Only TWO SPOTS Left for Summer Fiddle Camp!

Summer Fiddle Camp is back! After how well last year's camp went, and in anticipation of this winter event, I thought I would announce this year's summer camp early so everyone has time to plan for it. It will be all weekend-long, August 31th and Sept 1st 2013. Join me and a handful of other beginners for two days of the farm, campfire, and fiddles. All you need to start your musical journey is a few basic supplies. I'll even supply the fiddle!

For those with raised eyebrows but skeptic of their own talents - this is a camp for people with absolutely no experience. Folks who never held a violin, can't read music, think they are hopeless cases but still really want to learn. All you need to do is sign up and I'll take it from there. The fee for the weekend will also include an entire beginner fiddle package. Everyone who signs up will get a quality student fiddle, case, and bow with rosin to boot. The only requirements for supplies on your end is to purchase the book "Old Time Fiddle for the Complete Ignoramus" by Wayne Erbsen, a standard electric guitar tuner, and a spare set of violin strings. We'll be learning by feel, by ear, and by a system of music notation called tablature. This means you won't need how to read notes to play, just be able to read words and count to 4.

The weekend will start off with an early morning introduction, how to string, tune, and hold your fiddle and bow. We'll then go into the basic bowing motion and finger positioning on the D-scale. We'll break for lunch and then spend the afternoon learning your first tune, Ida Red. There will be plenty of time for practice, too. Find a place in the pasture with Sal to work out your D-scale. Stand up and play a few notes at the horse gate for Merlin. See if you can balance a chicken on your bow while you drone? (I'm kidding about that last part). Saturday night will include a campfire with live music, laughter, and stories. I'll have local musicians and friends come and you are welcome to bring your own guitar, banjo, or whatever else you'd like to play.

This Comment was recently posted and I am thrilled to share it:

For those wondering ... I have NO MUSICAL TALENT, well, at least that's what I thought; until I attended Jenna's first fiddle camp. I fell in love with the Devil Stick and am now playing songs I never imagined I could tackle. (Check out Jay and Molly on YouTube; I've mastered a few of their tunes) So, if you are on the fence, sign up ...I promise you won't regret it! And the fiddle that is included in your package - it's a pretty damn decent fiddle, too!

-Chautauqua

Sunday is a day dedicated to learning more songs, droning and shuffling techniques, and plenty of practice time between one-on-one sessions. Enjoy the farm in its late-summer splendor, taking in the sounds and sights of the animals and gardens. There will be a forest tent site behind the barn. Your alarm clock will be my rooster choir. I can also suggest local Inns and hotels for folks not interested in roughing it with port-potties and possible rainfall.

I personally guarantee that anyone who signs up and WANTS to play will leave my farm a fiddler. This is not a hard instrument, and the building blocks you'll find here will be all you need to go home and learn every single song in Wayne's book. This would be a great gift, couples weekend, or graduation present.

WORKSHOP RUNDOWN
Fiddle Camp is a full Saturday and Sunday, 9AM - 4PM
Each workshopper gets a student fiddle package
Each student gets a CAF fiddle Camp T-shirt!
Camping on the farm is an option (it will be August)
Cost will be $350 or $200 (sans fiddle) a person.
Limited to 15 people or 8 couples.
Only 2 Spots Left! FIRST COME FIRST SERVED!