Class Descriptions See the grid schedule for locations & details about the Tuesday half-day - Miles of Music
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Restorative Creativity Retreat ’21
Class Descriptions
See the grid schedule for locations &
details about the Tuesday half-day.
Also. This class schedule is an offering, not a requirement.
Please feel free to
SKIP EVERYTHING!
This is your week. Enjoy.8-9am
TWO-WAY “PRAYER” MEDITATION (Naiika)
Some are able to nd their calm and stillness in the midst of any storm, while others get tossed
about at the whim of life’s unexpected waves. Why, and more importantly how, are some people
able to stay centered? Resiliency takes having a strong anchor. The practice of Two Way Prayer
meditation offers a pathway to strengthening that anchor within us all. It involves sitting with a
notebook/diary in order to have a written conversation with God (a.k.a. Source Energy, Uni-
verse, “Good Orderly Direction” whatever term of endearment you subscribe to) and listening
back for what is heard. Through the process of communally holding space for the sharing of our
two way prayers together, daily blockages (from the creative, to the musical, to blocks in our per-
sonal lives) get removed! This is a practice you can take with you and continue practicing with
your artist friends and family for life! Let’s meditate together!
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10-11:15am
GROWING A SONG (Bridget)
A songwriting workshop outlining tactics for nding the right seeds, planting them, fertilizing,
watering, weeding, waiting and nally harvesting your crops of song! We will discuss some of the
different facets of songwriting--melody, lyrics, harmony, song form and rhythm--and experiment
with how they can each be used to inspire the beginning of a song, and ALL be synthesized to
complete a great song.
KIDS ONLY! (Sun-Tues = Art w/ Thomas. Weds-Thurs = Band w/ Lauren)
Thomas and the younger campers will make some art. Then Lauren can help them start a band.
Ages 15 & under.
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11:30am-12:45pm
A VOCAL JOURNEY:
FROM THE TECHNICAL TO THE EMOTIONAL (Rachael)
We will explore the connection between physical techniques and how they connect to communi-
cating the emotion of the song. We will learn various warmups to strengthen the voice and learn
how to tap into the various "parts" of one's voice. Come ready with a song to sing or just show up
to breathe and warm up!
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fiFINDING YOUR STORY:
SONGWRITING FOR BEGINNERS (& BEGINNER’S MINDS) (Kyshona)
Exploring new ways of nding subject matter to write about, taking cues from the outside world,
taking cues from journal prompts to help guide a song. Bring a pencil and paper. Especially wel-
come: beginners and anybody who's been having a creative block. There’s a possibility we’ll write
a big song together.
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2-3pm
FIDDLE – INT/ADV (Ruby)
Ruby will share different ddle styles that she has learned, including old time Michigan ddling
(which has in uences from French Canadian music and a “lumberjack style” that she associates
with the border states between the United States and Canada). Ruby’s own style is heavily in u-
enced by Ontario-style ddling, and she has also spent time studying with Métis ddle masters.
Re ecting both European and Native in uence, Métis music and dance developed as the Scottish
and French fur trade moved west from Ontario in the 1600-1800s. Its rhythmic style is part of a
living tradition in the Métis communities of Manitoba and the surrounding prairies. While not
Métis herself, Ruby brings her own Native perspective to this music as a member of the Grand
Traverse Band of Ottawa Chippewa Indians.
GUITAR – INT/ADV (Jesse)
Topics covered will be chord progressions/substitutions (a little bit of theory but don't be scared) -
We will also be looking at a few songs from Randy Newman for study (pianistic chord voicings for
guitar) and the nger picking style of James Taylor. Other topics covered will be arranging gui-
tar parts for song accompaniment.
SONG DOCTOR (Mike)
Mike offers tips, tricks and insights towards helping you improve your original song in a group
setting. Bring a work in progress or a song you don't mind exploring the possibilities with.
GUITAR – BEGINNER (Dinty)
Using songs to help learn chords and switching between chords. We’ll work a little bit with pick-
ing and single note runs, and use rudimentary theory to look at how the guitar is laid out so that
you have a map if you want to gure out more on your own.
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WON’T YOU COME & SING WITH ME? (Celia w/ Guests)
Play to your strengths with harmony-heavy, solo-worthy group jams that are fun and easy to sing.
I'll have a guest artist each day to help teach epic songs by songwriters such as John Prine, Gillian
Welch, Mississippi John Hurt, Hazel Dickens and more. Every day we'll revisit a classic and then
learn a new song that you can accompany as your spirit moves you.
SERVING A SONG (Mike + Ruthy)
All of the ways we "serve the song" from main course to garnish. This class will range from " n-
ishing touches" like tweaking a word or two, arranging, dynamics, instrumentation, etc… to "per-
formance toolkit" stuff like what to do with your arms, legs, face, eyes, weird thoughts, baggage,
excitement, etc when performing. A lot about listening inwardly and outwardly and seeing what
comes up. We might even touch on banter!
