Kaufman's Mandolin Kamp

[levin4now]

Well folks, it looks as thought I am going to attend Steve Kaufman's Acoustic (Mandolin) Kamp this summer and I'm excited as all get out. #I'm really hoping to have a great time, learn a lot, and come away knowing more about the mandolin, and hopefully be a better player.

I was wondering who has been from our cafe community (who is going this year even?), and what you thought.

What's it like?
Were you noticeably a better player after? (or is that too much to expect?)
What level of player were you when you attended?
What are the jams, concerts, food like?
Quiet Floor or Jam Floor?

[Tom C]

I went in 1999. It was just mandos at the time. accomodations are fine. I did have my own room. Other activities happen on campus so people always walking by watching the pickin. Classes were pretty good. Most fun was pickin' in between.
Food is typical cafeteria. When I went, I was only playing for 2 years and fit in fine. I'd rather have a quiet floor and pick at other peoples so I can come ,go and sleep as I like.
When I went it started the Wed after memorial day. I decided to drive down early
and check out the smokey mountains. I was very disspointed as they were boring mnts. with a small creek. I guess you really need to approch them from NC side. I left NY sunday and got a blowout in Shananoah Valley. Luckily my donut got me to an exit. The only thing was a truck tire store. They had a tire that fit my rim but was narrower and higher profile than what I have. I brought 2 and got a new orig when I got to Tenn. If they did not have a tire that fit my car, I
would have been stuck there til tues or Wed. -Being is was sunday, next day was memorial day, then tues order tire. I decide to fly to the symposium in CA http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Enjoy, you will have fun

[Hoovetone]

Alan, went in 99 & 03 You'll love it!! Good food. I might come up for one of the concerts.

[John S]

One of the best things you'll get out of the Kamp is just pure inspiration. The performances by the instructors at the nightly concerts are just incredible. The instructors are approachable outside of the classes too so you can get some one-on-one if you need it. This year's line-up of instructors is top notch. I'd make special mention of Don Stiernberg and John Moore as instructors not to be missed, but the lineup also includes Alan Bibey, Carlos Aonzo and more, so it's going to be awful hard to choose your classes. But the only thing I had a hard time with was the heat and lack of A/C. I kinda wilted in the latter half of the day. I don't know if Maryville has upgraded their buildings with A/C yet or not.

[Clamdigger]

I went three years ago. Someone mentioned the inspiration and got that right. The nightly teacher concerts are worth the price alone. You will learn, have fun, and meet nice people. Clamdigger

[levin4now]

So you get to choose classes? #I figured it was rotation. #Advice needed: #Go with who you THINK you want to hear? #Or what? #I mean, I might choose a bluegrasser over a jazz or over a classical player b/c you like BG or do you limit yourself? #I guess choices need to be made so....

I hear the dorms have AC but not the classrooms...

More advice needed from you experienced Kamp goers:

Clothing/attire. I assume wear what's decent and comfortable, but how about the evening concerts? Still quite relaxed?

Any other advice you might give a first time camp goer?

[mandoJeremy]

I would never limit myself in music to what I thought I would want to hear. #Anyone can teach you something you don't know. #I have learned a lot from classical piano players and great jazz pianists. #Chick rules! #Never limit yourself to one style or you will only find yourself desiring what others studied and did. #Believe me, I studied my Monroe and other BG greats but I found so much more in any of the MUSIC greats. #Listen to how people approach a tune musically and emotionally. #You can never replicate a person's emotions but you can get a great idea of how they were feeling when they played what they felt, which will give you the insight to play what you are feeling and no one else can do that! #Never draw musical lines even though everyone thinks of mando as a bluegrass instrument.

[mandonewbie]

I'm planning on attending next year....I'm a mando beginner, just learning chords and a couple of melodies right now....How many beginners did they have in the camp, or was it mostly intermediated to advanced pickers???....

I did attend a Steve Kaufman guitar workshop this past spring, and it was great....he's a fine person, a good teacher, and a great picker.

[jjboone101]

my understanding is it is broken up by self-selected groups from complete novice (never picked an instrument up) and beginner to intermediate and advanced...

[Mitch]

I attended last years camp and was wow'ed by the evening performances. Make sure you attend all of them. The instructors were top notch and very responsive to all questions. As for leaving camp a better player, NO, I don't think you will because that takes follow-up, focused study, and very determined time and effort an your part when you get home. You will however leave with a much greater appreciation of the versitility and beauty of the mandolin in all types of music.

If you can swing it I would highly recommend you stay in one of the local motels. The University dorms are the absolute pits!

One last thing, take part in all organized group activity you can squeeze in, you will find that it is a blast.

[johnnymando]

Alan,
I'm heading down from upstate N.Y. Sat.morning with a guitar player pal.I've been to the Roanoke camp twice and Augusta once.Really looking forward to some serious jamming for a week(and of course all the new licks we'll be picking up!)See you there!
John Denniston

[Bluegrasstjej]

Wow, Alan! You'll have to tell us all about it when you get back!

[Rich]

I can't wait! This is my first year for the Kamp and I'm really looking forward to it. I hate hot weather though and live in Colorado where it's always cool. Hope I don't melt! I'm sure the mando picking will be top notch. I'm getting my fingers ready for a marathon!
Rich __ by the way, I'm a nurse..and we do rule!

[levin4now]

Thanks John, I look forward to meeting you, and all the new licks you'll be teaching me! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif BTW, I'm from Grimsby, Ontario, not too far from Palmyra, NY from what I understand. (I live in NC though).

Bluegrasstjej, you can bet I'll tell you all about it!

My problem is that work has kept me busier and more tired than ever, and I have NOT been able to work my fingers into shape for this thing!

Rich, be prepared to melt: no AC in the classrooms from what I hear. (Dorms ARE ACd I believe.)

Alan

[Mandodoc]

'98 alum, I was pretty new to the mandolin and everyone there was really good, heck my roommate had his band's CD's with him for sale, which is really good by the way, so I was pretty intimidated by the whole experience and went home pretty depressed. On the up side, the instructors were wonderful and very approchable. Norman Blake, Robin Bullock, Mike Compton, John Reisman, needless to say the concerts were great. I think if I had to do it over again and was a beginner I won't go, I was depressed for a long time, in fact all these years later, I still suck and would still most likely not go, it left quite an impression on me.
The food was good cafe type food. The Rooms were not too bad for dorms. The weather was hot and muggy. The dirt was red. The campus is beautiful, with big trees and great old buildings. The staff works really hard to make sure everything goes well. Steve Kaufman is a super guy. Donna is really nice too.
jon

[levin4now]

Jon,

I run the risk of depression too, perhaps in part b/c either I or everyone around me here thinks I'll come back changed from Alan Meijer into Alan Bibey. Aint goin to happen, no matter how much Bibey wishes he were me!

I also keep picturing myself without a roomate. Reality will come soon enough.

I wonder how many mandos/guitars/banjos will be on my flight from Charlotte (CLT) to Knoxville (TYS).

[levin4now]

Clothing/attire recommendations? Is there any need for 'nicer' clothes than what you'd tshirt/shorts/runningshoes?

[onlyagibsonisgoodenuff]

Do the mandolins get to sleep in hard shell cases or must they sleep in gig bags at mandolin camp? LOL

[dtank]

You don't need anything better than shorts and a shirt for Kamp. I live in Knoxville so if you wind up as my roommate you are in luck cause I plan to sleep in my own bed. Look for daily high of 85 and low of 65. Plenty of humidity.

[levin4now]

Well I'm looking at a high of 94 here tomorrow in eastern NC with plenty of humidity as well. tshirts sound great for a week.