CAMP CLASSES AND SCHEDULE

Class Descriptions

West Marin Fiddle Camp Classes will be taught at beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels!!

Fiddle — The staff includes renowned fiddlers in multiple styles: Nokosee Fields remains the champion of the Clifftop Appalachian Stringband competition; Luke Price is not only a top Texas style fiddler but a very highly regarded teacher of the style; and Dirk Powell has combined his Kentucky roots with 30 years of living in Louisiana to achieve expertise in old-time and Cajun styles. Riley Baugus is a hardcore North Carolina fiddler with a uniquely slippery approach and Simon Leone, who grew up with parents in the Foghorn Stringband, is a top player and generous teacher. Almost all the staff has some experience with fiddle and the classes will dig deep.

Banjo — Riley Baugus is not only a top banjo player in the famous Round Peak style, which stems form his part of North Carolina, but a renowned banjo maker and teacher. Cahalen Morrison’s beautiful banjo playing is powerful and evocative, with a highly expressive touch, and Dirk Powell offers repertoire and style that come directly from his Kentucky grandfather, who learned in the mountains in the 1920s. Between them, and others on staff, the banjo classes will explore technique but also tap into the powerful musical flow of the instrument.

Guitar — Eli West is renowned for his beautiful and expressive guitar playing as well as his generous and thorough teaching style. Riley Baugus is a top old-time guitarist with bands like the Red hots and even got his nickname “Riley” while still a teenager because his hot back-up licks reminded others of the famous Riley Puckett of the Skillet Lickers. Irena Eide offers a groove-centered approach to old-time guitar that will help you get the feel at the core of the sound. Luke Price will offer classes in Texas-style back-up. Others on staff also offer guitar expertise, in styles that support vocals and fiddles but also in finger-picking and other self-sustaining traditions. Cajun guitar can be covered if there’s an interest and in general there will be a very wide range of classes on the instrument.

Voice — Rachael Price is a beautiful singer with a thorough knowledge of technique and ways to access your truest and most expressive voice, and with her husband Luke they explore tight, powerful harmony. Irena Eide has spent years teaching harmony and encouraging others to sing from the soul. Amelia Powell is known not only for her soulful vocals but her Cajun repertoire as well. All the others on staff sing, as well, with a focus on impactful songs and emotional harmonies. Multiple classes will focus on vocals, across the board. With every staff member offering a powerful vocal approach, this staff is very, very strong on the vocal front!!

Mandolin — Cahalen Morisson and Dirk Powell both play and teach mandolin, with an emphasis on old-time tunes and ways to support and interact with song. Techniques as a means to an expressive end will be explored, with a focus on some of the sounds that add spice and punch and grit to an ensemble. The mandolin is one of the most recognizable sounds in the instrumental world and we’ll look at ways to make sure it is speaking the language of the song or tune at hand.

Kids Program — Amelia Powell and Simon Leone will continue their tradition of offering amazing and fun classes for the kids. Last year, their performances were a highlight and a delight! The classes are engaging, adaptive, encouraging, and beautiful. And everyone seems to be jealous of the giggly, pure fun they are having down in their little shady spot!

Ear Training, Songwriting, Special Classes — The staff have an interest not just in the hands-on experience of learning an instrument or a song, but some of the wider topics that can help you grow as a musician. These include things like Ear Training, where you can come to understand chordal movements and things that will help your music grow without overthinking it or feeling lost. Everyone on staff writes songs and there will be several workshops given in that subject where you can write a song, collaboratively, whether you have experience or not. These areas will be exciting to staff and student alike, as there is always room to grow in these ways!

Beginners classes

Beginning Guitar — If you have a strong desire to strum and sing your favorite songs on the guitar, but don’t know how, or if you already know a few chords but want to really solidify your foundation and learn a bunch of songs, well then this class is for you! We’ll be learning the basic chords and chord progressions of folk, country and old-time songs, working the rhythm, strumming patterns and the classic “boom-chuck” pattern, as well as understanding and internalizing simple 12 bar and 16 bar forms. Starting with only two or three chord songs, students will play music right off the bat. By the end of the week we’ll have a good foundational repertoire of songs to sing and chords to play.

Beginning Fiddle — Fiddle is a challenging but deeply rewarding instrument. Some say it most purely imitates the human voice. Learning how to hold the instrument and draw an even, full tone with the bow will help create the kind of foundation on which you can build and grow. Even if you have some experience on the fiddle, this will be a great opportunity to work on and fine-tuning your bowing, posture, and intonation. We’ll familiarize ourselves with the major scale pattern in different open keys, learn simple but memorable fiddle tunes, and jam with guitar accompaniment. It might be squeaky at first but it’ll be squeaky fun!

Kids Program

**Little Folkies String Band Program - Guitar, Fiddle, Ukulele**

A string-oriented program for kids ages 7 to 12 wanting to learn how to sing and strum classic folk songs on the guitar or ukulele. Beginners and experienced students welcome! We’ll delve into the vast repertoire of folk, gospel and old-time songs perfect for beginners from the American canon, and learn the basic chords and strumming patterns of easy 1, 2, and 3 chord songs. You’ll be amazed at how much music you can make with just one chord and some heartfelt singing.

Afternoon Band Classes

The social aspect of making music is one of the most precious things we have as human beings. In the afternoon classes, we’ll explore the different elements of the traditions at hand in a full, participatory way, defining and working on each role so that the whole ends up far more than the sum of its parts. There will be a performance at the end of the week celebrating what all the bands have worked on and created together.

Appalachian Stringband — Led primarily by Riley Baugus and Dirk Powell, this band will learn and perform fiddle tunes and songs in the oral tradition of old-time. Both Riley and Dirk have an array of stories and tunes they learned from their musical grandparents and family in the mountains of Kentucky and North Carolinas and will share some of the songs that are most dear to their heart, and teach them to the students in this band.

Honky Tonk Harmony — Eli West will lead this class, which will delve into old-time and early modern Country music, both instrumentally and vocally. The class is for instrumentalists and singers…… and those who do both!

Traditional Cajun Band — Led by Amelia Powell and Simon Leoni, this class will dig into one of the most unique and engaging traditional forms in the U.S. Participants will learn a few Cajun French songs, some vocals, no matter what language they speak, and dig into the special feel of the music.

Beginner’s Band — This band will build on the foundation of what the beginners are studying during the week and give them creative ways to make joyful music together. There’ll be a build throughout the week towards a performance that may make the “beginner’s” description a thing of the past!

Daily Schedule

8:00 AM | Breakfast

9:00 AM | Yoga, meditation, prep, or warm-up time

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM | String/Vocal Class 1

10:50 AM - 11:50 AM | String/Vocal Class 2

12:30 PM | Lunch

1:30 PM - 2:50 PM | Band classes

3:00 PM | Day camper pick-up

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM | Quiet time, relaxation, guided nature walks to garden/tide pools/beach/forest/butterfly grove

4:30 PM - 5:30 PM | Workshop/Concert of the moment

6:30 PM | Dinner

8:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Teacher concert by the fire pit

9:30 PM | Jamming and hanging

11:30 PM | Sleepy time

In addition to the daily classes, activities will include:

Hearty home-cooked meals with guest local chefs at dinner
Outdoor-based nature exploration and guided walks
Dancing - many styles to share, from Cajun to Square Dancing
Songwriting - Select workshops with top writers
Jamming - Many opportunities to make some spontaneous music!
Art creation from recycled material and found objects
Conversations about music, friendship, equality, contributing in a positive way to your community, and more
Camping!