz — too quick on the send button. Meant to specially thank Black Walnut for the Muskoka info. That looks interesting, although my main interest is in blues and I don't see any mention of it there.

david

Subject: RE: Guitar camps — worth the bucks?
From: GUEST,oj
Date: 08 Mar 01 - 07:04 PM

yes this is orville and a big howdy to martin when you see him. i just wanted to mention 2 other camps to check if your main interest is blues. pt townsend country blues and international guitar seminars. igs website is www.guitarseminars.com and the other is at centrum.org. both centered on blues with excellent staff. in the interest of full disclosure,yes, i teach at these but i would recommend them highly even if i didn't.

Subject: RE: Guitar camps — worth the bucks?
From: ddw
Date: 08 Mar 01 - 08:53 PM

Orville,

Thanks for pointing out the other camps. I was aware of the one at Columbia — my son went there and I saw literature on it when I was there for his graduation three years ago. The lineup of instructors looks impressive and I notice you teach slide techniques — which is one thing I'm definitely looking for — but given a choice of Elkins, W.Va. or NYC, I'm afraid I'll take the former. Lived too much of my life in cities (OKC, Miami, L.A., Tokyo, Hamilton, Toronto, Detroit) and now I go into them only under duress. Guess I'm just getting old.....

thanks again,

david

BTW, who is the Martin you refer to? The president of the Folk Society I belong to in Windsor, Ont. is named Martin. Is it him?

ddw

Subject: RE: Guitar camps — worth the bucks?
From: ddw
Date: 08 Mar 01 - 09:00 PM

OJ — forgot to say the ones on the west coast would be ruled out on what it would cost for air fare, that would have to be added to the tuition, lodging, etc.

david

Subject: RE: Guitar camps — worth the bucks?
From: black walnut
Date: 08 Mar 01 - 10:11 PM

ddw,

The Woods is a great camp. I play Celtic harp. They'll never have a harp teacher there, I'm sure of it, but I learn so much there and get so much out of playing with folks there, I wouldn't miss it for anything. This year will be my 8th in a row. It's small enough (about 75 or so) to really get to know each other. The quality is high and the price is really worth every penny. Plus, you get involved with folk music lovers from all over Ontario, and sometimes beyond.

Regarding the blues...it depends on the year. Last year they had Rick Fines on staff. I'm sure you know that he is a one of Canada's blues gems. There are two or three regular campers who go up there with their dobros every year....all of them Mudcatters!

So, think about it. There might be something there for you....

~black walnut

Subject: RE: Guitar camps — worth the bucks?
From: ddw
Date: 08 Mar 01 - 11:55 PM

Thanks, BW — I will.

Rick Fines. Yeah, I know him. He was on our concert list the year I won a guitar the Windsor Folk Society raffled off and he signed the guitar. His is one of the few signatures not worn off now. Love his solo work and think he was most of the talent in Jackson Delta.

I'll check out The Woods and maybe see you there.

david

Subject: RE: Guitar camps — worth the bucks?
From: ddw
Date: 09 Mar 01 - 12:07 AM

Black Walnut,

Just went into The Woods' site and looked over their list for this year. Rick doesn't seem to be there. I notice they change their personnel pretty drastically each year, so I'll keep it bookmarked and check it out some other time.

I notice our man Rick Fielding has been on staff a number of times, too. Good teacher.

I can see why you think so highly of the camp, but cash is a little tight and I don't think it would give me the bang I need for the bucks. Back to the Augusta Heritage Center as first choice this time around.

david

Subject: RE: Guitar camps — worth the bucks?
From: GUEST,Joan
Date: 09 Mar 01 - 02:41 AM

For a truly indepth submersion into flatpicking guitar, beg, borrow , or mortgage the house but go....to ....Steve Kaufman's camp in Maryville Tenn in June It's filling up fast. He has world class instruction and it goes on all day, with one on one opportunities with each instructor. email him at [e-mail] for full information.. Could not recommend anything any higher....honestly!

