The 10th Annual Sunshine Coast Summer School of Celtic Music
** Registration is now open! **
The Coast String Fiddlers present …
JULY 5 to 9TH, 2010
- What to Bring
- Accommodation & Meals
- How to Get Here
- Questions
- Guidelines for Classes
- Instructor Bios
- Camp Registration and Fees
The Sunshine Coast Summer School of Celtic Music is sponsored by the Coast String Fiddlers Association, a non-profit society which is committed to promoting the understanding and learning of traditional music through the support of fiddle instruction and related activities. This event is 100 per cent run by volunteers who organize the Summer School, concerts, workshops and the Coast String Fiddler fiddle clubs so we appreciate your support. Our aim is to provide players of all backgrounds and levels the opportunity to learn in a non-competitive environment and to be able to take advantage of playing with others. We fully support family involvement.
The Coast String Fiddlers Association invites you to a week of study, playing and good times for all who share an interest in traditional music and in particular Celtic music, song and dance. Our ninth annual summer school is located in Roberts Creek Community School in Roberts Creek on the Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada.
Our classes are scheduled in the morning and early afternoon and are structured to meet a range of skills from those who learn quickly by ear (advanced) to those who have 1-2 years experience and the basics of their instrument (novice). Fiddlers at all levels will have the opportunity to study the various fiddle styles of many of our instructors. Other classes will include: cello, piano, and guitar and this year we are again offering folk choir (Scots song). A wide range of workshops will be offered daily which focus on the expertise of our instructors.
There will also be an opportunity for participants to take another instrument in our workshops held daily in the afternoon. In prior years we have offered song and dance and instruments ranging from penny whistle to mandolin as well as guitar, fiddle, cello, piano and accordion. Instruments for these workshops are not provided.
In addition to the daily teaching schedule, informal gatherings will be held each evening with a Ceilidh held one evening with our participants as performers and a dance night, an opportunity to practice those dance steps you will be learning. On the final day of the school there is a Performance Concert by the participants of the Camp in the afternoon to which parents and friends are invited.
On Friday evening, we present a Gala Concert featuring the great music and talent of our instructors. Tickets for this evening concert will be open to the public so pre-order when you register as there are a limited number of tickets available. Additional tickets may be available at the school, so please watch for details.
We will also be offering other activities on site geared to children 6-12 who have registered.
WHAT TO BRING
The atmosphere at our school is most casual. There is easy access to the woods and beach near the school facility. The summer climate can vary from hot sunny to chilly cloudy so be prepared to layer your shorts and T-shirt with sweaters and pants. For all music workshops participants are required to bring their own instruments, paper, strings etc. and a reusable drinking cup. A recording device would be most useful. Timetable, schedule and session information will be distributed when you arrive.
ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS
Accommodations are available in the Roberts Creek area as well as Gibsons & Sechelt, communities located nearby. Housing options range from local campsites to bed & breakfast establishments. Visit www.bigpacific.com for a comfor a comprehensive visitor information guide. Please contact us if you require assistance with accommodation.
Meals are the responsibility of the participants. Some snacks, coffee, tea and juice will be available during the workshops.
HOW TO GET HERE
Roberts Creek is approximately 1 hour from the Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal. The Ferry Terminal is located near West Vancouver, approximately 1-hour from the Vancouver Airport. Shuttles and buses are available from the airport to the Ferry Terminal. A 40-minute scenic ferry ride gets you from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale Ferry Terminal on the Sunshine Coast & connects with local bus service. Roberts Creek is then a 20-minute car ride. For details consult www.bcferries.com for ferry schedules and www.scrd.bc.ca for bus schedules.
QUESTIONS
Please contact us or contact Ann or John Law by email at info@coaststringfiddlers[DOT]com.
GUIDELINES FOR CLASSES
When you register, please indicate on the registration form in the space provided your level, playing experience and ability. Fiddle classes are geared to those players that have had at least 1-2 yrs experience (novice) to advanced musicians. Guitar and piano courses are directed toward serious students who wish to explore accompaniment of traditional music at the intermediate and advanced levels. Involvement in group or family playing opportunities is strongly suggested and will help you build on what you will learn at camp. Suggested entry level for piano, guitar & flutes/whistles students is approximately Grade 4-5/Intermediate level with a minimum age requirement of 11 years for the level of information to be taught.
All other instrument classes will be taught at a level which is appropriate to the participants involved and may include varying levels.
NOVICE: You have 1-2 years experience and knowledge of the basics of your instrument. You learn tunes by ear at a slow pace with no ornamentation or bowing techniques. Children’s novice class will be taught by teachers who have experience in teaching young children
INTERMEDIATE: You are proficient on your instrument and learn at a moderate speed by ear. You are able to play various rhythms such as jigs, reels, strathspeys at or about up to speed.
