Never touched a guitar before? Learned three chords twenty years ago but can’t remember them now? I got you.

Ready to put down that flatpick and try something new? We’ll start from scratch, getting your fingers working independently in basic patterns. Fingerstyle applies to just about every genre; we’ll explore a few in this class.

We’ll dig into accompaniment techniques for Celtic tunes such as jigs, reels, and strathspeys. Focusing on right-hand rhythm, bass motion, harmony in the upper voices, and arranging interesting parts for backing tunes played several times in a row. The instructor will switch to playing fiddle at times, giving students real-time opportunities to experience the sympathetic blend of melody and back-up guitar. This deep dive into nuanced Celtic rhythms will stay in EADGBE (standard) tunings, so if you prefer to only play in alternative tunings such as DADGAD, you’ll be on your own to manage chord shapes. All participants should bring flatpicks and a capo to this class.

In this class, we will learn tunes that serve as a good “workout” for various techniques commonly used in the Celtic genre such as triplets, rolls, cross strings, etc. You will be learning by ear and paying closer attention to nuances in playing the tunes, as opposed to getting through as much repertoire as possible.

In this class we will explore slide guitar for open D and G tunings, with emphasis on tone and technique, and strategies for creating slide ideas based on time-honored songs from artists such as Mississippi Fred McDowell and Tampa Red. Students will learn how to use the slide to add expression to their playing, making even the simplest lines sound musical. Mike will teach fretted chord forms, turnarounds, and crisp right-hand techniques, as well as a tune or two from his own original repertoire to demonstrate ways to create arrangements. Students will leave with a toolbox full of techniques.

Starting with a good rhythmic foundation, we’ll learn the ingredients for creating your own swinging guitar breaks. It all starts with the melody and being able to decorate it with syncopation, riffs, and arpeggios. We’ll use the blues song structure as a starting point and then explore common swing tunes like Sweet Georgia Brown, Lady Be Good, etc. Students should be familiar with playing basic swing guitar rhythm. Lots of playing in class as we combine forces to become our own swing guitar ensemble. Handouts provided and audio recorders recommended.

Get started on the mandolin! Learn to play the music you love with beautiful tone, rhythm, and articulation on this portable and versatile instrument. It’s set up perfectly for playing melodies, so we’ll learn some sweet ones, and explore some harmonic ideas around them. Special focus will be given to basic positioning, getting each player set up optimally to progress, and solid left- and right-hand techniques that will pave the way for a long and happy future with your mandolin!

This will be a repertoire class and then some! We’ll learn Irish tunes in a few seisiún-ready sets (clusters of tunes) so you’ll have them in your pocket the next time someone asks you to start a tune. We’ll talk about Irish music sensibilities and musicality, and work on getting the lift of the music into your playing. We’ll talk about how to enjoy and get the most out of playing in seisiúns, the natural habitat of Irish music. Recordings and notation of the tunes we’ll be working with are available here, so you can give the tunes a good listen and get them lodged in your head. Open to all instruments!

This class is for people who want to start playing improvised solos on their instruments (including their vocal cords!). Using an easy to grasp ear-based approach, we’ll work on reinterpreting simple melodies, finding solo notes within caged chords (C, A, G, E & D), and applying the magical pentatonic (5 note) scale to almost any style of music. All instruments and vocalists are welcome.

Working from an assortment of pop, rock, jazz, country, and similar styles, we’ll arrange and perform songs on the spot each day. To make things interesting we’ll mix styles, rhythmic figures, and overall feel to interpret songs differently from their original versions. This class will involve singing and playing, and is open to all instruments and vocalists.

Come make a joyful noise as we learn the vocal harmony parts to some of the most beloved classic rock and pop songs! In this vocal class you can learn from provided written notation, by ear, or both. All levels are welcome but some prior singing experience is recommended.

Learn to play and sing some of the best Motown and Rhythm & Blues classics. Improve your rhythm and lead chops while getting a vocal workout as well! We’ll focus on the elements that make these songs great: groove, chord progressions, timeless riffs, stylistic vocal technique, and some harmony singing. Notation and tab provided.

