A Magical Journey to Summer Music Camps

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OK, back in the bus, and this time be sure to strap on your seat belts because we're going to sprout wings and fly (I told you this was a magic bus!) all the way across the country to Mendocino, California. Ready, set . . .

And here we are! Pardon me while I kiss good of Mother Earth.

Hmm, I notice that the other passengers are all craning their necks skyward. Wowno wonder! We're in the middle of a magnificent redwood forest! This is the site of Lark in the Morning's annual Music Celebration (this year's event will be held from August 2 to 11). Actually, Lark in the Morning is a music store the likes of which few people have ever seen; its mail-order catalog is packed with all kinds of instruments from around the world. And the once-yearly music camp includes darn near as many different kinds of classes, all held right here-just look at those great little cabins with stone fireplaces! In addition to instruction on all the "usual" folk instruments, there'll be workshops on Celtic harp, Irish flute, Irish and Scottish bagpipe, Scandinavian fiddle, and button accordion (to name just a few!) . . . plus classes and concerts in Middle Eastern, Balkan, and South American instruments and dance.

Tuition for the ten-day celebration is $150 for adults, $85 for children under 12. Or you can attend just the first or second half of the celebration for $95 ($50 for children). For information on Lark in the Morning's summer music camp, and a copy of its free catalog, get in touch with Lark in the Morning, Box 1176, Mendocino, CA 95460, 707/964-5569.

Now, since we're here on the West Coast, let's hop back in the bus and point ourselves north toward . . . well, you'll see in a minute. Meanwhile, let's have lunch. Anybody want to trade for a Limburger and onion sandwich? OK, OK! I'll put it back in the bag!

After a scenic journey through Oregon and southern Washington, we arrive at Pilgrim Firs Camp, just across Puget Sound from Seattle. This tranquil, wooded setting is the site of the annual Puget Sound Guitar Workshop-there are two six-day sessions (July 21-26 and July 28-August 2). The event focuses mainly on guitar instruction of all kinds (folk, ragtime, blues, Celtic, and more) and at all conceivable levels (from beginner to professional), but this year there will also be classes in banjo, bass, mandolin, and Dobro. The fee for each session, including room and board, is $250. To find out more, write Puget Sound Guitar Workshop, 1503 E St., Bellingham, WA 98225, 206/671-4511 or 206/ 647-0242.

Our next (and last) stop is just a few miles away, which is a good thing because our driver says we're getting low on gas. The Fes tival of American Fiddle Tunes (June 30-July 7), which was started by Bertrum Levy and is now directed by fiddler Frank Ferrel, has become an extremely popular event in the Northwest. Look! Here we are now! As you can see, the camp is held at beautiful Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend, Washington. The series of intensive workshops and evening jam sessions brings all kinds of musicians—from beginners to advanced—together with an artist faculty made up of some of the finest fiddle, banjo, guitar, and mandolin players in the United States and Canada. For more information, contact Centrum, Box 1158, Port Townsend, WA 98368, 206/ 385-3102.

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