Bluegrass Kids Camp Summer music alternative camp
Four Corners Folk Festival Pagosa Folk 'n Bluegrass Festival Kids Bluegrass Sumer Camp
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CAMPING | CLASSES | REGISTRATION

Date

Registration opens Thursday, December 1, 2011 at 7:00 AM MST. Camp is limited to 49 students and will fill well in advance.

General Information
Open to students ages 8-17. (Exceptions will be made for 7-year-old 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. We also anticipate that Dominick Leslie and Phoebe Hunt will be returning to teach this year! Class sizes are limited to 7 students per instructor.

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 have the opportunity to take 3 classes during the camp.
You will list your top 5 choices in order of preference when you register.

BANJO
(age 10 & over due to instrument size)
Class will be offered if enough students sign up. Please indicate your child's level of experience with the banjo (i.e. non, novice, intermediate, advanced)


Folk West Kids CampBASS

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 and Advanced 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.


DANCE

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


FIDDLE

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.

Intermediate Fiddle. Students should have been taking fiddle for one year or be in Suzuki Book 1. In this class, students will work on becoming stronger players and learn a few basic fiddle tunes in first position.

Advanced Fiddle. Students should have been taking fiddle lessons for 2 years or be in Suzuki Book 3. Students will learn 2-3 fiddle tunes, some basics on how to improvise, different bowings, backup, and other techniques to bluegrass fiddling.

Twin Fiddle. Students must have been playing fiddle/violin for 2 years.  This class will teach students how to find and/or play harmony parts on the fiddle.  Students will learn the lead and harmony part to a few different fiddle tunes.


Folk West Kids CampGUITAR

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

Intermediate and Advanced Guitar. This class is geared towards students that can play several chords comfortably and the boom strum rhythm.  Students will learn to flat pick, along with strengthening their chord and rhythm knowledge.


MANDOLIN
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.

Intermediate and Advanced Mandolin. Students should be quite comfortable playing 2 finger chords.  They should also be able to play a few basic tunes. Students will learn how to play closed finger chords, work on their rhythm, and lead on a few new bluegrass songs.


VOCALS
Beginning Vocals. No prerequisite. Students will learn fun songs to sing with a group, a guitar, or alone.  They will also learn warm-up exercises and a basic bluegrass repertoire of tunes.

Advanced Vocals (12 & older) – This class is based around solos, harmonies and specific vocal techniques. Students will talk about the importance of lyrics, touch on how to harmonize, and take solos as well as work on increasing their bluegrass repertoire.


Folk West Kids CampSONGWRITING
(12 & older)

No prerequisite. Students will learn the basics of songwriting, from instrumentation to lyrics.


JAMMING
Intermediate Jamming. No prerequisite. Younger students will learn how to play simple tunes as part of an ensemble.

Advanced Jamming. Students should be proficient on at least one instrument. Students will learn how to jam with others - taking leads when appropriate and keeping background rhythms for the group. They will also learn a selection of bluegrass standards typically played during jam sessions.

 

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Registration

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.