This party-repertory class will focus on guitar-driven rock songs featuring jangly riffs in the tradition of Roger McGuinn, Tom Petty, Peter Buck (R.E.M.), and Neil Finn (Crowded House), among others. We’ll learn some iconic intros and fills, and have a large time playing lots of great songs with cool changes, simple lead parts, and nice harmonies. All instruments are welcome and 12-string guitars are particularly encouraged. Basic flatpicking skills would be helpful but we’ll accommodate other approaches too.

In this melody-oriented ensemble class, we’ll take a musical jaunt around Europe, some Celtic countries, and points south. These fun and relatively easy tunes work well on the guitar, mandolin, and other instruments. The gorgeous melodies dwell in both familiar and odd meters; we’ll take on a tune in 7/8 time signature, for example. Basic familiarity with picking out scales and arpeggios would be ideal, but it’s an adaptable format with an emphasis on playing together in a group.

Beyond percussion, Body Music includes melody and harmony—all made by our human instrument. Clap, step, and sing to incorporate music into your whole body. Physically understanding rhythms that underlie the music makes a super fun and accessible body and mind experience. The work stimulates the brain and allows you to enjoy and understand music and rhythm in new, physical ways. No prior experience needed.

What is that rhythmic “whomp” that makes clawhammer banjo so funky? This distinctive style marries melody, harmony, and rhythm to add spice to songs and tunes. Emphasizing ear training and skills for jamming in any style, we’ll look at tuning, rhythmic patterns, and exploring the fretboard. Students should have the basic bum-diddy down and basic familiarity with both G and double C tunings.

Whether you’ve never taken the plunge to try writing a song or you’re a seasoned but idea-stumped songwriter, we’ll use excercises and games to kickstart your creative mind. Using various launchpads we’ll focus separately on music and lyrics, first engaging the muse and then (when it’s time) welcoming our internal editors to the table. There will be time for in-class writing and opportunities to share your “baby songs” in a safe space. Bring a spiral notebook, pens, and your instrument.

Whether you’re a first-time camper or it’s not your first rodeo, you might like some help figuring out which classes to take. Need some tips about how to feel more comfortable onstage? Having trouble finding some folks to play music with? Stuck for a rhyming word? Let’s bounce some ideas around. Every 4 pm workshop period there will be also be a slow jam that will be a good fit for both beginners and for people who want hone new skills in a group setting.

A week chock full of country music’s finest classics, complete with runs and easy fills. We’ll also cover some flatpick basics for anyone who needs it, but this class will also work for fingerstyle players just as well.

Starting with a song’s anatomy, we’ll explore accents and dynamics, rest strokes, moving bass lines, the use of pedal basses, and rhythmic variations for both fingerstyle and hybrid flatpick accompaniment that will help deliver any song in a way that best supports the singer plus any accompanying musicians. Great for songwriters and anyone who wants to strengthen their song accompaniment skills on the guitar.

Let’s look at how to make the guitar really sing, screech, and howl. Often we focus on the left hand and forget completely about the right hand, so we play all the right notes but they don’t sound great. We’ll learn different pieces with the focus on how the notes sound using lots of different right-hand techniques.

This is a vocal repertoire class. We will start every class with a gentle vocal warmup and then launch into learning some great swing songs. We’ll learn about 15 songs throughout the week and talk about vocal styling and ways to excite your tone. And we’ll do a bit of harmony singing on a few swing songs as well. All of this will culminate in the incredibly fun swing dance!

While the fiddle is a master of melody, fiddlers might feel stuck in a soloistic box. We’ll dig into other roles the fiddle can play when it’s not our time to shine. While developing our tone and clarity, we’ll learn how to chop, chord, fill, pluck, and use a variety of techniques to keep our playing fresh and grow our comping toolkit. Folk and Americana songs will be our launchpad for our rhythmic and improvisational journey.

Mix it up and explore the magic of playing a variety of contemporary and trad songs in the Americana genre. We’ll have a daily band scramble, brainstorming in teams to arrange and spice up songs with solos and harmonies. Then we’ll take it for a test drive to see how well the songs shine. The repertoire will be easy to learn and all instruments and vocalists are welcome to join in the fun!

