Mornings are devoted to workshops in fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin, bass and
songs. The intended focus of these morning sessions is on the
individual faculty member’s regional and personal style and repertoire.
All faculty members will give four morning workshops during the week,
and the nature of these workshops will vary according to their personal
preferences. While some of the faculty will be experienced teachers,
some will not. In general, the emphasis will be on the participant’s
learning in the tradition of close observation and listening,
followed by industrious, personal experimentation. Some tutors will
give morning workshops in subjects of their choosing.
Afternoons are focused on the band labs in which participants join the faculty
members of their choice to form ensembles and learn tunes as close to
the styles of their faculty leaders as possible. These bands play for
dancers on Friday night and for the climactic band concert on Saturday
morning. The second afternoon period presents the tutors in “office
hours” where they can trouble-shoot and answer questions uncovered in
the band labs, as well as imparting instruction in instrumental
technique. Tutors are chosen to be very responsive to the needs of the
individual participants. The last afternoon hour is devoted to dance
workshops and the popular do-it-yourself or “wild card” workshops.
Evenings feature intimate, unamplified showcase concerts in the Joseph F.
Wheeler Theater, including the vastly entertaining Participants’
Concert on Thursday night. Splendid social dancing takes place in two
dance halls, and a limited number of master jams are hosted
in the Schoolhouse. All of this is stirred up with a full-load of
night-long jamming and impromptu parties.
Typical Schedule
First Sunday
- 3:30-5:30 check-in
- 7:30 welcome session
Monday- Friday
- 9:30 am workshop
- 11:00 am workshop
- 2:00pm band labs
- 3:30pm tutorials
- 4:30pm dance & wildcard workshops
- 7:00pm showcase concerts
- 9:30pm dancing & jamming
Meals
- Breakfast 8:30
- Lunch 12:30
- Dinner 5:30
Last Sunday
Check out by 11am
