Clawcamp East
What: Clawcamp is an intensive skills building workshop for clawhammer banjo players.
When: This year, Clawcamp East is set for July 30 - August 1, 2010.
Where: Clawcamp East 2010 will be held at Jorma Kaukonen's Fur Peace Ranch in the Appalachian Countryside in beautiful, historic Miegs County, Ohio.
Download a registration form (PDF)
While many other camps feature a large number of classes and instructors,
Clawcamp East will have just two of the best and most well known teachers in the
country—Dan Levenson and Bob Carlin— and our tireless a coach – The Lovely Miss
Jennifer (she's seen it ALL) – to help you along and give you another
perspective as well as some more direct one on one attention.
During the weekend, we work on all aspects of clawhammer banjo playing according to level and interests of students including both right and left hand styles, double thumb, drop thumb, rolls (often mistakenly called "the Galax Lick"), the "chuck," tuning, timing, hammers, pulls, and WHY and where you would choose to use them. We will also deal with topics such as playing position, ergonomics of motion (how not to get HURT in the process of having a good time!) and how to play with others. There will be an intensive "listening" session and other sessions can include a session on writing tab and one on performance techniques.
- Actual topics and levels will be dependent on capabilities and desires of attendees.
- You will have at least one formal one on one session with your teacher and one group tutorial with your skills teacher.
- There is a 30 person limit in order to provide a true hands on learning experience!
What does a weekend clawcamp look like?
Here is the tentative schedule.
Friday:
Arrival starting at 2 PM gives you time to get here, get comfortable, pick a cabin and settle in if camping or staying on the grounds.Informal afternoon of settling in, visiting, perhaps a walk, some light jamming and just plain getting acclimated.
Clawcamp officially begins with supper at 5 on Friday provided in the camp kitchen and cooked by the Fur Peace chef.
After supper, the evening kicks it up as you are invited to be a part of a demonstration concert. It is a chance for you to show off a bit and so will Bob, Miss Jennifer and I. This is also where we will start to get an idea of your playing ability. We will be dividing you up into two groups based upon your requests and keeping a class size balance.
Saturday:
- Saturday AM: Here we go! We'll have an early bit of coffee and wake-up with a traditional breakfast at 8. I know it seems early, but that country air will get you going and we want you to get as much as you can in the time you are with us.
- Session 1 (9:00 - 10:45): Skills 1. This session will emphasize basic skills. THIS time we'll will be paying attention closely as you will get out your banjos and one by each, play a tune or two.You will start setting your goals for the weekend and I will be helping you do just that. These will be more than the usual, “I just want to play better.” Believe me, when the weekend is over, you will.This session can take a lot out of most of you so don’t worry, we be honest but kind!
- Session 2 (11:00-Noon): It's teacher "show and tell" time. Many of you have asked us to talk about festivals, jamming, learning and performing, who we have played with, met, learned from as well as demo a tune or two according to your requests. SO, that is what this hour will be. Each of us will have one of these sessions with you as a large group. It should be pretty informal and entertaining, and I'm sure we'll all say things we'll deny later!
- Lunch (around Noon - 2): We'll all eat together and talk about the day so far and generally unwind from the busy morning.
- Session 3 (2:00 - 3:45): Skills 2. Tunality: First a quick review of the am, questions and answers then we’ll start putting our basics to work through a tune or two. Tunes are important as vehicles of learning as well as for the sake of the tune itself. Let's relate the two and get you improving while learning to play a new tune or play one you know better.
- Session 4 (4:00 - 5:00): Same as session 2, but with the other primary instructor.
- Supper will be around 5:30 so you have a bit of time for class to run over or just chill a moment before eating.
- Saturday evening: At this writing, it is looking like we will start the evenings jamming around 7 PM. You have probably heard enough of us by now, but we'll be around to play some and just to visit. The evening is also your time to work on the day’s information, unwind, listen and perhaps jam some. We will be quite close to Athens, Ohio which has a very strong old time music community, so we plan to invite the locals to join us for jamming after the concert concludes.
Sunday:
- Sunday AM: Here we go again! We'll have an early bit of coffee and wake-up with a traditional breakfast at 8ish as we get ready for the new day.
- Session 1 (9:00 - 10:45): Skills 3. Musicality: How do you figure out a tune and how do you make tunes you know more your own without writing a new tune? What part comes from tab and why doesn't it sound like we heard it on "x's" recording? What's right? We’ll work on this as well as more of the advanced techniques and things we might have missed yesterday and continue by finding a new tune or two to work on for the rest of the day.
- Session 2 (11:00-Noon): It's Miss Jennifer's turn for "show and tell" time. Jennifer came to her first clawcamp in 2000 only a couple of months after starting the banjo - again! After several false starts over the years, she has become a fine clawhammer banjo player and she has been through it all. Yall have said we don't get to hear her much (and that Dan never lets her talk) so here's her chance to speak out, play a bit and talk with you while Dan is somewhere else! Bob too. We'll probably be finishing up 1 on 1's or perhaps we'll be getting a nap!
- Lunch (around Noon - 1:00): A short lunch session as we want to get one more session in this afternoon before you go.
- Session 2 (1:00-2:00ish): You'll have a choice to make here.
- 2A - Bob Carlin — Tunes of John Hartford: Want to ask those questions about John or playing with him, learn a tune, discuss history? This is the spot. Interested students will define this class by interest and ability.
- 2B - Dan Levenson —Tab writing as a self analytical tool: Wondered how those little numbers get ON the paper for you to read? Dismiss tab (or written music) as just another crutch? Ever wonder how it could help YOU develop your playing? Start looking at what you are really playing and learn how what you see is (almost) never what you get.
- Closing down: Seems the hardest part of camp is often then ending of it. But, yes, the "formal" workshop ends around 2 on Sunday. This is a loose ending time as we know some will want to get on the road earlier, others will linger to supper and perhaps the next day to see the area or take a formal private lesson or two. We'll hang at the camp to visit and perhaps play a few more tunes together but will have to say "Play nice" before supper time. So, hang a bit, shop some more but it's time to wrap up and head down the road to start planning for next year!
Cost of Clawcamp East
(Includes all meals and cabin or camping space)
Cabins have 2 single beds each with air conditioning and heat. We can only accommodate 30 in cabins so please register as soon as possible. All camping is dry camping though though there is level RV parking with some limited 120 electric
- Deposit received before January 1, 2010—$525
- Deposit received after January 1, 2010—$575
- Full payment must accompany any registrations after July 1, 2010.
- Returning Clawcamp Students please contact me for special rates.
- Spouses and partners—$200 charge
- Cabin space is reserved first come first serve
Non-refundable Deposit of $200 is required and is due by:
- January 1 for the early registration discount
- June 1 for regular registration
- Late registrations will be accepted on a space available basis
Fees and Policies
VISA AND MASTERCARD ACCEPTED
Make your payment online
Register before June 1 and receive a special web introduction price!
Please also download and send this registration form (PDF)