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4:45-5:15pm
TEATIME CONCERTS (See grid schedule for a list of performers)
fi5:30-6:30pm
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED! (Zachariah & Lauren)
Do you accept the challenge? Each night, at the stroke of bedtime, a new and surprising creative
challenge will be posted on a bulletin board on the Main House Porch. For instance, we could
challenge you to write a song or poem in the vein of CCR. Or a salty sea shanty. Look for the
challenge when you wake up and, should you choose to spend some time working on the idea,
you’re invited to share your new ingenious works – in all their glorious incompleteness – with an
elite gathering of brave campers who dove in with you. Hosted by Lauren and Zachariah.
WORKSHOPS DU JOUR (Different Each Day – See Below)
SUNDAY
“Meet Ruby John” w/ Ruby & New Friends
Ruby will play tunes and talk about the mix between cultures that in uenced her style of d-
dling. (See ddle class description above!).
MONDAY
“Meet the Plant People (& the Plants!)” w/ Marjorie Holland
Marge Holland is an ecologist who, together with the statistician you know as the boat-dri-
ving, keyboard-jamming Bat Clapham, started taking the island’s ecological “temperature”
every ten years starting in the 1970s. The last time this happened, Miles of Music was in its
rst year, and we were just a seedling of an invasive species. Now, eleven years and one pan-
demic later, we encroach upon the island together again. This walk & talk tour of the 2021
plant survey will be a once-in-a-decade opportunity to learn about Marge’s work… and how
the MoM community can be an ally in looking after this ecosystem for years to come.
TUESDAY
No Workshop Today – MoMah Gallery Opening at 5pm instead!
WEDNESDAY
“Mindfulness in Music” w/ Chris Eldridge
Being a great musician has more to do with free, unburdened self-expression than issues of
accomplishment or technical pro ciency. In this workshop, we will discuss some core tenants
of mindfulness and explore a few practices that can help us to be in the moment (and let go
of a need to be “in control”).
THURSDAY
“Growing & Sustaining the Miles of Music Community” facilitated by Caroline McCormick
Come join this open discussion about Miles of Music. Where have we been? How are we do-
ing? What comes next? The Miles of Music team always wants to hear your feedback in
whatever form it takes, but this conversation is a rare opportunity to learn and share in real
time with the people who collectively make this community what it is.
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fiPrivate Lessons
It’s another Miles of Music rst! As part of their teaching commitment this year, we’ve asked the
Instructors and Guest Artists to offer a small number of 25-minute private lessons. We’ll post a
fresh signup sheet daily. Each camper should sign up for THREE private lessons during the week,
and each staff person may sign up for ONE as well.
Here’s what the teachers are excited to share:
Allie Chipkin: one-on-one yoga coaching (see description below)
Bridget Kearney: bass, songwriting help
Celia Woods-Smith : singing w/ guitar, performance, 1st time songwriter session, song editing
Chris Eldridge: guitar, mindfulness in music (on any instrument)
Chris Miller : saxophone/woodwinds, music business/project strategizing, clawhammer banjo
(bring a tune to work on), music theory
Dietrich Strause: song feedback, guitar
Elizabeth Ziman: song feedback
Jesse Harper: song feedback, one-on-one guitar help
Kristin Andreassen: atfooting, song feedback, camp feedback
Kyshona Armstrong: dream big sessions, tiny co-writes, vocal coaching
Lauren Balthrop: song feedback, voice, beg./int. guitar
Mike Merenda: banjo, ngerstyle guitar
Naiika Alfred: passionate performance (see description below)
Rachael Price: singing technique, phrasing, emotional interpretation, songwriting
Ruby John: ddle-from-scratch, ddle feedback & tips (bring a tune to work on)
Ruth Ungar: ukulele!, harmony singing practice, ddle (beginner-ish?)
Thomas Brown: help stage your artwork for Tuesday’s Art Gallery Opening
Zachariah Hickman: theory, harmony, mandolin, sousaphone
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fiSOME PRIVATE LESSON DESCRIPTIONS YOGA (Allie Chipkin) Curious about yoga, but not sure where to start? Has it been a while since you've refreshed that downward dog? Do you have questions about yoga, your body, past injuries, or mindfulness? Schedule a 25-minute private yoga session with vinyasa instructor, Allie Chipkin, during your time at camp! In these private sessions, you'll receive personalized attention, answers to your yoga-related questions, and a short personalized practice that complements your unique body and experience! All levels are welcome! PASSIONATE PERFORMANCE (Naiika Sings) Connecting to an audience has very little to do with technical skill or ability. Skill attracts (of course), but passion is what keeps people glued to their seats. The core of a passionate perfor- mance and passionate performer is knowing how to engage in intimacy with your listeners wher- ever and however you deliver your gifts to them. In this experience, we explore together how you can excite your listeners as you perform. Turning your performance fears into points for connec- tion/engagement is the focus of this one-on-one exploration. Learn from an NYC subway per- former whose soulful selections with little more than a mic and amp on the subway have capti- vated the hearts and eyes of millions. This schedule was created with care by Kristin, Lauren, Zack, & the teachers. We look forward to your notes on what worked well, and what could be improved. Artwork created by Thomas Brown.
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