A Magical Journey to Summer Music Camps

Article Tools

Image Gallery

Print

E-mail

Comments

RSS

Whew! And if that's not enough, the Swannanoa School will culminate in the Black Mountain Spring Festival, May 17 to 19, which will feature concerts by all members of the teaching staff! Admission to the threeday spring festival, including two nights' camping or bunkhouse lodging, is $25 in advance. Tuition for the Swannanoa School is $235 (including room, board, and admission to the festival) plus an additional $20 each for workshops conducted by Jethro Burns and Johnnie Gimble. To find out more about the school and festival, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Grey Eagle & friends, P.O. Box 216, Black Mountain, NC 28711, or call 704/669-2456.

OK, everybody. We've all had a chance to stretch our legs and take a glimpse at Camp Rockmont. No more dilly-dallying! It's time to get back in the bus!

Whew, these mountain roads are twisty devils! Before long, though, we find ourselves down in the southwest corner of North Carolina, almost on the Georgia border and not far from Tennessee. We're at the John C. Campbell Folk School, which was founded in 1925 and has a long, proud tradition of preserving native Appalachian arts, crafts, music, and dance. Unlike many camps that operate only in the summer, the folk school runs all year long. Among the many workshops is Folk Music Week (August 25-31; tuition, $120), which includes instruction in hammer dulcimer, fiddle, banjo, guitar, and lap dulcimer.

It's too bad we can't be here for the school's Winter Dance Week (December 26-January 1; tuition, $120). They really roll back the carpet then—you've never seen so many flying feet in one place! And speaking of feet, we'd better head ours back to the bus. First, though, you might want to jot down the school's address and phone number: John C. Campbell Folk School, Brasstown, NC 28902, 704/837-2775.

After bouncing along northward awhile, we finally arrive in Elkins, West Virginia. Man! I'm glad to get out of that bus. As the rest of the passengers, looking a bit confused, try to figure out where they are, I boldly step forward and address the crowd with impressive authority:

"This, my friends, is the campus of Davis and Elkins College, the home of the Augusta Heritage Arts Workshop. Since 1973, Augusta has held increasingly popular summer camps here at the college. From all the activity going on, I suspect we've arrived just in time for this year's workshop (July 14—August 16). But instead of standing here telling you about the classes, perhaps I should take you on a guided tour. Now, first . . ." Suddenly, I look around and realize that I'm all alone. The other passengers have already started off on their own! Hey, wait for me!

By the time I catch up, the group is in the craft building, observing classes in everything from basketry and bookbinding to guitar construction and whittling. As we're admiring the crafts, we hear the sounds of "Cotton-Eyed Joe" and "Arkansas Traveler" from nearby . . . there's some fiddling going on! Let's go find it!

RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print