Colorado Roots Music Camp
Camp I
June 2-8 2024
Arrival: 4:00pm Sunday
Departure: 9:00am Saturday
Colorado Roots Music
Camp I
June 2-8, 2024
Arrival: 4:00–5:00pm Sunday
Departure: 9:00am Saturday
Activities
Daily Instrument Classes
taught by professionals
Daily Jams & Music Circles
Band Scramble
2023 Class Schedule (sample)
2024 Instructors & Class Offerings
Susan Cattaneo
Me, Myself and Inspiration (Level 1-5)
What is your origin story? What are the wonderful details that all add up to making you who you are? And how can they be harnessed into writing great songs? Join me as we explore the roots, myths and magic that make you into the person (and songwriter) you are. We’ll dive into specific songwriting prompts to get you thinking about your story and what makes you unique. Then, we’ll work to craft these into songs.
Cowboy Songs – The Best of the West (Level 2-3)
This workshop explores the magic behind some of the most classic and unforgettable cowboy songs. We’ll talk about what makes them work and then play and sing them together. Great songs don’t have to be complicated, and this hands-on class will show you the beauty behind three chords and the truth.
John Corzine
“Man on the porch” (i.e. jam’s and more) Instructor
Dave Firestine
Mandolin FUNdamentals (Level 1)
This course is designed for the beginning mandolin player. No experience required. However, if you are a more advance player and want to review some fundamental techniques, this is the perfect opportunity. We will begin with stretching, breathing, relaxing, and remembering to have fun! I will check your mandos for correct setup, strap setup, holding the mando and the pick. We will spend time playing with the proper pick direction, giving you the secrets to playing smoothly and at speed. We will learn some easy tunes, practicing the techniques described above. Join us for some fun, no shoes required.
Fiddle Tune Extravaganza All Instruments (All Levels)
Do you need some new cool tunes? There are classic tunes that many of us know; we are now ready to add some new material to our repertoire. In this class we will explore tunes in the jamming world, some old and some relatively new. You can learn the melodies, or chords, or both (you will get extra credit for both). All normal instruments are welcome. Please let me know ahead of time if you plan to bring a Tuba or Theremin.
Katie Glassman
Classic Country Fiddle (Level 2-3)
Great Texas-style fiddlers like Bob Wills grew up playing foot-stomping breakdowns and fiddle tunes for contests and square dances, then brought their fiddles to the bandstand to join the band on classic country weepers and cowboy songs. In this class, we’ll focus on playing fiddle on those early country favorites by Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn, and the Sons of the Pioneers. Then we’ll two-step over to some Ray Price country shuffles with tasty melodic embellishments and longbow style. Expand your jam repertoire, improve your fiddle skills, and kick up your heels.
Western Swing Improvisation (Level 3-4)
Western Swing music found its roots in country, breakdown fiddling, and jazz. The combination of these regional styles formed a unique string-based, big-band sound in the 40s and 50s, centered around the seminal Western Swing band, Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys. We’ll learn several twin fiddle tunes to capture the styling that gets us to the bowings and embellishments of the bands of that era, vital to capturing their authentic sound. After learning the melody and twin fiddle parts, we’ll delve into my 5 key ingredients to improvising a Western Swing solo. Practicing each “ingredient” with creativity and using guided repetition to solidify your skills, you’ll become a Western Swing improviser in no time!
Lewis Mock
Travis picking and beyond (Level 2-3)
Merle Travis is probably the most imitated guitarist in history. His Travis Picking style influenced the greats including Chet Atkins, Doc Watson, Scotty Moore, and almost every great country and rock guitarist. We will discuss and learn the foundation of Travis style and and some of the variations that grew from that style. Bring your guitar, a “Thumb Pick” and a medium to heavy “Flat Pick” and let’s get started!
5-String Banjo Styles (Level 2-3)
The 5-String banjo has evolved in many directions from its roots in the style of the plantations of the South and the mountains of Appalachia, to the jazz of New Orleans, and the new sounds of New Grass and Americana music. This course will help you to understand some of these different styles and help open up your playing to new ideas and “old” ideas. Bring a five-string banjo, two finger picks, a thumb pick, and let’s have some fun!
