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Your dream folk music/dance summer camp...
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Your dream folk music/dance summer camp... |
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Subject: RE: Your dream folk music/dance summer camp... From: Barbara Shaw Date: 20 Dec 98 - 11:28 AM Hi rosebrook, We go to 6 or 7 bluegrass festivals every summer, and each one is different, but we've never been to a summer music camp. If I could plan the ideal camp (never having been to one), I would suggest Cape Cod, in Massachusetts, which is a beautiful place but we hardly ever go there anymore because we're always at bluegrass festivals elsewhere. Somewhere overlooking the ocean (but not in the sand) where you could set up a tent/camper town. The camp would have to have lots of workshops, especially fiddle and banjo. Most that I've heard about focus on just one instrument, which would be a problem for my husband and me going to the same camp. And different styles of music should be presented, including bluegrass, old-timey, even jazz and classical. Instructors should be well-known masters of their instruments. An open mike stage would be nice, so people could sign up to perform if they chose. Paid performers are a bonus, but not necessary as far as I'm concerned. Good food with lots of choices is always welcome. Restrooms and showers for those without campers. And I love craft vendor booths. Sorry. 24-hour field picking is a necessity. Those who want quiet should have a separate area to camp. One festival we go to has a "scramble" each year, which is fun. People put their name and what instrument they play, and whether they sing lead and/or harmony, into a big box, one box for each instrument. The organizers then use all the names to create evenly balanced bands, covering each instrument and having singers in each. The "bands" then get together for a couple of hours and prepare 3 songs. Then there is a performance, with each pickup band doing their 3 songs, after which the judges pick a winner. Lots of fun to watch, although I've never participated in one of the bands. Good luck. It may be winter in Connecticut, but it sure is nice to think about going to one of these when the warm weather comes! |
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Subject: RE: Your dream folk music/dance summer camp... From: Big Mick Date: 17 Dec 98 - 09:53 PM rosebrook, I hope we have not offended, I think many of us misunderstood what you were asking. I have attended the Wheatland Festival for many years. I can tell you that it was a much more enjoyable experience when it ran more like what Barbara described. It is still a very fine festival, with one of the great volunteer organizations around. I am not demeaning anything about it. I just remember when it wasn't so "successful" and it was much more enjoyable because of the participation factor. They do have a number of programs throughout the year that function in that way. All the best, Mick |
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Subject: RE: Your dream folk music/dance summer camp... From: Barbara Date: 17 Dec 98 - 07:35 PM rosebrook, there are a number of different approaches to these kinds of gatherings. What I like is one that has some indefiniteness or flexibility in the structure and a lot of participation by the attendees in leading as well as following. I.e. post a workshop on this board with spaces available. Jam times. A who knows what the band will play next dance. The more everyone is empowered the better I like it. Functioning anarchy. However, this is not how many festivals are done, and I am undoubtedly not normal. If you want more specific imput along this line, I'd be glad to talk to you. I've had something to do with making music camps in the SF Bay area. I'm in the book in Sheridan, Barbara Millikan, or e me, and send your number. Blessings, Barbara |
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Subject: RE: Your dream folk music/dance summer camp... From: malena Date: 17 Dec 98 - 04:48 PM Hi rosebrook, there´s one big festival I know in Germany (there´s similar ones in California), it´s seven days, it´s comercial (but not expensive), it´s based on workshops (lots!, all kinds of styles, instruments and dances), advanced workshops are at the same time bands that play for the dancers (Ceili Band plays for Ceili Dancers, Balkan band plays for Banlkan Dancers, tango orquestra plays for tango dancing class etc...), there´s lot of rooms (it´s in an old youth hostel) and tents and campgrounds and a big party/dancing tent, and let me tell you what: forget about food, canoes, horses, anything that might distract you from the basics: music, dance, beer and party! All the best! |
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Subject: RE: Your dream folk music/dance summer camp... From: malena Date: 17 Dec 98 - 04:40 PM Hi rosebrook, there´s one big festival I know in Germany (there´s similar ones in California), it´s seven days, it´s comercial (but not expensive), it´s based on workshops (lots!, all kinds of styles, instruments and dances), advanced workshops are at the same time bands that play for the dancers (Ceili Band plays for Ceili Dancers, Balkan band plays for Banlkan Dancers, tango orquestra plays for tango dancing class etc...), there´s lot of rooms (it´s in an old youth hostel) and tents and campgrounds and a big party/dancing tent, and let me tell you what: forget about food, canoes, horses, anything that might distract you from the basics: music, dance, beer and party! All the best! |
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Subject: RE: Your dream folk music/dance summer camp... From: Liam's Brother Date: 17 Dec 98 - 10:14 AM I will consider New Zealand... particularly if the New Zealand Tourist Board is willing to sponsor airfare for the Roscommon Singers' Circle to come. Oh yes, the trout fishing's great in New Zealand... a definite attraction. All the best. |
