We’ll be starting up a new camp thread soon as we prepare for July!
2020 Spring Camp Updates
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That’s my hope. Being in Canada I have to hope the boarder opens and that it’s safe enough to travel the 13 hours to get there. I’m trying to be optimistic.
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@My_Ruby_banjo Do you ever go to your jams at The local legions ? I drove over to Coboconk and Woodville jams. They were really nice circle jams, nice friends too.
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I do not. I work weekends, overnight shift, then stay up for church on Sunday mornings. Any jam I’ve found is during the time I have to sleep. As I get older I can’t stay awake like I used to. The only regular jam I know of close to me is in Oshawa on Sunday afternoons an hour and half away.
I Guess when I retired I should not have started a part time job, but it is five minutes from home and I can practice while I’m there.
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@My_Ruby_banjo, I know the Pineridge Club is very active. I see many of their members at Tottenham Bluegrass Festival every year. As far as I know Tottenham is still a go this year, but time will tell.
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One positive of this delay in the camp from March to July is that I can be somewhere close to half as prepared as I want to be with the additional time to practice! 
Really looking forward to seeing \ meeting everyone and learning even more how to effectively make music with others!
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I was practicing everyday trying to learn and memorize the camp list. Since the delay I’ve slacked off and done some stuff around the house and practiced other tunes. I looked over the list a few days ago and realized some of the winter practice stuck. I plan to get back on the list with the forecast of wet weather next week.
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Some time back… I think it was on another thread where Ben finally felt he finally came to terms to delay (with obvious sadness and regret), I mentioned this same point… More time to prepare… even as I am not able to attend anyway.
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I have more time to try to get all the nails out of the yard! We’re still working on the addition/remodel…things got really delayed with the quarantine/tornado.
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Your local rental place should have a magnet on wheels for the nails.
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That’s good news Jeff, but don’t let your fingers get stiff or lose those callouses. I was looking forward to seeing you at the Spring Camp, eh. I won’t be able to make it to the summer camp unfortunately though. I hope it all goes well. Say hey to Beth for me .
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I should know this… But what where the camp songs that were suggested for prep?
Just curious…
I found it - and list them here for others… to be helpful
Ben has narrowed the next camp song list down to these.
John Henry
Beginner Banjo - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/john-henry-basic-banjo
Intermediate Banjo - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/john-henry-intermediate-banjo
Advanced Guitar - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/john-henry-guitar (the first part isn’t that advanced. Don’t let it scare you.)
Advanced Mandolin - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/john-henry-mandolin-advanced
Cherokee Shuffle
Intermediate Banjo - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/cherokee-shuffle-intermediate-banjo-intermediate
Advanced Banjo - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/cherokee-shuffle-banjo
Intermediate Guitar - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/cherokee-shuffle-intermediate-guitar-intermediate
Advanced Guitar - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/cherokee-shuffle-guitar-advanced (Don’t miss that Justin Bieber hairdo!)
Intermediate Mandolin - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/cherokee-shuffle-mandolin
Will the Circle Be Unbroken
All levels Banjo - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/will-the-circle-be-unbroken-build-a-break-banjo-advanced
All Levels Guitar - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/will-the-circle-be-unbroken-build-a-break-guitar-advanced
All Levels Mandolin - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/will-the-circle-be-unbroken-build-a-break-mandolin-advanced
Wayfaring Stranger
All Levels Banjo - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/wayfaring-stranger-banjo
All Levels Guitar - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/wayfaring-stranger-guitar-advanced
All Levels Mandolin - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/wayfaring-stranger-build-a-break-mandolin
Red River Valley
Banjo - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/red-river-valley-build-a-break-banjo (Just the first break in C)
All Levels Guitar - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/red-river-valley-build-a-break-guitar
All Levels Mandolin - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/red-river-valley-build-a-break-mandolin
Nine Pound Hammer
Beginner Banjo - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/nine-pound-hammer-basic-banjo
Advanced Banjo - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/nine-pound-hammer-advanced-banjo
All Levels Guitar - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/nine-pound-hammer-build-a-break-guitar
All Levels Mandolin - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/nine-pound-hammer-build-a-break-mandolin
Bill Cheatham
Intermediate Banjo - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/bill-cheatham-scruggs-style-banjo
Advanced Banjo - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/bill-cheatham-melodic-banjo
Intermediate Guitar - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/bill-cheatham-melody-guitar
Advanced Guitar - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/bill-cheatham-guitar-advanced
Basic Mandolin - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/bill-cheatham-melody-mandolin-beginner
Intermediate/Advanced Mandolin - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/bill-cheatham-mandolin
Red Haired Boy
Intermediate Melodic Banjo - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/red-haired-boy-melodic-banjo (Basics Scruggs version coming soon.)
Basic and Advanced Guitar - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/red-haired-boy-guitar-advanced
Intermediate Mandolin - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/red-haired-boy
Amazing Grace
All Levels Banjo - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/amazing-grace-build-a-break-banjo
Advanced Banjo - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/amazing-grace-banjo
All Levels Guitar - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/amazing-grace-build-a-break-guitar
Finger Style Guitar - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/amazing-grace-fingerstyle-guitar-beginner
Beginner / Intermediate Mandolin - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/amazing-grace-tremolo-harmony-mandolin-beginner
Wabash Cannonball was sort of eliminated from the list because the banjo version is considered advanced, but I would encourage banjo players to at least give the first half of the lesson a try. I bet you can do it!
Advanced Banjo - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/wabash-cannonball-banjo
Intermediate Guitar - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/wabash-cannonball-crosspicking-guitar-intermediate
Intermediate Mandolin - https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/wabash-cannonball-mandolin
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Bummer. I was looking forward to us singing the National Anthem a capella on the 4th on @BanjoBen deck. Looks like everyone will miss that treat…
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So I haven’t read all of this thread so is camp still on?where can I find some information about cabin camp?
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Last I heard it’s on for the first week of July
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How much does it cost? What do you do there?
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It’s the first 2 weekends in July. You can watch Ben’s announcement about the reschedule here.
I THINK the price is $795, but check with @aliciabowman on that, as well as what spots are still available, if any.
Ben likes to keep the camp small and intimate, so spots usually sell out quickly. The reason he’s having 2 camps back to back is that his first camp filled up in 5 minutes from the time it went up for sale.
“What do you do there?”
This is so hard to answer. Technically, you sit in a circle and learn techniques about your instrument, then eat, then learn some more, then eat some more, then gather into groups in the evening and jam. It’s SOOOO much more than that, though. I can honestly say that last years camp was one of the funnest times I’ve ever had in my life. It was loaded with fine folk from all over the country.
Check out the short and long highlight videos from the last camp here.
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Thanks for the information
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Yep, we have a few spots open and will send out an email, just make sure you are signed up for special events email list on your account page: banjobenclark.com/account
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I’m starting to get nervous. Being in Canada there is no talk of opening any border in the foreseeable future. Now I don’t know if I should cancel my hotel reservation or more importantly, if I’ll be able to attend the camp. I’ll give it another few weeks then I’ll have to make a decision. This sucks.
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