A Magical Journey to Summer Music Camps

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Sure enough, scattered around the other side of the campus are musicians of every variety, taking classes in their favorite instruments: banjo, fiddle, Autoharp, guitar, dulcimer, harmonica, and even bagpipe! And in one building with a good stout floor, there's a whole crowd of people, dancing just about every kind of folk dance you can imagine.

Most of the workshop's music instruction classes are one week long; tuition varies from about $135 to $160. Plus, the event itself always ends with a terrific festival featuring some of the finest performers in traditional music! To find out more about this year's Augusta Heritage Workshop and Festival, contact Augusta Heritage Arts Workshop, Davis and Elkins College, Elkins, WV 26241, 304/636-1903, extension 209.

Attention, everyone! Back in the bus! It's time to head to the Fiddle and Dance Workshop in Ashokan, New York. Started in 1980 by ace fiddler Jay Unger, "Root Camp," as the event is affectionately called, takes place on 365 beautiful acres in the Catskill Moun tains . . . and here we are now! Just look at that nice little pond for swimming and canoeing . . . and over there are some trails for hiking . . . and look: a wood-fired sauna for relaxing!

This year, Root Camp will be divided into four sessions: Western Week (July 14-20) will focus on western and southwestern traditions, including square and circle dancing, waltzes, and the Texas two-step. Music classes will encompass western swing and "cowboy" fiddle, mandolin, and guitar. Celtic Week (July 21-26) will focus on Irish, Scottish, Shetland, and British traditional dance and music . . . there'll be workshops not only on fiddle and mandolin, but also on flute, penny whistle, and concertina. Northern Week (August 18-24) will feature classes on New England, French Canadian, and Scandinavian traditional dance (including step dancing and polkas) and music (including piano and music theory). And August 25-31 will bring Southern Week, during which there'll be instruction and concerts on Appalachian and Cajun music and dance (including clogging).

Quite a place, eh? Each workshop costs around $250, including tuition, room, and board. Don't forget to jot down the vital statistics for getting more information: Fiddle and Dance Workshop, RD 1, Box 489, West Hurley, NY 12492, 914/338-2996.

Our next stop is Pinewoods Camp, located clear up near Plymouth, Massachusetts. Started back in 1933, Pinewoods is run by the Country Dance and Song Society of America. Wow, just look at the place! Ain't it beautiful? No, you can't settle into one of those nice little cabins over there under the pines . . . we still have more places to see.

Pinewoods Camp offers seven related but distinctly different weeks of workshops: There's Early Music Week (July 13-20), American Dance Music Week (July 20-27), Folk Music Week (July 27-August 3), Family Week (August 3-10), English Dance Week (August 10-17), English and American Dance Week (August 17-24), and Campers' Week (August 24-31). Now, if that isn't offering something for everyone, I don't know what is! Fees for the week-long sessions include room and board, and range from $275 to $300. For more details, contact the Country Dance and Song Society of America (505 Eighth Ave., New York, NY 10018, 212/ 594-8833) and ask for the brochure on Pinewoods.

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