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Subject: RE: Your dream folk music/dance summer camp... From: MMario Date: 17 Dec 98 - 10:07 AM rosebrook - for a serious answer to your question....where are you located? What's your budget? How many "campers"? What is your current format? What is your ratio of staff to campers? What ages? residential or day? free or do you charge? One thing I learned from doing summer camps - small suggested changes can have far reaching (and sometimes illegal) results. MMario |
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Subject: RE: Your dream folk music/dance summer camp... From: rosebrook Date: 17 Dec 98 - 08:55 AM |
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Subject: RE: Your dream folk music/dance summer camp... From: rosebrook Date: 17 Dec 98 - 08:55 AM Well, I'm frustrated with myself for not being more clear about my need. But I will take your suggestions back to the steering committee for our work session next week, and let me know when I can be helpful with suggestions about your project. rosebrook |
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Subject: RE: Your dream folk music/dance summer camp... From: alison Date: 17 Dec 98 - 02:09 AM hi, I'm a bit apprehensive about this song workshop..... my shower isn't all that big...... and if Mick is one of the ones trying to get in........ well...... maybe we can rig up something with the hose in the garden! slainte alison |
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Subject: RE: Your dream folk music/dance summer camp... From: Ana Date: 17 Dec 98 - 01:48 AM Hey!! NZ aint got no snakes nor Pauline Hansons, it's in the southern hemisphere AND it's nuclear free!.It's also got good exchange rates,clean air/rivers/sea/wine/beer food....The sun is shining,birds tweeting (what's a snow shovel?) - what more could I say. Pretty seductive huh....feel like escaping armag |
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Subject: RE: Your dream folk music/dance summer camp... From: Big Mick Date: 17 Dec 98 - 12:05 AM And Alice would put on a singing workshop in the shower. Hey, this could be fun. Mick |
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Subject: RE: Your dream folk music/dance summer camp... From: alison Date: 16 Dec 98 - 11:20 PM Hi Liam's brother, Sounds great to me..... In Australia's defence..... we do have French restaurants, (and any other nationality you can name). Although I do like the thought of sitting on the steps of MontMartre playing my whistle with a crowd of Mudcatters. and I've had one of those snakes in my backyard....... and none of the snake catchers would come to my aid..... but that's another story............. Come around this time of year... the pool's nice and warm. slainte alison |
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Subject: RE: Your dream folk music/dance summer camp... From: Liam's Brother Date: 16 Dec 98 - 09:40 PM Because there are 2 summers every year (1 in the Northern Hemisphere and another in the Southern), I dream of 2 summer camps.
The first would be in Paris because 1) French food is great
The second would be in Alison's back yard in Australia because All the best. P.S. Joe Offer, Sacramento is about midway between Australia and France. I thought of you, sir. |
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Subject: RE: Your dream folk music/dance summer camp... From: rosebrook Date: 16 Dec 98 - 08:31 PM Any other opinions? Maybe it was the use of the word "dream"...maybe because we're so close to the holidays, people don't want to think about summer folk camps... rosebrook |
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Subject: RE: Your dream folk music/dance summer camp... From: hank Date: 15 Dec 98 - 10:02 AM The food would come off a sitck that you made from a tree yourself. (there are always more young trees in a real forest then can survive to adulthood, for the city slickers) For where your voice get sore, and hands get tired there would be horse back riding, and canoeing. Both would give the above a rest, and then technique for playing from a horse/canoe would be practiced - with some sappy romantic song that nobody can sing without proposing marraige to the victum of such music. (improvising a way to fit names and lines that don't fit the beat will be taught) |
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Subject: RE: Your dream folk music/dance summer camp... From: northfolk Date: 14 Dec 98 - 07:17 PM My ideal folk camp would include, performers like Len Wallace, Utah Phillips and Si Kahn, with Pete Seeger doing a workshop on how to pace yourself, for the long haul. It would also include folk dance lessons, and all of the students would be clumsier than I... Also would include some of the other folk processes, like storytelling, and no fail banjo lessons, I can tell the banjo jokes but haven't a clue on how to become the butt of them... It would also include a mandatory campfire session, attended by the plethora of mudcatters, that have swapped lies here...studying under the tutelage of Art Thieme. it would also last all through July...there would be nary a black flie or mosquito...it would not rain, the food would be.... |
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Subject: RE: Your dream folk music/dance summer camp... From: gargoyle Date: 13 Dec 98 - 09:08 PM A wonder-filled three days under a full lunar sky filled with Mare Nubium frolics in the spirit of Dionysius Exiguus. |
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Subject: Your dream folk music/dance summer camp... From: rosebrook Date: 13 Dec 98 - 08:32 PM As it's never too early to start planning a summer 3-day week-end camp, I'd welcome imput from my fellow mudcatters about their summer camp experiences - both good and bad. What did you especially enjoy? Who would be a sure-fire draw for you? What was overlooked at a previous music camp experience? What kind of event made the most impact on you? Considering the expertise I've witnessed at this forum, I'm excited already at the wisdom your shared experience will bring! rose |
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