Bluegrass summer camp in Southwest Colorado
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CAMPING | CLASSES | REGISTRATION

Four Corners Kids Music Camp

Camp is full for 2012. If you'd like to be placed on a waiting list in the event of a cancellation, please send us an EMAIL.

General Information
Open to students ages 8-16. (Exceptions will be made for younger students who have attended a past bluegrass camp) This camp is an opportunity to explore traditional music in a supportive environment. Please speak with your children about behavior expectations while at camp. 

Tuition - $225 (capped at 49 students and WILL fill early)
Class sizes are limited and preferences are honored in order of registration. Your schedule, books, and other information will be given to you when you arrive at camp. Please be sure to arrive by 9:30 am on June 5 with your parent or guardian. Spaces will be filled on a first-come basis.

Folk West Kids Camp Meals
Students must bring their own sack lunch to camp each day. Snacks will be provided. Water bottles and recorded devices are welcome, but please leave electronic games at home. Students who are camping on Reservoir Hill may go back to their camp for lunch with parent permission.

Camping/Lodging
All students must be supervised in the campground by a parent or guardian before and after camp each day. This is not a “drop off” type camp. The campground is located within walking distance to downtown and there are 9 miles of hiking and biking trails right on Reservoir Hill to keep the rest of the family occupied during the days. Pets are not allowed on Reservoir Hill during the Bluegrass Camp or festival.

Pagosa Springs offers a variety of comfortable and reasonably priced lodging options -- from motel rooms to cozy cabins and luxury vacation homes.

Camp tuition includes one vehicle pass per family for Reservoir Hill access from 3:00 PM on Monday June 4, until 5:00 PM on Thursday, June 7. Each child may have UP TO two accompanying family members age 13 or over in camp; additional family members will be charged $25 to camp for the three days. No charge for siblings age 12 and under.

If you are not attending the festival or are attending but not camping on site, you must have your campsite and all vehicles off Reservoir Hill by 5:00 PM on Thursday, June 7.

Families who are staying to camp and already have their camping and vehicle passes will be allowed to stay on Reservoir Hill in their same spot on Thursday night. You may move to a different camp site after 11:00 AM on Friday, June 8.

Folk West Kids CampDaily Schedule - Subject to change
*Please plan to arrive for registration on the first day by 9:30 AM

10:00 AM Morning Activity
10:30 AM Block 1*
11:15 AM Snack Time
11:30 AM Block 2*
12:30 PM Lunch
1:00 PM Block 3*
2:00 PM Band
3:00 PM Afternoon Activity
3:30 PM Done for the Day!

Camp Concert - Subject to change
The end of camp concert will be held at 3:30 on Thursday, June 7.

Faculty
Instruction will be provided by highly qualified music teachers from the band Bearfoot, who have taught thousands of children across the U.S., Canada, and Ireland. Dominick Leslie (The Deadly Gentlemen) and Phoebe Hunt (formerly of The Belleville Outfit) will be returning to teach this year!

Parent Volunteers Needed
These music camps take a significant amount of time and effort to put on.  If you can help in any way, please check the box in the registration from indicating that you would like to volunteer.  Volunteer jobs include setting up snack, helping kids to classes, finding instruments, tuning instruments, helping with registration, and other camp jobs.

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Class Descriptions
subject to change

Students will be taking a different instrument class during each Block for a total of three instrument classes, plus a band class. Although your student will only be taking three classes, please indicate your top five choices in order of importance on the Registration Form. We will make every effort to give each student his or her top three choices for the three Blocks. If you have questions about what classes to sign up for, please email us at bluegrasscampsforkids@yahoo.com.

Please spend a few moments on your Registration Form in the "Additional Comments" section to tell us about your ability: How many years you have played, what your favorite song is, what song you are currently working on, other capabilities, and your goals for camp.

We highly recommend that students that sign up to be in an Intermediate or Advanced level class also sign up to be in a Jamming class. One of the great things about being able to play and learn music is to able to play songs with one another and our peers, and our Jamming classes encourage that growth in our more advanced students.

