collage by pete sutherland
TESTIMONIALS
what campers say about us
this from one of our youth scholarship musicians:
"Being a part of Camp this year was a great value to me socially and with my fiddling. Playing so much music makes you a stronger player, and teaches you how to have great endurance. I also met and played music with a lot of great people that I never played with in the past. I learned so many tunes that I can take from camp, and play back home.
Camp makes you a better player, because you learn how to learn tunes, you learn how to play with other people that might not play the same instrument as you. You learn how to play for long periods of time, and might even learn how to play a new instrument. In my case, the mandolin. I’m so glad I went to camp this year, and I’m excited to be a part of it next year." -- ZM, VT
this from one of our musicians:
NHMC was a total music immersion experience from about 6:30 AM to past midnight. What a wonderful time. I started playing within about 30 mins of arriving and don't think I stopped for the full week. Not even mincemeat fingers were able to get in the way.
It wasn't until I had been home for about 3 weeks that I began to understand what a difference this camp made in my playing outlook. I've been happy to try new ideas I didn't know I would have and my thinking has been considerably expanded. NHMC is a must. -- LB VT
another happy camper:
I had too much fun. To begin with, the camp is in a beautiful location, the accommodations are excellent. I stayed in an ecolodge room with three others, next door to some of the musician instructors. We sat in our rocking chairs like some... home of our dreams, listening to great jam sessions. The classes were very excellent, instructors top notch, friendly, approachable. The camp population was a nice mix of baby boomers and millenials. The kids brought a nice raucous energy to the mix. I especially enjoyed the spirit they brought to the evening dances. The nightly staff concerts followed by dancing is a killer combination. The layout of the camp provided space for solitary practice and impromptu jam sessions. The food was banging, as my hip hop kids would say. I would do this camp again every few months if that was an option. -- JC Hartford, CT
and this from one of our teens:
Going to NHMC on scholarship gave me the chance to explore traditional music, song and dance in an environment that was welcoming, supportive and inspiring. I went with some trepidation, because although I've played classical violin for years, I was more than a little afraid to step out into the fiddling world. From my first interaction during the application process to my last day of camp, there was on-going encouragement, excellent communication and a spirit of community that was palpable. From right before breakfast to right before bedtime, each day was filled with musical opportunities. Each day was also filled with good food, good people, and good times. The instructors were all outstanding musicians and enthusiastic teachers. The organizers, who were also participants, kept things running smoothly, and every camper contributed to make the camp a success.
NHMC gave me a precious gift -- the confidence in my capability to learn and play traditional music, for which I am grateful. I can't recommend this camp enough, and I hope to attend again! -- AM, Lincoln, VT
a student's testimonial:
"I'm still on a musical cloud, I just came back from playing with the trio I'm in, and there were a lot of little things that just came more easily and were more fun, so amidst all of the euphoria, I actually learned something as well. Not surprising, since all of the faculty I worked with, and the others that I heard in concerts and bands were superb. The experience was outstanding. Instructors were universally kind, amazingly skilled musicians, and had gone back to the sources of their traditions, adding a great deal my understanding and appreciation of the music.
It seemed to me that instructors had a good sense of tunes that were teachable and interesting, and showed the bones of the genre. These guys have been playing and thinking about this music for a long time, and they are all very good at articulating their stuff, sometimes through language, but mostly through breaking down their playing into detailed, manageable chunks for students." -- SR, Montpelier, VT
a repeat attendee:
"I've attended NHMC 4 years in a row and loved every single year. I was a rank beginner my first year and in the ensuing 3 years, have progressed much faster than I ever could have without this camp. I've always considered NHMC my own little musical cocoon. It's fun, nurturing, and I've created life-long friendships through the years there. I'm so happy you're continuing this wonderful tradition!!" -- anonymous
another student:
"NHMC was the first music camp I ever went to. I selected it because of the quality of the instructors and the fact that they had a clearly defined schedule available before I registered. I didn't know anyone else who was attending that first year and was very much a beginner but the students and staff were so welcoming and friendly that I still maintain friendships with folks I met there that year. There is so much breadth and depth of instruction available and at the same time it is so much fun that I have returned since then and plan to go again this year." --JG, Rhode Island
..and here's one from the first recipient of the scholarship fund at NHMC 2010:
"Northeast Heritage was an amazing experience! I loved all the teachers, and felt that they were really supportive and encouraging. I learned so much; tons of new tunes! Everyone was so friendly. I got closer to old friends and made new ones. I feel so fortunate to have been able to meet and work with so many amazing musicians.
I am so thankful that I got a scholarship, which enabled me to go to this amazing camp! I hope, for myself and others, that some help will be available again for the (next) summer camp. This will make it possible for those to have this experience, who might otherwise not be able to afford it."