Greg Schochet
Using The Melody For A Bluegrass Break (Level 3-4)
Ever hear a lead player at a jam who sounds like they know every song? Betcha they’re playing lots of melody. In this class we’ll look at the anatomy of some classic bluegrass melodies and learn how to find and use them on our own. We’ll use our ears, some theory nuggets, and lots of playing. You should be able to play basic leads at medium tempos for this class.
Western Swing Guitar (Level 3-4)
When the country meets the swing, it’s Western Swing! In this primarily rhythm class, we’ll apply swing guitar techniques to some simple country songs, like passing chords and moving bass lines. We’ll also learn some gems from the Western Swing canon from the likes of Bob Wills and Asleep at the Wheel. Prior knowledge of closed 6th and 7th chords is helpful.
Jennifer Scott
Cosy Sheridan
Guitar: Rhythms and Riffs (Level 2-3)
We will learn a few percussive right hand picking patterns, and we’ll experiment with playing those new picking patterns while adding a moving chordal riff in the left hand. We’ll learn a few songs that use these techniques. (And then we sing!) We will have fun while we make our guitar playing an engine of forward energy.
Beginning Guitar (Level 1)
In this class we will learn some simple three chord songs. We will also learn a basic strumming pattern, and maybe even an easy picking pattern! If you have been playing for a while now, or if you’ve just picked up the guitar, this class is for you!
Steve Smith
Essential Mandolin Vitamins (Level 2-3)
This class will look at using high and low drones for solos on instrumental and vocal music including melodies and improvisation. We will also include tremolo technique and apply it to the same principle for bluegrass and roots styles. Attentions to cleaning up the right hand technique including a good chop and other styles of rhythm playing to get that sound and drive. Handouts included.
Breaking new ground for improvisation (Level 3-4)
We’ll work on developing an approach to soloing and improv over various different types of chord progressions in swing and jazz tunes. We’ll explore using scales, patterns, and arpeggios to negotiate the more complex chord progressions found outside of familiar bluegrass and jam tunes to expand your comfort zone and how you may tie some of this back in to those more familiar tunes. We’ll spend some time on groove too. How to swing and how to change it up. Handouts available.
Rene Worst
Bass Basics (Level 1-2)
We’ll cover left- and right-hand positions—and coordination between the two! Learn how to find the notes on the bass with a variety of song styles and feels: bluegrass, country, classic pop and swing
From the Bottom Up! (Level 3-4)
Take your bass playing to the next level by stepping up your technique. Walking lines, swing, Western swing plus Bossa Nova & even something funky, plus a little functional harmony to spice up your lines and solos!
Assistant to the Director
Charlie Koch
Songs To Make You Love Chords (Level 2-3)
This class is aimed at improving your guitar skills. The first song we will learn will teach us how to make transitions within a single chord; we will learn the major triad, major seventh, dominant seventh, and major sixth chord. The next song will teach us how to use chords which move us from one chord to another. Our third song will combine what we have learned in the first two songs. We’ll have fun and learn some cool tunes!
Jam Classes & Informal
There will be jam classes and a lot of spontaneous jamming during the camp, so join in as they are big fun. If you’re a newbie and experiencing the (unfounded) “Jam Fear” that everyone does, don’t be intimidated. Everyone experiences Jam Fear when they start, if they have any sense. At first it may be a little scary, but it’ll soon turn into a lot of fun. Some reasons you might hesitate:
- “They’re going to hear me mess up.” No, they’re all busy trying to do their own thing. Very rarely in the average jam does anyone even hear the stuff you’re doing, since they’re worried about their own.
- “I’ll make mistakes.” Yes, you will, as everyone does, and if you’re not beating the daylights out of your instrument, you’re the only one who will hear them.
- “I’ll be put on the spot.” No, in a jam, you can always choose to hang back. If anyone calls on you to take a solo, a shake of your head is a perfectly legitimate response.
- “I can’t keep up.” Maybe so, maybe not. If you can’t, you can still play the chords or notes that sound OK to you as the music passes by.