This class is for cajón players (and cajón owners) and for people who want to improve their rhythm in general. There are many kinds of cajóns in the world; the popular sit-on-top style of cajón comes originally from Peru, via Spain and its flamenco music. The cajón is used in many different ways and is very popular as a substitute for the drum set. Bring your cajón and we’ll learn some traditional uses (and some not-so-traditional ones) of the cajón while developing a better sense of rhythm.

In this class we will learn about the mysterious category of auxiliary percussion. From the shaker to the cow bell, to guiros, claves, caxixi, and agogo, to gongs, quijadas, and vibra-slaps, we’ll have lots of fun learning how to shake it, rattle it, and roll it using some inventive percussion ensemble pieces by your instructor. We will also learn some good rules of thumb for playing percussion, and how to play with other instrumentalists. You are guaranteed to build your rhythmic sense and ability. Many instruments will be provided or bring your own. All levels welcome!

For those who are just starting, want a refresher course, or are just curious about the magic of playing the bass! Open to all instrumentalists, this class is a great starter for understanding and learning more about simple bass fundamentals, such as how to get a good tone, simple hand positions to get you going, and how to create good smooth bass lines, including blues bass lines. We will move toward “playing in the pocket” in a few different styles and tricks that make a solid bassist.

This intermediate to advanced bass class is for players who want to dive deep into the techniques, rhythms, and grooves that shape various jazz styles, with a focus on the blues genre. We’ll concentrate on mastering blues bass lines, walking bass patterns, and improvisation. In addition to learning classic blues tunes, you’ll develop your skills in reading standards, deciphering chords, and analyzing chord progressions in order to create smooth and supportive bass lines. So yes, there will be a dose of music theory involved!

Just pulling the ukulele from its case signals joy and playfulness—but nothing’s wrong with having the blues now and then. Whether you’re starting out on the ukulele or exploring musical genres, playing the blues can fuel songwriting and make musical connections. We’ll break out of our everyday strumming patterns to discover fun shuffles, rhymic variances, and syncopations. Some will learn how to accompany soloists while others dive into scales. Learn some tips and tricks for creating solos. This class will allow ukulele players to harness the power of the blues and join the jam session!

Are you feeling like there’s something more to the ukulele than just strumming and singing? You’re right—it‘s time to take a solo! Both soloing newbies and confidential soloists are invited to try soloing, and learn some new chord shapes and strum patterns along the way. We’ll connect our work on scales to the social art of jamming with some fun and well-known pop, rock, and reggae tunes.

Singing powerfully is half technique and half spiritual/emotional. This class will focus on both sides of that coin to unlock a louder, clearer, freer, more dynamic and compelling sound for all. We will explore these possibilities through a mixture of modern pop vocal techniques, key exercises, and mini lessons in front of the class for those who volunteer. We will also touch on some deeper and extended techniques such as mix voice, light distortion, yodeling, and overtone singing. While the work will extend well beyond camp, this class will give you the proof and the tools you need to shift your own vocal power into high gear.

There are myriad ways to write songs; in this class we’ll explore the fairly narrow road of hit songwriting. The “instant classic” feels like it could have been written in Tin Pan Alley, the Brill Building, or Nashville’s Music Row. This is a class for folks who have written several songs on their own but want to know how to go from writing good songs to writing the kind of songs that connect to a wide audience with a clear and catchy message. Bring your ideas, great titles, hooks, and concepts and by the end of the week, most will have written their personal hit song.

This class will focus on getting some of the standard swing chords under our fingers, learning rhythm techniques, and delving into some basic lead playing. We’ll apply all this to some great swing tunes that use common chord progressions. Most important, we’ll zero in on the groove, because as we all know, “It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing.”

An in-depth look at arranging jazz and pop standards for solo fingerstyle guitar (hybrid pickers welcome). We’ll explore techniques that bring out the orchestral possibilities of solo guitar, with an emphasis on independence between melody, bass, and chords, all while being focused on the most important thing: Groove!