Folk West Kids Camp

Band

Everyone will be participating in a band class during the third block. This is a chance to work up a song with your peers to play during the camp concert. The class will be mostly students of your same age or level, and will include everything from stage presence, to singing and taking solos, to playing rhythm. Everyone is automatically put into a band, so you don’t need to worry about signing up for it; we will take care of putting you into a band.

Beginning Banjo

No prerequisite. Students must be ten or older due to the length of the banjo. This class is an introduction to the three-finger style of bluegrass banjo playing. Students will learn basic rolls, chords, and an easy banjo tune.

Click here to see a video of Steve Martin and Earl Scruggs on the David Letterman Show.

Intermediate Banjo

Students will begin to improve on rolls and increase their repertoire of rolls and chords used in bluegrass tunes. This class will teach how to read tab as well as teach students 3-4 basic bluegrass tunes on banjo.

Advanced Banjo

Students should be comfortable playing at least five chords and rolls on the banjo, as well as most of the basic bluegrass tunes, and also feel comfortable in beginning jam scenarios. Students will learn the nuances of the role of the banjo in bluegrass jams and bands and learn how to solo, as well as increase their song repertoire.

Beginning Bass

No prerequisite. Students will learn how a bass fits into a jam or band. They will learn 4-5 chords and how to back up a guitar on some simple singing songs.

Intermediate Bass

Students should have been taking lessons in orchestra or otherwise for at least 6 months. Students will learn chords to back up a guitar, as well as scales, patterns for following new chords, new songs, and how to “walk” bass lines.

Folk West Kids CampDance

No prerequisite. This is a chance for students to explore different types of traditional dances: square dancing, clogging, swing, waltzes, contra dances, and more! Students will learn basic moves of each dance, and the basics of calling a dance. Students will also explore how to write a square dance.

Beginning Fiddle

No prerequisite. This class is geared towards students who have no or very little background in playing fiddle or violin. Students will learn how to correctly hold and bow the instrument as well as a few basic fiddle tunes.

Click here to watch a video of Stuart Duncan playing Lee Highway Blues.

Intermediate Fiddle

Students should have been taking fiddle for one year or be in Suzuki Book 1, and/or know songs like Boil Em Cabbages, Buffalo Gals, Old Joe Clark, Cripple Creek, Angeline the Baker, or Camptown Races. In this class, students will work on becoming stronger players and learn a few basic fiddle tunes in first position.

Advanced Fiddle

Students should be in Suzuki Book 2 and/or be fairly comfortable playing basic fiddle tunes such as Over the Waterfall, Arkansas Traveler, Soldier’s Joy, etc. Students will increase their fiddle tune repertoire, and begin to learn how to put together a solo to singing songs.

Master Class - Fiddle

This class is geared towards students who already know most of the basic fiddle tunes, like Blackberry Blossom, Fisherman’s Hornpipe, Wheelhoss, Squirrel Hunter, etc. Students will learn the nuances of bluegrass fiddling, including bowing, tunes, fingerings, improvisation, backup, and other techniques.

Folk West Kids CampTwin Fiddle

Students must also be signed up for Intermediate or Advanced Fiddle. This class will teach students how to find and play harmony parts on the fiddle. Students will learn the lead and harmony part to a few different fiddle tunes.

Vocals

No prerequisite. Students will learn fun singing songs to sing with a group, a guitar, or by yourself.

Teen Vocals

Ages 12 and up. This class is geared for older students, who will work on harmonizing and the finer techniques of singing, while building their repertoire. You don’t need to have any singing experience to take this class.

Beginning Guitar

No prerequisite. Students will learn 4-5 basic guitar chords, how to strum with a pick, and a few basic bluegrass and folk songs.

Click here to see Skaggs and Rice.

Intermediate Guitar

This class is geared towards students that can play several chords comfortably and the boom strum rhythm. Students will begin to flatpick, along with strengthening their chord and rhythm knowledge.

Advanced Guitar

This class is for students who are comfortable with many chord changes: Most of the major chords, and a few minor and seven chords. Students will increase their chord and theory knowledge, as well as work on basic soloing and begin to learn how to improvise.