The fact is that just like that cold water, it’s sometimes a bit scary to jump in the first time, but once you’re used to it, you’re telling everyone that they should jump in; what a bunch of weenies! Please, give the jams a try which may include: Swing Jams, Slow Jams, Bluegrass Jams, Acapella Jams, Honkey Tonk Jams or Old Time Jams.
Registration Fees
Online registration opens one year prior to the retreat.
Camp Staff
Cosy Sheridan, Co-Director
Cosy Sheridan has been called “one of the era’s finest and most thoughtful singer-songwriters.” She first caught the attention of national folk audiences in 1992 when she won both the Kerrville Folk Festival’s NewFolk Award and The Telluride Bluegrass Festival Troubadour Contest, then released her critically-acclaimed debut CD Quietly Led on Waterbug Records. She has released nine CDs, her music is featured in the Robert Fulghum multi-media novel The Third Wish and she tours consistently throughout the US. Her concerts are wide-ranging explorations of modern mythology (meet Hades the Biker), love songs for adults, contemporary philosophy for the thoughtfully-minded and her signature parody on aging and women. Throughout this journey, her lyrical dexterity is backed by her distinctive, percussive bluesy-gospel guitar style. A guitar student of instrumental luminaries such as Guy Van Duser and Eric Schoenberg and a voice student at The Berklee School of Music, she brings a depth of experience to her craft. For the past 18 years, she has taught classes in songwriting, performance and guitar at workshops and adult music camps across the country including The Puget Sound Guitar Workshop and The Swannanoa Gathering. In 2008 she co-founded The Moab Folk Camp.
Dave Firestine, Co-Director
Dave pulls out the “take no prisoners” style of playing at every dance – bringing the tunes to their full potential and beyond. He is a tune-meister and music jams are super fun when he is in the driver’s seat.
Originally a drummer, his strong sense of rhythm and syncopation is the foundation of his playing and tune writing, and truthfully he is never happier than when he gets to pull out the laptop drum kit to back swing and honky tonk tunes. Don’t worry, he can access his sensitive side when playing waltzes and beautiful melodies.
Dave is a music vagrant retiree now, but before that, he was Senior Gyzmologist building lightning detection systems. He is currently playing with the dance bands STEAM! (www.dancetosteam.com) and The Privy Tippers.
Charlie Hall, Founder
After earning a bachelor’s degree in Music Education with emphasis in French horn, Charlie Hall started out as a member of the 6th US Army Band in San Francisco. When real life reared its ugly head, he found he needed a day job, which he found in computers from 1983 to 2003. From 2003 to his retirement in 2017, he was a full-time guitar, mandolin and bass teacher. He’s taught high school band as well as classes in beginning guitar, fingerpicking, bluegrass guitar, music theory and jamming. Charlie was a founder and driving force of the Black Rose Acoustic Society in Colorado Springs, a favorite destination for roots musicians and roots music fans. He performed for ten years with the popular folk/bluegrass band Black Rose, was a finalist in the 2000 National Fingerpicking Championship and was nominated Bluegrass Guitarist of the Year in 1996 by the Colorado Bluegrass Music Society. With his wife Marianne Danehy, Charlie was creator & co-director of the Colorado Roots Music Camp from 2006-2017. He and Marianne are thrilled to hand off management of the Roots Camp to the folks at the Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp as well as Cosy Sheridan and Raul Reynoso.
December 11, 2018, we said goodby to Charlie who passed away after a valiant battle with brain cancer. He leaves behind a large legacy of music and education and those who knew him are better for it. May we all carry on his legacy of life, love and life-long music!
Marianne Danehy, Founder
Marianne Danehy discovered “her people” around 2002; that is, those who played roots music. From 2005 to 2014, she taught violin and fiddling in Colorado Springs, and is a registered instructor with the Suzuki Association of the Americas. Undaunted by two degrees and a former life in Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics, she’s the mother of two nearly-grown kids, William and Anna. Marianne is an excellent teacher and an expert at getting folks started both on violin and fiddle styles. From 2006-2017, along with her husband Charlie Hall, she was co-director of the Colorado Roots Music Camp.