ADVANCED: You are an experienced musician who learns quickly by ear. You are able to learn the advanced aspects of various styles such as ornamentation, bowing techniques and phrasing.
Piano, Guitar Cello and Other instrument classes (other than fiddle) : These courses are for intermediate to advanced students with a desire to accompany celtic music. Not suitable for children under 11 years old.
There will be no auditions to determine placement. You will be informed of your class assignment when you arrive at the school and pick up your registration package. We make every effort to assign our participants to the appropriate level to maximize your musical experience during the school. It is therefore essential that you remain in the class to which you have been assigned. However, if you feel your class is too advanced or easy for your skill level, we ask that you inform your home room instructor, and a coordinator, and we will ensure an appropriate reassignment. We cannot accommodate specific requests for instructors.
TRAD BAND FOR AGES 15-25
This course will start July 4th at 1:00 p.m. and will also perform in Gibsons on July 10th. This course will be lead again by Iain Fraser and Harris Playfair, and is suitable for advanced musicians, ages 15-25 years, in any instrument (brass, woodwinds, strings, percussion and electronic instruments welcome) who have an interest in contributing and learning in a group setting. The instructors will be blending traditional music with the sound of jazz, fusion and rock in a big band setting. The emphasis will be on different instruments playing together, improvising and taking the lead and you will learn to listen to other instruments and how to fit your instrument to the tune. Proficiency in more than one instrument is an asset and ability to work independently is required. Other instructors from the camp may have opportunity to rotate through this class to give participants insight into their particular skills as it applies to group work. Enrolment in this class will be limited so early registration is recommended. Any questions or further information required, please contact Ann Law via our contact form or by email at info@coaststringfiddlers[DOT]com.
FOLK CHOIR: Your first instrument is your voice!!! Again this year, Mairi Campbell will be leading Folk Choir. She has been musical director and arranger for a community folk choir based in Edinburgh for the past 6 years. Scots song is a tremendously rich tradition, from the glorious melodies of Auld Lang Syne and A Man’s a Man (Robert Burns) to the ballads which so deeply express events and feelings of that time through to more recent songs, like Karine Polwart’s ‘Follow the Heron Home’. Mairi will guide you through some of this repertoire using her own arrangements for mixed voices. You don’t need to read music and we’ll do some warm-ups each day to strengthen and ease your voice. No experience necessary.
CAMP REGISTRATION AND FEES
Payment can be made by cheque or money order (Canadian Funds only) payable to Sunshine Coast School of Celtic Music and mailed to:
The Coast String Fiddler Association
c/o Box 1398
Gibsons, BC V0N 1V0
Post marked on or BEFORE April 30, 2010: Adult $260 Cdn: Child (6-18) $205 Cdn. Trad Band $225 Cdn.
Post marked AFTER April 30, 2010: Adult $290 Cdn: Child (6-18) $230 Cdn. Trad Band $255 Cdn.
Note: All registrations required by June 22, 2010 where class space is available.
Discounts: For the second & each additional adult or youngster in the same family deduct $25.00 from the total fees. Children age 6 & under must be accompanied & supervised by an adult.
CANCELLATION FEES (amount taken from the total fees):
Before April 30, 2010: full refund less processing fee of $10
May 1 - May 31, 2010 : $100 cancellation fee per person
June 1 - June 21, 2010: $150 cancellation fee per person
After June 21, 2010: No refunds
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2010 School of Celtic Music Registration (PDF Form)
Remember to sign up early this year before all spaces are filled … The summer school fo celtic music is usually full by the end of April. We look forward to seeing you in July! |
Comment by Chels
# December 12, 2006,
Come to our camp. It’s one of the biggest Celtic music camps in North America and it’s a blast. Hope to see you there!!!!
Comment by Arlene
# February 8, 2007,
There are so many good things about this camp there would never be room to write it all down…..from the volunteer organizers, teachers, fellow students, jams at night, Ceilidh Night and of course the Gala Concert………..it’s the BEST!
Comment by Kathryn
# March 27, 2007,
This will be my daughters’ 5th year at Fiddle Camp - we plan our holidays around this very special week.
Comment by Ada Francis-Sotland
# October 13, 2008,
The Sunshine Coast Camp Is So So Special, My Mum And Da Have Been Teaching There For The Past 3 Years And Every Year It Gets Better And Better. It Is The Most Amazing Thing Ever, I Was Crying When I Had To Leave This Year But We’ll Be Back Next Year
Thank You So So Much Ann And John For Creating Such A Special Camp
Lots Of Love
Ada Francis xxx
Comment by John and Ann
# February 3, 2009,
Thanks Ada,
We look forward to you and your family coming again this year. See you in July!
All the best,
John and Ann
Comment by Michelle
# June 12, 2009,
I look forward to coming to Celtic Camp as it is my fiddling home and I get to see all the grand fiddlers. See you all soon at Roberts Creek
Cheers from MIchelle