Kallet, Bok, etc. teaching at Meadowlark

Subject: Kallet, Bok, etc. teaching at Meadowlark
From: JWB
Date: 07 Apr 04 - 01:03 PM

Fellow 'Catters,

In case you haven't heard yet, I want to let you know about a great folk music camp in the State of Maine, USA. This summer will be the 8th year that a small group of music lovers gather for a week of total immersion in folk music. The site is a kids' sleepaway camp on the shores of a lake in Maine, which we take over after the younguns are done for the season.

Starting on August 22, and finishing up on the 28th, Meadowlark 2004 will feature staff members like Cindy Kallet (guitar and voice), Ken Kollodner (hammered dulcimer), Becky Tracy (fiddle), Richie Stearns (old-time banjo), Chris Turner (harmonica), and Gordon Bok (voice and guitar). There's a pile of other fine teachers, too, including Keith Murphy (guitar and keyboards), Curt Stager (banjo), Rachel Maloney (fiddle), Peggy Lynn (guitar and songwriting), Anne Dodson (singing and mountain dulcimer), Malke Rosenfeld (percussive dance and tin whistle), Lorinda Jones (mt. dulcimer and whistle), Ellen Gawler (fiddle), and your humble narrator (guitar and voice and Anglo concertina).

The camp features semi-communal cabins with hot water and electricity, great food (including vegetarian selections), and the beauty of the Maine pine woods. Located in Washington, ME, halfway between Augusta and Camden, the camp is close to the coast and not far up the road from Freeport (where you can do your bit for capitalism).

The week's cost, including four periods of music instruction daily, jams, concerts, 3.5 meals a day, lodging, the lake, the loons, and the supportive community of 80 fellow folk music lovers is a mere smear $610 per person. There are discounts available for those willing to do a little work during the week.

To my knowledge we've not have any Mudcatters attend, but then we haven't asked, either. This is a great opportunity to get away from the distractions of daily life and spend a whole week doing music. Learn a new instrument, write that song, improve your technique, or just play with fine musicians and learn new tunes.

You can learn more about Meadowlark at our website: www.meadowlarkmusiccamp.com . My buddy, Curt Stager, who founded and runs the camp, asked me to be assistant director, which means I get to field inquiries and handle registrations. Let me know if you'd like more info on the place.

I'd love to hear if any of you have been there incognito, or if you know someone who has.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Kallet, Bok, etc. teaching at Meadowlark
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 07 Apr 04 - 04:40 PM

This sounds absolutely wonderful and right up my alley-
but my school district demands the pleasure of my company beginning the middle of that very week!! I wish it were one week before, or any other week in the summer.
Rats, rats, rats!

Allison in NH

Subject: RE: Kallet, Bok, etc. teaching at Meadowlark
From: JWB
Date: 11 Apr 04 - 02:48 PM

Allison,

Yeah, we have a number of teachers who find that, year to year, the start of school interferes with their plans to come to camp. But since we have to wait for the kids to clear out of the site, we're limited as to when we can schedule.

Maybe the calendar will line up right next time around...

Jerry

Subject: RE: Kallet, Bok, etc. teaching at Meadowlark
From: Leadfingers
Date: 11 Apr 04 - 03:09 PM

It does sound like a good week but its a hell of a long walk from London UK , But have fun anyway.

Subject: RE: Kallet, Bok, etc. teaching at Meadowlark
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 11 Apr 04 - 06:14 PM

Of course, if I can find it necessary for my professional development as a music teacher...
What exactly will you teach re the Anglo concertina and voice, JWB??

Allison-whose-mental-wheels-are-turning....

Subject: RE: Kallet, Bok, etc. teaching at Meadowlark
From: kendall
Date: 11 Apr 04 - 10:46 PM

These two are dynamite.

Subject: RE: Kallet, Bok, etc. teaching at Meadowlark
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 05:56 AM

JWB, your link isn't working for me...
Allison

Subject: RE: Kallet, Bok, etc. teaching at Meadowlark
From: JWB
Date: 14 Apr 04 - 11:01 PM

Allison,

You know, I've tried the "make a blue clicky" gizmo and it just doesn't seem to like my type. Sorry 'bout that. You can find out about the camp at www.meadowlarkmusiccamp.org. If any of you technically savvy 'Catters can make the link work I'd be much obliged.

The class I teach is a Working with Guitar and Voice class, which focuses on arranging songs and working on different types of guitar accompaniment. As for concertina, I always do a one-day intro to the instrument, and if folks show up with squeezeboxes then I try to accommodate them and do more teaching.

Do you play Anglo? Lor' bless ya if you do.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Kallet, Bok, etc. teaching at Meadowlark
From: JWB
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 11:08 PM

I've gotten a number of inquiries if Meadowlark still has room for folks who haven't signed up yet. The happy news is "Yes we do!" If the link above doesn't work (I have no facility whatsoever at making blue clickies), then the old cuttenpaced will get you to the website, or you can PM me for info.

One of the best vacation deals around for the folk musician...

Jerry

Subject: RE: Kallet, Bok, etc. teaching at Meadowlark
From: karen k
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 12:57 AM

Jerry,
Sounds great. Have to look into this. Have looked at the website. Nice place. What kind of jobs are available? Any single cabins? Seems to lean heavily toward instrumentalists. Is there enough to do for those who are primarily singers?

karen

Subject: RE: Kallet, Bok, etc. teaching at Meadowlark
From: JWB
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 04:13 PM

Karen,

The single biggest "class" we have is the Folk Chorus, with 30 to 40 folks participating, usually (about half of the camp). Gordon Bok and Anne Dodson lead that session -- they focus on teaching the group some great choral music and warmups and harmonizing, etc. Then Gordon is doing a series of 1-on-1 sessions focused on singing -- he says he'll help folks bring the best out of their voices.

Cindy Kallet will lead a weeklong workshop on arranging songs, and she puts an emphasis on harmonies and vocal technique as well as instrumental work -- a cappella singers are welcome.

We usually have a sacred harp sing every afternoon, and a singaround each evening. There are usually one-day sessions for singers throughout the week, too; these are offered based on staff and camper interests. In the past we've had sessions of Broadway songs, a "chanteyblast", mouthmusic, rounds, badwdy songs, etc.

Peggy Lynn's songwriting class is popular with singers, of course -- no need to play an instrument to participate. The Working with Guitar and Voice class teaches songs and accompaniment techniques.

We've got a number of campers who are primarily singers, and they keep coming back. You can also use the week to try out an instrument, too...

There are several kitchen jobs available -- you work the same meal every day doing set up and clean up (total commitment maybe an hour a day). Cabins are semi-communal (two to four per), and there are local B&Bs we can recommend.

I like having a week where I can concentrate exclusively on music and let the rest of the world go by.

Be well,

Jerry