Alumni Staff
Colorado Roots Music Camp has enjoyed wonderful and talented instructors over the years since its beginnings in 2006. Our thanks to them for thier part of the rich legacy and music community created each week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I learn more about my stay at RMMC (i.e. accommodations, altitude, creation care).
Please visit the “Reservation Guide” page of the Rocky Mountain website for “YOUR STAY WITH US”, “MOUNTAIN LIVING” & “CREATION CARE” information.
What foodservice is offered? Can you accommodate dietary restrictions?
Camp is pleased to offer a great selection of food choices (View Food Service) which include a main dish option, vegetarian option, salad (lunch & supper), and dessert (lunch & supper) Cold beverages (water, orange, apple, grape, crabapple) and hot beverages (coffee, tea, hot chocolate) are also provided.
As much as possible, the camp will accommodate dietary restrictions. An option will be given to list all of your dietary restrictions during registration. We cannot accommodate dietary preferences.
RMMC is not a peanut/nut free location since we serve a variety of campers and guest groups utilizing their own kitchen facilities.
If flying in from Colorado Springs (COS) or Denver (DIA), how can I get to camp?
Transportation to camp can be done via Uber or other hired transportaition OR if someone you already know is coming can offer you a ride. Frequently, after a week of good music and fellowship, folks have found a ride to Colorado Springs or Denver from people already heading that way.
If flying, it’s hard to beat the Colorado Springs airport (COS) as the closest airport to camp. Of course, ticket prices are what they are and you might find a better rate into Denver International Airport (DIA). Groome Transportation offers shuttle service between Denver and Colorado Springs for around $55 each way).
Can visitors be invited to Roots Music Camp during my stay?
Only campers and their paid companions are allowed at the camp. Limited guest tickets (5or so) are available on a first come/first serve basis for someone you’ld like to bring to an evening concert ($15/person) and share the evening with. Be a good friend to Roots Music by inquiring about availability with the Roots office staff the day BEFORE your visitor might come.
What is the Charlie Hall Scholarship Fund?
As the founder of Colorado Roots Music Camp, Charlie Hall was a trail blazer in bringing quality music instruction to the Pikes Peak region. In pursuit of this, he also gathered informal scholarship money to support younger students who were unable to financially afford attendance at Roots. In recognition of this forward thinking approach to growing young musicians, the Charlie Hall Scholarship Fund was officially launched at the end of the June 2018 camp. Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp (RMMC), which has been home to Roots since its beginning in 2006, has taken the opportunity to continue Charlie’s outreach by formalizing the scholarship. As a 501(c)3, RMMC is able to offer a charitable receipt for contributions to the scholarship fund. GO DONORS!
- How to give: Donors can support the next generation of musicians by writing a check to Roots Music Camp earmarked “Charlie Hall Scholarship Fund” and sending to: Roots Music Camp, 709 County Rd 62, Divide CO, 80814. Donations accepted by credit card as well by calling the camp office (719-687-9506).
- Who my apply: College age and younger (age 25), preference to first time campers.
- How to apply: Contact the Colorado Roots Camp Office by email at ([email protected]) for application details.
- Scholarship amount: Full Registration for Chalet, Rustic Cabin or Campground accommodations. Commuters too!
- Number of scholarships: As funds allow for student interest, our goal is for 1-2 scholarships per camp session. Unfortunately, if there are no donors, there is no scholarship. Again, GO DONORS!
- Awarded Scholarships: Scholarship applications will be reviewed and awarded by the Colorado Roots Music Camp Leadership Team.
What should I NOT bring to camp?
- Pets of all sizes (Note: if you have a disability, please contact camp about your service animal)
- Firearms
- Alcohol
- Tobacco
- Illicit drugs
- Marijuana
- Dirt bikes
- Firework
- Four Wheelers
- Drones
Do you have to be Mennonite to attend camp?
While teachings during the retreat are Bible-based and from a Mennonite perspective, campers of all faiths are respected and welcome to attend.