JUNE MUSIC CAMPS ARE COMING SOON

MONTANA
The annual Montana Old Time Fiddlers Camp holds two sessions during the first two weeks of June. This year they will be on June 1-6 and 8-13. While most sessions stress fiddling there are also classes in guitar, mandolin and banjo. During the second camp one can also play old time music on your cello.  That instructor is an excellent cellist from the Missoula Symphony Orchestra.  You can read more information by clicking on  http://www.montanafiddlers.org/camp.html.  Scholarships are available. The local MSOTFA District 4 has sent one student of any age in past years. Check with a member of that group for more info. The Yellowstone Bluegrass Association takes the term "student" more literally. They have a scholarship available for anyone currently attending school from elementary through college. 
 
NORTH DAKOTA
The 2014 International Old Time Fiddlers weekend will take place at the International Peace Garden from June 5 to 7 this year. Workshops will be held on Thursday and Friday with the Old Time Fiddle Contest on Saturday. At the recommendation of B.A.N.D., the Bluegrass Association of North Dakota, mandolin will be taught for the first time. Instructors include John Andrus (5-string banjo),  Adam Granger (guitar), Mark Kreitzer (Fiddle, mandolin), Alex Lamoureaux and Ann Schluter (fiddles). John Andrus also provides music theory principles and banjo tab in each monthly edition of the B.A.N.D. newsletter. This is a great feature for B.A.N.D. members. Gate admission to the International Peace Garden is also required. That means you will need a passport or a birth certificate (everyone) and a photo ID if 16 of older. For more info search internationalmusiccamp.com

These camp slots can fill up so don't wait too long to register.  Of course there are many other music camps over the summer in other locales as well and some stress bluegrass music exclusively. If you do not want to spend so much time in a camp there are instrumental workshops at festivals, too. One that is in our area is the annual Big Horn Mountain Festival in Buffalo, Wyoming. In addition to the other festival experiences they have these type workshops and a state fiddle contest as well.  This one is within driving distance of many readers of this blog. Plan on having a picking good summer whatever you decide to do.