What I got out of folk camp - LONG
May 28, 2015 17:55:16 GMT
ocarolan, scorpiodog, and 5 more like this
Post by creamburmese on May 28, 2015 17:55:16 GMT
Just this last long-weekend I went to the third folk camp organized by the same group. I've been to longer camps, but I'm a total convert to these 2 and a half day camps consisting of a mix of workshops, performances and general hanging out and playing. But this time I took with me a friend of mine going to her first camp, and some of the comments she made reminded me how my expectations and enjoyment of the camp have changed since my first camp. So for anyone who has yet to experience these camps, here are my thoughts (FWIW).
When I went to my first camp, I perused the brochure obsessively - what new skills could I learn? would I miss anything important? Should it be bossa nova or traditional old-time I would add to my repertoire (OK, even then I really knew it was wishful thinking). I was determined to get everything possible out of each workshop, even if lack of sleep due to midnight jamming or a sleepless night meant that I was only semiconscious for the workshop. I thought it due to perhaps a lack of puritan ethics that people were a) sleeping b) hanging out and talking or c) other (fill in your own vice here), when they could have been learning "something useful"
As a result for my first camp I stuck to my schedule, and you know what? I can't remember if I learned anything new. I know it was generally enjoyable and I certainly met some nice people, but as for learning new skills? hmmm. By the second camp I was inclined to be a bit more flexible. I pared down the schedule a bit to allow for rest and recuperation, and when one class was full, just took another to see what was on offer. But I still hadn't truly learned how best to enjoy the camp - for instance I decided that sleep was more important than late night jamming because I was determined to get up early and work on some stuff .... you get the picture. And looking back, the main thing I took away from that camp was the info I learned in the "look see" class I hadn't intended to take.
So in the last couple of camps I've taken - here's been my attitude - which has significantly added to my enjoyment and what I get out of the camp!
1) you don't have to go to everything
2) I've had the most fun in just going and trying out something entirely outside my comfort zone - eg "try a fiddle/banjo/ukulele"
3) What I bring away from a camp is rarely what I expected to learn, so I don't have expectations other than to have a good time away from the usual hassles and try something new
4) The published "level" of the class rarely affects how much I enjoy the class - I've got something out of both beginner and advanced classes (even though I now have graduated to a begintermediate in my own mind!). I would point out that there are some guitar camps where they might frown on people of my level hanging out in an advanced class, but I think that's their problem
5) The experience and aptitude of the teacher at teaching rarely correlates with their skill as a performer. There are some who do both brilliantly, but if given a choice for a workshop I would always pick the excellent teacher over the big name musician. Can be helpful to talk to fellow camp participants to find out the good teachers ...
6) Because of my "begintermediate" level of playing, I rarely bring away any actual new skills from a camp. Instead I get inspired to look into and learn about something further. For instance, I bought a ukulele last year solely on the basis of a "try a uke" class, and I think I've convinced my classical guitar teacher to use it in an underserved elementary school as an "entry' instrument (hopefully leading more kids to get involved and eventually learn guitar). I took 2 semesters of music theory at a music school after taking a series of theory classes at camp - I just wish the theory teacher has been as good as the one in camp! And just the latest - I'm busy learning a Hawaiian Slack Key guitar piece based on a class I took last weekend. Too cool even if my guitar is cursing at me for tuning the E string down to C!!!
When I went to my first camp, I perused the brochure obsessively - what new skills could I learn? would I miss anything important? Should it be bossa nova or traditional old-time I would add to my repertoire (OK, even then I really knew it was wishful thinking). I was determined to get everything possible out of each workshop, even if lack of sleep due to midnight jamming or a sleepless night meant that I was only semiconscious for the workshop. I thought it due to perhaps a lack of puritan ethics that people were a) sleeping b) hanging out and talking or c) other (fill in your own vice here), when they could have been learning "something useful"
As a result for my first camp I stuck to my schedule, and you know what? I can't remember if I learned anything new. I know it was generally enjoyable and I certainly met some nice people, but as for learning new skills? hmmm. By the second camp I was inclined to be a bit more flexible. I pared down the schedule a bit to allow for rest and recuperation, and when one class was full, just took another to see what was on offer. But I still hadn't truly learned how best to enjoy the camp - for instance I decided that sleep was more important than late night jamming because I was determined to get up early and work on some stuff .... you get the picture. And looking back, the main thing I took away from that camp was the info I learned in the "look see" class I hadn't intended to take.
So in the last couple of camps I've taken - here's been my attitude - which has significantly added to my enjoyment and what I get out of the camp!
1) you don't have to go to everything
2) I've had the most fun in just going and trying out something entirely outside my comfort zone - eg "try a fiddle/banjo/ukulele"
3) What I bring away from a camp is rarely what I expected to learn, so I don't have expectations other than to have a good time away from the usual hassles and try something new
4) The published "level" of the class rarely affects how much I enjoy the class - I've got something out of both beginner and advanced classes (even though I now have graduated to a begintermediate in my own mind!). I would point out that there are some guitar camps where they might frown on people of my level hanging out in an advanced class, but I think that's their problem
5) The experience and aptitude of the teacher at teaching rarely correlates with their skill as a performer. There are some who do both brilliantly, but if given a choice for a workshop I would always pick the excellent teacher over the big name musician. Can be helpful to talk to fellow camp participants to find out the good teachers ...
6) Because of my "begintermediate" level of playing, I rarely bring away any actual new skills from a camp. Instead I get inspired to look into and learn about something further. For instance, I bought a ukulele last year solely on the basis of a "try a uke" class, and I think I've convinced my classical guitar teacher to use it in an underserved elementary school as an "entry' instrument (hopefully leading more kids to get involved and eventually learn guitar). I took 2 semesters of music theory at a music school after taking a series of theory classes at camp - I just wish the theory teacher has been as good as the one in camp! And just the latest - I'm busy learning a Hawaiian Slack Key guitar piece based on a class I took last weekend. Too cool even if my guitar is cursing at me for tuning the E string down to C!!!
Jo whoever he is.