--youth scholarship student
"Being a part of Camp this year was a great value to me socially and with my fiddling. Playing so much music makes you a stronger player, and teaches you how to have great endurance. I also met and played music with a lot of great people that I never played with in the past. I learned so many tunes that I can take from camp, and play back home.
Camp makes you a better player, because you learn how to learn tunes, you learn how to play with other people that might not play the same instrument as you. You learn how to play for long periods of time, and might even learn how to play a new instrument. In my case, the mandolin. I’m so glad I went to camp this year, and I’m excited to be a part of it next year." -- ZM, VT
this from one of our musicians:
NHMC was a total music immersion experience from about 6:30 AM to past midnight. What a wonderful time. I started playing within about 30 mins of arriving and don't think I stopped for the full week. Not even mincemeat fingers were able to get in the way.
It wasn't until I had been home for about 3 weeks that I began to understand what a difference this camp made in my playing outlook. I've been happy to try new ideas I didn't know I would have and my thinking has been considerably expanded. NHMC is a must. -- LB VT
another happy camper:
I had too much fun. To begin with, the camp is in a beautiful location, the accommodations are excellent. I stayed in an ecolodge room with three others, next door to some of the musician instructors. We sat in our rocking chairs like some... home of our dreams, listening to great jam sessions. The classes were very excellent, instructors top notch, friendly, approachable. The camp population was a nice mix of baby boomers and millenials. The kids brought a nice raucous energy to the mix. I especially enjoyed the spirit they brought to the evening dances. The nightly staff concerts followed by dancing is a killer combination. The layout of the camp provided space for solitary practice and impromptu jam sessions. The food was banging, as my hip hop kids would say. I would do this camp again every few months if that was an option. -- JC Hartford, CT
and this from one of our teens:
Going to NHMC on scholarship gave me the chance to explore traditional music, song and dance in an environment that was welcoming, supportive and inspiring. I went with some trepidation, because although I've played classical violin for years, I was more than a little afraid to step out into the fiddling world. From my first interaction during the application process to my last day of camp, there was on-going encouragement, excellent communication and a spirit of community that was palpable. From right before breakfast to right before bedtime, each day was filled with musical opportunities. Each day was also filled with good food, good people, and good times. The instructors were all outstanding musicians and enthusiastic teachers. The organizers, who were also participants, kept things running smoothly, and every camper contributed to make the camp a success.
NHMC gave me a precious gift -- the confidence in my capability to learn and play traditional music, for which I am grateful. I can't recommend this camp enough, and I hope to attend again! -- AM, Lincoln, VT
a student's testimonial:
"I'm still on a musical cloud, I just came back from playing with the trio I'm in, and there were a lot of little things that just came more easily and were more fun, so amidst all of the euphoria, I actually learned something as well. Not surprising, since all of the faculty I worked with, and the others that I heard in concerts and bands were superb. The experience was outstanding. Instructors were universally kind, amazingly skilled musicians, and had gone back to the sources of their traditions, adding a great deal my understanding and appreciation of the music.
It seemed to me that instructors had a good sense of tunes that were teachable and interesting, and showed the bones of the genre. These guys have been playing and thinking about this music for a long time, and they are all very good at articulating their stuff, sometimes through language, but mostly through breaking down their playing into detailed, manageable chunks for students." -- SR, Montpelier, VT
a repeat attendee:
"I've attended NHMC 4 years in a row and loved every single year. I was a rank beginner my first year and in the ensuing 3 years, have progressed much faster than I ever could have without this camp. I've always considered NHMC my own little musical cocoon. It's fun, nurturing, and I've created life-long friendships through the years there. I'm so happy you're continuing this wonderful tradition!!" -- anonymous
another student:
"NHMC was the first music camp I ever went to. I selected it because of the quality of the instructors and the fact that they had a clearly defined schedule available before I registered. I didn't know anyone else who was attending that first year and was very much a beginner but the students and staff were so welcoming and friendly that I still maintain friendships with folks I met there that year. There is so much breadth and depth of instruction available and at the same time it is so much fun that I have returned since then and plan to go again this year." --JG, Rhode Island
..and here's one from the first recipient of the scholarship fund at NHMC 2010:
"Northeast Heritage was an amazing experience! I loved all the teachers, and felt that they were really supportive and encouraging. I learned so much; tons of new tunes! Everyone was so friendly. I got closer to old friends and made new ones. I feel so fortunate to have been able to meet and work with so many amazing musicians.
I am so thankful that I got a scholarship, which enabled me to go to this amazing camp! I hope, for myself and others, that some help will be available again for the (next) summer camp. This will make it possible for those to have this experience, who might otherwise not be able to afford it."
--youth scholarship student
