COURTESY OF MAINE FIDDLE CAMP
Maine Fiddle Camp focuses on the traditional dance music of the Scots-Irish, French, and Scandinavian traditions as they’ve evolved in Maine. Our large staff of traditional musicians play and teach fiddle, piano, guitar, banjo, mandolin, cello, bass, penny whistle/flute,
mandolin, accordion, harmonica, vocals, and more, in workshops, performances, jams, song swaps, and dances.
Maine Fiddle Camp is an outdoor Maine summer camp experience. Campers stay in rustic bunkhouse cabins without electricity or in their own tents or RVs. Youths stay in cabins but may stay in tents with their family if they wish. All campers have convenient access to bathrooms
and hot showers.
Good music and good food are elegantly combined at camp. The wholesome meals and snacks are eaten outdoors under tents, and classes are also held mostly outdoors. Mornings are spent in classes, with campers grouped by ability for small group instruction. Afternoons offer time for special-interest workshops, to practice on your own or with a friend, or for non-musical fun such as swimming. In the evenings there are concerts, dances, coffeehouses, and variety shows featuring performances by both staff and campers, all under the big tent, as well as jams for various levels, and sometimes other activities. Spontaneous jams are apt to happen almost anywhere, at any time, as campers enjoy swapping tunes and sharing the music they are learning in their classes.
Musicians of all ages and ability levels are welcome at Maine Fiddle Camp. Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult. A weekend or week at Maine Fiddle Camp makes a great family vacation. Rates are
affordable — it’s twice the camp for half the price! Scholarships are available. Space is limited — early registration is encouraged. Tunes are taught by ear, in the traditional manner. Prior to each year’s first session, a new collection of tunes is posted on the website in both sound recording and sheet music formats and campers are encouraged to take advantage of this valuable resource year-round.
