Classes
Classes meet Monday through Friday during the camp week, and each class gives a group performance, either at a meal or in the showcase at the end of camp. Three morning classes meet for 50 minutes. Two one-hour classes are scheduled in the afternoon. After classes, take part in organized group activities, hike the beautiful campus trails, spend a few hours exploring nearby shops and sights, or just relax in a rocking chair on the front porch. In the evenings, music and laughter from jam sessions, performances, and dances fill the air.
Instrumental Music
Jazz & Improvisation
(advanced intermediate and advanced level musicians)
Landon Walker and Special Guest Artist Seth Walker
Learn to Learn Fiddle Tunes
(adv. beginner, intermediate, advanced intermediate levels and singers welcome)
Dr. Aisha Ivey
Bluebird teachers continue to pass fiddle tunes down to new generations of musicians in the traditional ways, hearing, watching, and sharing. Fiddle tunes have a history and life that is ever changing while clinging to its Traditional Roots! Learn new tunes and the techniques fiddlers use to make a tune their own.
Mello Cello Fellows
(cellists of all levels)
Linda Minke
Music Around World
(mixed instrument - multi-cultural music for advanced
Advanced intermediate & advanced level musicians)
Dr. Aisha Ivey
Explore musical languages from around the world!
Songwriting & Tunesmithing
(advanced intermediate and advanced level musicians)
Dr. Aisha Ivey with Special Guest Artist Seth Walker
Express yourself in music and song with coaching from Dr. Ivey and guest artist Seth Walker.
Walker Family Originals
(Advanced intermediate through Advanced levels)
Landon Walker and Jennie Walker Brunner
How better to learn Walker Family original tunes than from the Walkers who wrote them? Landon, Jennie, and Scott will share the stories behind some of their favorite tunes and teach them to the class!
Song and Dance
Creative Movement and Drum Circle
(all campers welcome)
Linda Minke and Jennie Walker Brunner
Hum & Strum
(all ages and levels - strummed instruments, percussion, or no instrument required - laughing and singing is encouraged)
Linda Minke
All instruments, levels and ages welcome, especially mandolin and fiddle players!!! We will learn to sing and strum as many tunes as we can.
Music for Dance
(advanced intermediate and advanced level musicians)
Dr. Aisha Ivey
Playing music for dancers requires different focus, attention, and skills than you might use sitting in a jam session. This class combines musicians to form bands and then bands practice new skills by alternately playing for the Traditional Dance class!
Sword Dances
Longsword Dance (for children and adults)
Ruth Pershing
Longsword dance is a slower, older, and more mystical form of sword dancing than the fast-paced rapper dance. Creating interesting shapes with the swords makes longsword an expressive art form and very unique. Adults and children are welcome.
Traditional Dance
(squares, country, contras, percussive)
Ruth Pershing
Expert dancer and traditional dance caller, Ruth has an exceptional talent for instruction that is inclusive of participants new to traditional dance styles while keeping the dances interesting and enjoyable for dancers who are long time members of community dance.
Vocal Harmonies and A Cappella Singing
(teens and adults)
Dr. Angel Cleary and Ruth Pershing
Come sing rounds, madrigals, and harmony together in a class designed to foster part singing as an ensemble. Everyone is encouraged to join voices in this joyful class where no prior musical or singing experience is needed!
Jam Sessions
Jennie's Jams
(mixed instrument, vocalists - beginner through adult)
Jennie Walker Brunner
Old Time Jam
(intermediate & advanced musicians, vocalists )
Jennie Wallker Brunner
Rolling in the Blues
(intermediate and advanced musicians)
Landon Walker and Special Guest Artist Seth Walker
Traditional Irish Session
(advanced intermediate and advanced level players familiar with Irish Music)
Dr. Aisha Ivey
And More
Bluebird Explorers and Story Builders
(for the younger kids! )
Yvonne (Yavi) Ritchie
Children hike mountain meadows and woodlands with eyes focused on the wonders of nature both big and small, Take photographs and collect treasures, then, using nature's gifts, create amazing individual art projects or a group project that tells a story.
Creating Stop-Motion Music Videos
(all ages - children age 7 and under should have an adult facilitator)
Dr. Angel Cleary
Make a stop motion video, then record your own accompaniment and/or sound effects using your instrument/s! All items for this class will be provided - backdrops, 5 tablets with stop motion software available, tablet stands, Legos and other stop motion type figures, and one laptop. Of course you can bring your own items too!
Heritage and Culture of Folk Music and Dance
(suggest age 12 to adult)
Landon Walker and Ruth Pershing
A fascinating guided audio/visual journey of music and dance history and cultures.
Recording and Sound Technology
(Limited enrollment - age 16 and older)
Galen Kirkpatrick and Autumn Kirkpatrick
Hands on stage sound technology and music recording is the focus on this class. Participants in this class may have opportunities to assist with performances during the week as stage hands, green room assistants, and performance set-up.
Watercolor Painting for All Ages
(prepared outlines available for younger painters)
Dr. Angel Cleary
Instruction for beginners to masters of all ages! Younger students can paint using outlined designs...or freestyle it. Either a project for the week or shorter daily guided projects will engage others who are interested in more complex art expression .
