Activities
Concerts
Staff members perform
for you on Friday and Saturday evenings. Concert admission is included
in the festival fee. For the general public, tickets will be available
at the door for $10 per concert. Friday performers are Out of the Blue,
Laurie Hart, Groovemongers, Voices of Africa, and Rustical Quality String
Band. Saturday features Steve Buckalew, Simple Gifts, Kim & Reggie
Harris, Ken Kolodner and Robin Bullock, and Northwest Territory.
Folk Bands
A key part of the weekend is the Folk Band, where you'll
have a chance to work with a small group in a band setting. Each band
will be coached by a professional staff member. Once you arrive at camp,
you'll fill out a form indicating your interests, and then bands will
be made up by genre. Styles offered this year include Old Time, Celtic,
Swedish, Klezmer, French Canadian, African, Gospel, Bluegrass, Old Country,
Greek, Harmony Singing, and more. Most groups choose to perform in the
Sunday afternoon Student Concert, though there will also be an option
to be in a non-performing band. For beginners, we'll have "TLC in
the Key of D," a gentle, slow-paced group playing experience. Band
rehearsals will be held Saturday afternoon and Sunday just before lunch.
Workshops
Seven
workshop slots with a choice of 76 workshops is offered, with two slots
on Friday, three on Saturday, and two on Sunday. A description
of each workshop is available, as well as the overall schedule.
Workshops for
Instrumentalists
Most
of the workshops on all instruments playing together, and are divided
by level into beginner, advanced beginner, intermediate, and advanced
so that you can pick ones that are appropriate for you. There are workshops
where you can learn tunes of a specific type (waltzes, Southern tunes,
Swedish, old country, Irish jigs, etc), and there are workshops that
focus on musical techniques like improvisation, music theory, syncopation,
harmonies, and rhythms. There are also workshops for specific instruments,
but please don't think that just because your instrument isn't listed,
the weekend isn't for you. There's plenty to do with mixed-instrument
workshops, jams, and discussions.
Workshops for
Singers
Each workshop slot has at least one choice for singers,
and many of the folk bands welcome singers.
Choices for
Non-Musicians
The best choices for non-musicians are the presentation/discussions
or any of the workshops for beginners, singers, or dancers.
Presentation/Discussions
Each workshop slot offers a presentation/discussion
where no musical background is assumed. You'll hear a presentation of
a specific topic, in some cases accompanied by a bit of performance,
then there will be plenty of time for questions and discussion. See
the workshop details for specifics.
Jam Sessions
There’s nothing like a jam session for learning new tunes and sharing
the joy of making music. Each workshop timeslot offers a staff-led jam
session, and there are also a variety of jams after the Friday and Saturday
evening concerts. For those who haven't had enough, we'll also jam back
at the dorm into the wee hours!
Contradance
with Open Band
Saturday night after the staff concert, we'll have
a contradance in the auditorium. All are welcome to dance of course
(even if you've never tried it before) and all instrumentalists are
welcome to play in an open band. Sheet music will be provided.
Coaching
For those who are attending Folk College as an established
band (i.e., a band you regularly play and perhaps perform with at home),
there are two opportunities for you to be coached as a group. Friday
night after the staff concert, members of Simple Gifts will be available
to listen and give feedback. Time permitting, solo performers may be
coached also. There's no need to sign up. Just go to the coaching room
and listen to others being coached while you wait your turn. Established
bands may have an opportunity to be coached during normal Folk Band
time also.
Professional
Development for Teachers
New this year is a teacher track designed for classroom
teachers. Act 48 credit is available for Pennsylvania school teachers,
and we are working on a reciprocal agreement for Maryland teachers.
Two workshops will address issues of incorporating music into the classroom,
and there will be a special Folk Band for teachers. Contact Linda
Morris for details.
Instrument
Doctor
Curtis Rockwell, a fine guitar builder and string
instrument repair person, will be available Friday after the staff concert
to give advice on problems you are having with a string instrument.
Sound
Apprentice
For those who are interested in learning to run a
sound system, there will be a limited number of sound apprentice slots
available. Sound apprentices will work with Mel DeYoung, our Technical
Director, during Folk Band practice time to learn the ins and outs of
setting up a sound system, doing a sound check, and running the system
during a concert. Sound apprentices will have an opportunity to run
the system during the Student Concert.
Hangin' Out
If all of these activities aren't enough for you,
there's always plenty of just plain hanging out with like-minded musicians
and sharing some tunes.