Fiddle Camps

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Beginning and Novice Fiddlers

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I am going to try and post things that have helped me along the way and I hope others do the same.

158 Members, Created 7/1/2011 -

Administrators: brya31 (owner)

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From Diane G on 3/27/2013 12:50:12 PM

Hi Fiddlers. I want to encourage all beginning and novices to try and attend a fiddle camp this Summer. Camps are a great way to learn and experience first hand the genre that your learning or want to. Most camps have very beginning fiddle instruction, jams and informal groups that can play and learn from each other. I know what your thinking...."I don't have the money". But this is not an expensive deal when you think of a week immersed in your favorite pastime. Most camps are around $850 and that pays for everything except the drive or fly. The two that I highly recommend are: Jay Ungar's Ashokan Fiddle and Dance camps in the Catskill Mts about 2 hours north of NYC. I go to Southern Week from San Diego, Ca. to NY. the other one is the Swananoa Gathering in Asheville, NC. This is an awesome camp with many different weeks...Fiddle Week, Old-Time Week and even Celtic Week...this is on the campus of Warren-Wilson College.

You can also check out a good website called: FestivalTrek.com for camps all over the Us and World. See you at camp.

Diane in SoCal.

6 Comments
	fiddlerd says: 3/27/2013 1:15:26 PM I thought about a camp this spring/summer. They have several here in central Texas. It's cheaper than what you posted and within driving distance from my house. The one near me is for four days and includes meals and housing(bunk style). I think I want to get a little more fiddiling under my belt before I attend a camp. I'm getting close and I think next year is the year I will attend.
	Diane G says: 3/27/2013 1:30:50 PM What camp are you thinking about near you in Texas. Did you look on their website for the skill level your at...what is that skill level. I think far too many musicians think as you do...I will wait until the next year.....when I have a little more fiddlin under my belt...why wait. If the camp offers your skill level then going to camp with good teachers is a gold mine of discovery. You connect with all sort of fiddlers and the experience you gain...both the friendships, the instruction, the jams and the whole camp experience will put you much further along than just "another year of fiddling" in MHO. :>) I went to my first camp 9 years ago as a beginner and what I learned in that one week set me up for life and my music. Go to camp...it's one of the best experiences you will have as a musician and I can promise you a wonderful experience. Diane in SoCal
	fiddlerd says: 3/27/2013 6:03:14 PM Diane, it's the Live Oak Fiddle Camp. I checked and it's for advanced fiddlers. I need to find a camp that has classes for intermediate fiddlers. If I can find one within reasonable driving distance I might just sign up.
	paulinefiddle says: 3/27/2013 6:40:40 PM I strongly agree with Diana's blog and her response to fiddlerd. I've been to Swannanoa, and it was fantastic. I believe that Meadowlark Camp in Maine has a series of classes called "Fiddle from Scratch." This camp or another wil suit you at your level of playing. For those who like Scottish fiddle music, I strongly recommend Boston Harbor Scottish Fiddle Camp. I went there two summers ago. It was a great experience. They had many classes for different levels of performance.
	Diane G says: 3/27/2013 7:01:06 PM You might look at Randy Elmore's website...he's a Texas fiddler and I understand from some fiddlers that I met last July in Austin, that is came is for all levels. Heck, your an intermediate fiddler...go to camp and get blown away. If you fly into Asheville the camp will come and pick you up at the airport...so you don't even need a car...check them out. I went to that camp for 10 years before finding Ashokan Fiddle and Dance camp ..this will be my 8th year at Southern Week. Check out FestivalTrek.com for more options in your area or go to Fiddlers Mag. website for some camps and locations as well. Diane
	Janie Rothfield says: 12/10/2013 1:24:47 PM Check out my new camp Janie's Jumpstart Weekend Music Camps! janiesjumpstart.com. I am putting together a Novice level camp for fiddlers in 2014-location TBD! Contact me if you are interested in hearing more.
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