Master Class - Guitar

The Master Class for Guitar is for students who are very comfortable with their rhythm and chord changes and are ready to explore the nuances of how guitar fits into band and jam scenarios. Students will also continue working on creating a great solo and how to improvise.

Beginning Mandolin

No prerequisite. This class will teach students the basics of how to hold and play the mandolin. They will learn a few easy mandolin chords, some bluegrass tunes, and mandolin rhythm.

Click here to see Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder with the Del McCoury Band.

Intermediate Mandolin

Students should be quite comfortable playing 2 finger chords. They should also be able to play a few basic tunes like Boil Em Cabbages, Shortenin’ Bread, Old Joe Clark, Cripple Creek, or Angeline the Baker. Students will learn how to play closed finger chords, work on their rhythm, and lead on a few new fiddle/mandolin tunes.

Advanced Mandolin

Students should be comfortable with three or four finger chords, and should be able to jam on some easy tunes. Students should also be able to play lead on tunes such as Soldier’s Joy, Over the Waterfall, Fisherman’s Hornpipe, Arkansas Traveler, etc. Students will increase their tune repertoire, learn how to jam on some more difficult tunes, and be introduced to the Nashville Number System.

Master Class - Mandolin

Students should be very comfortable with all of the three or four major chords, and should know some minor chords, as well being comfortable playing more complicated tunes such as Blackberry Blossom, Opus 23, or Wheelhoss. Students will learn the nuances of how a mandolin fits into a jam or band, how to create a great solo, and how to backup a singer or lead player. Students will also begin to explore improvisation techniques and genres: Dawg, jazz, and blues.

Songwriting

This class is geared for our older and/or more experienced students. Students must at least be at an intermediate level in their instrument, or be 11 years old. This class will learn the art of to how to write songs, from instrumentation to lyrics.

Beginning Jamming

Students must be signed up for an Intermediate class in the instrument of their choice, or be an older student (ages 12 and up). Students must have a basic understanding of their instrument, and be able to play 1-2 tunes like Boil Em Cabbages, Old Joe Clark, Cripple Creek, Shortnin’ Bread, Buffalo Gals, Camptown Races, or similar songs OR be able to play 3-4 chords and rhythm. Students will learn how to jam with their peers by learning basic jamming tunes, the different elements of a jam, and jamming etiquette.

Intermediate Jamming

Students must be signed up for an Intermediate or Advanced class in the instrument of their choice, or be an older student (12 and up). Students must have a basic understanding of their instrument and be able to play 4-5 tunes like Soldier’s Joy, Arkansas Traveler, Turkey in the Straw, Over the Waterfall, Liberty, or similar songs OR be able to play the 5 major chords, and 2-3 seven chords and minor chords. Students will continue to increase their jam tune repertoire, and begin to take leads in singing songs. 

Advanced Jamming

Students must be signed up for an Advanced or Master class in the instrument of their choice, or be an older student (12 and up). Students will continue to learn how to create a successful jam with their peers - taking leads when appropriate, how to sing verses or choruses, and keeping background rhythms for the group. They will also delve into the different genres of acoustic music, and learn some traditional jamming tunes that are commonly played. 

Recording

Students must be signed up for an Intermediate level instrument class or higher, or be 12 or older. Using a condenser microphone, Garage Band, and a laptop, students will explore how to successfully record themselves and their peers while playing a song. Students will also learn how to mix their recording, how to get the best tone out of their instrument for recording, and how to arrange a song.

Emcee and Stage Managing

This class is not offered during the Blocks, but meets during some of the Morning and/or Afternoon activities with the Camp Director. This class is an opportunity to help the Director gather information for the camp program and concert, create a set-list of bands and classes performing, and as emcee (introduce bands and classes for the concert) and stage manage the concert (making sure bands are ready to go on stage, how many chairs they need, and send bands on stage at the appropriate time). You may sign up for this class, as well as three other classes, as this class will not be held during the Blocks

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Registration (closed)

Beginning at 7:00 AM on Thursday, December 1, you can click the button below to pay for registration.
Upon receipt of payment, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to the online registration form
where you will fill out information about your child and select your camp classes. If you are registering more
than one child, be sure to enter the correct quantity for online payment.

 

For additional information, please call 1-877-472-4672.