Subject: RE: Guitar camps — worth the bucks?
From: GUEST,Carol's Friend Don
Date: 09 Mar 01 - 11:05 AM

I've been to Augusta, and depending on your courses, it is well worth the bucks. Be advised that this more like a music bootcamp that a vacation. It will take you a week to recover. It not uncommon to play the sun up, especially on the Wednsday and Thursday nights. Just don't go during Cajun Week. Elkins has been doing this right for some 20 years. The problem is that Elkins is located the bottom of a ring of mountains and is hard to get to. Flying in is like the first drop on a roller coaster, with no room for errors. (Did it in a private plane, and I firmly recommend that the pre-crash position include lacing your fingers around the pilot's neck).

Another music camp I would recommend is Common Ground in Westminster MD, run by Walt Michaels. It's cheaper than Augusta, but the classes are on par. It's just a bit too peace-nic for me to stomach more than once every other year. It would probably be just right for Canadians.

Subject: RE: Guitar camps — worth the bucks?
From: jeffp
Date: 09 Mar 01 - 11:10 AM

BTW, it seems that wherever you are on campus at Augusta, where you want to go is uphill from where you are starting out. At the end of the week, your legs will hate you! It's worth every bit of the pain and lost sleep. Bring your tape recorder and expect to take home enough new knowledge to keep you working for the next year to absorb.

jeffp

Subject: RE: Guitar camps — worth the bucks?
From: GUEST,Miss Metronome on the road
Date: 09 Mar 01 - 12:06 PM

David, I attended The Woods Folk Music & Dance camp last summer and I definitely got my money's worth. I even attended Rick Fines blues class. The only banjo blues student he had.
This summer I plan to attend Dwight Diller's banjo camp and hopefully Augusta in the Fall.
The value of being immersed into the music for days & nights on end offers a rare opportunity in time. The remarkable people you meet, the knowledge passed on and the experience you get and the friendships you kindle, to me is beyond monitary pricing.

Little Neo

Subject: RE: Guitar camps — worth the bucks?
From: black walnut
Date: 09 Mar 01 - 07:03 PM

I'm sure that what Neo means is that we hope that sometime you'll choose to join us. Hope you find the camp of your wishes....

~black walnut

Subject: RE: Guitar camps — worth the bucks?
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 09 Mar 01 - 07:11 PM

Yes, Little Neo is saying, if there is a camp that interests you, go for it.
Just make sure you lick your fork after eating the eggs at breakfast. You will be doing the guy who washes the dishes a very big favor.

Little Neo

Subject: RE: Guitar camps — worth the bucks?
From: flattop
Date: 09 Mar 01 - 08:45 PM

Are you going for the guitar lessons Don or for the opportunity to fondle the pilot?

Subject: RE: Guitar camps — worth the bucks?
From: GUEST,Carol's Friend Don
Date: 12 Mar 01 - 02:41 PM

Actually the sweet nothing I whispered in his ear as the plane was coming in was, "That ground gets any closer and you'll be doing the screaming for both of us."

I never worry about whether or not it's my time to go, as there's nothing I can do about it. But I want the guy who flying that plane to worry about whether it's HIS time to go...

Subject: RE: Guitar camps — worth the bucks?
From: flattop
Date: 12 Mar 01 - 11:03 PM

Canadians would give the pilot enough peace to let him land the plane safely. They would be more relaxed when they landed to enjoy your music. (The really bright ones would take the train of course.)

Subject: RE: Guitar camps — worth the bucks?
From: CarolC
Date: 12 Mar 01 - 11:10 PM

You should see him in a McDonalds, flattop. He stands at the counter rattling his keys until everyone gets so flustered they screw up his order. Then he complains about it.

Subject: RE: Guitar camps — worth the bucks?
From: flattop
Date: 12 Mar 01 - 11:20 PM

I forgot to tell you, the night before I went to Montreal, I stopped at a MacDonalds for a muffin. An armoured truck pulls up. A spindly guy jumps out, sticks his hands in his belt by his gun and surveys the terrain. He signals to a second guy who gets out. They walk like cowboys into the MacDonalds, awkwardly order hamburgers and fries, then get back into the truck to eat them. Can't be good for the digestion.

Subject: RE: Guitar camps — worth the bucks?
From: Benjamin
Date: 13 Mar 01 - 12:20 AM

I've done Augusta's Blues Week. It's pricey, but I had fun. I'm considering going back this year.