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Ashokan Acoustic Guitar Camp offers guitarists of all levels an opportunity for real immersion and growth in a friendly environment where people can sing, jam and share valuable musical knowledge. Choose from a variety of specialized daytime classes, and enjoy evening presentations, hosted jams, and mini-concerts. You’ll come away with new repertoire and techniques, a reinvigorated sense of direction and purpose, and a greater confidence and joy in making music on your guitar!
Staff includes: Reverend Robert Jones, Hubby Jenkins, Valerie Turner, Albanie Faletta, Ali Dineen, and your host Mamie Minch!
“I learned so much! The teachers are incredible, so patient and warm. As a semi-advanced beginner I feel I’m coming away with a new vocabulary and sense of what to work towards. Very inspiring.”
“Aside from the excellent teaching… I loved the ambiance and camaraderie of the camp.”
“Beyond expectations by miles. The teachers were exceptional and incredibly generous.”
“Great food, beautiful setting. I loved the concerts and open mics!”
JUST ADDED! Click here for this year’s schedule – subject to change.
The above prices cover meals and tuition. Lodging options vary in price and may be selected during registration. Camping is free.
Available!
July 26, 2023
We invite our community to enjoy a wonderful evening of acoustic guitar players. Don't miss this incredible lineup. 7:30pm
MAMIE MINCH, Your Host
MAMIE MINCH, your host, is a longtime staple of New York’s acoustic blues scene. Listening to her sing and play is like unpacking a time capsule of American music that’s been stored in her 1930’s National steel guitar for decades and filtered with a modern femme sensitivity. Mamie writes and performs songs and ballads that bridge between herstorical record and contemporary city life, and especially loves performing material from women musicians through time. She is also one half of Brooklyn Lutherie, NYC’s only woman owned and run instrument repair shop. Mamie has been teaching blues guitar for 20 years; she is delighted to come back to Ashokan, and to bring her fabulous musical co-hort to Acoustic Guitar Camp.
ALBANIE FALLETTA was born in Monroe, Louisiana, and grew up hearing live Cajun, Zydeco, Blues and Gospel musics, until she relocated with family to central Texas at the age of nine. Not long after, she began taking guitar lessons with a next door neighbor and delving into the worlds of acoustic roots and electric blues, punk, and hair metal. She started songwriting around age 12, after attending the Kerrville Folk Festival, and subsequently scoring a free ticket to a Ray Wylie Hubbard songwriting workshop. Falletta was found by the music of Django Reinhardt as a freshman in highschool, and was soon accompanying teachers at swing gigs around the Texas Hill Country, and Austin. She started her own band at age eighteen, and began leading a residency at the Elephant Room in Austin, playing original swing music and early jazz standards with The Fellas. Falletta moved to New Orleans in 2013 to deepen her understanding of traditional jazz, and the people who made it. Shortly after the move, she rekindled her childhood love of early acoustic blues guitar, and began making trips back to Austin to study with fingerstyle blues guitar maestro, Steve James. In the fall of 2019, Falletta moved to New York City to be a part of the bustling early jazz, acoustic blues, folk, and ragtime scenes. Albanie performs solo, and in several early jazz configurations around the country throughout the year. She has been teaching guitar since 2013.
HUBBY JENKINS is a talented multi-instrumentalist who endeavors to share his love and knowledge of old-time American music. Born and raised in Brooklyn he delved into his southern roots, following the thread of African American history that wove itself through America’s traditional music forms. As an integral member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops and later Rhiannon Giddens band, Hubby has performed at festivals and venues around the world, earning himself both Grammy and Americana award nominations. Today he spreads his knowledge and love of old-time American music through his dynamic solo performances and engaging workshops.
VALERIE TURNER is a native New Yorker with southern roots in Virginia and Georgia. She plays finger style Country Blues guitar and specializes in the Piedmont style of fingerpicking. She has taught at major guitar workshops including the Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Workshop, Augusta Blues Week, and Blues in the Gorge. An inductee into the New York Blues Hall of Fame, and Co-President of the Mississippi John Hurt Foundation, Valerie is also the author of Piedmont Style Country Blues Guitar Basics, an independently published book acquired by the Library of Congress. Her eclectic repertoire is heavily influenced by the years spent studying with John Cephas (a world-renowned Country Blues musician in the Piedmont style) and Woody Mann (a Juilliard trained student of Rev. Gary Davis). Valerie’s guitar playing is reminiscent of traditional blues greats like Mississippi John Hurt, Etta Baker, and Elizabeth Cotten. Valerie and her husband Benedict perform as the Piedmont Blūz Acoustic Duo and, in addition to a host of domestic venues and festivals, these tradition bearers have traveled as far as Europe and the Middle East to share their music.
ALI DINEEN is a poet-composer born and raised in Queens, whose lyrics are poetic and deeply personal, and highlight the intersections between personal experience, larger histories, and systems of power. Ali has performed at the Museum of Art and Design, the Caramoor American Roots Music Festival, the American Folk Art Museum, and the Brooklyn Folk Festival, among other wonderful venues, and was awarded the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation Residency in 2020. Ali is also the music director for local puppet troupe extraordinaire The Boxcutter Collective, arranges music and sings with Reverend Billy & the Stop Shopping Choir, and is part of a duet with the inimitable Feral Foster. Ali released a third album, Hold On, in 2020, and is currently working on a new piece about Joan of Arc. For the last 7 years, Ali has taught music to people of all ages in various settings, from Beach Boys vocal harmony workshops to Joni Mitchell guitar classes. Her guitar playing incorporates melodic fingerpicking and open strumming, both used to support her vocal delivery and songwriting.
REV. ROBERT JONES makes his home in Detroit while performing throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. For over thirty years, Robert has worked as an inspirational storyteller and musician celebrating the history, humor and power of American Roots music. An award-winning multi-instrumentalist, he is accomplished at guitar, harmonica, mandolin, banjo and fiddle. He has recorded six albums of original and tradition songs. An award winning blues radio host, he has taught at music history courses at Wayne State University in Detroit. As an ordained minister and a Baptist pastor, he has an unwavering faith in the cultural importance of sacred and traditional American roots music. In addition to his solo performances, he often collaborates musically with his wife, Sister Bernice Jones, singer-songwriter Matt Watroba and poet-performer M.L. Liebler.
This protocol meets or exceeds current CDC and NY State Department of Health guidelines and is subject to revision based on changing conditions and changes in those guidelines. We’ll notify registered campers if there are any significant changes before camp begins. We trust our caring community to find the right balance of caution and fun within these parameters, to make safe decisions, and to treat fellow campers with respect.
In Advance:
We ask everyone to test for COVID-19 in the 24 hours before arrival.
If you test positive, do not attend.
If you’ve recently recovered from COVID and have been symptom free for 5 or more days without the use of fever-reducers, you may attend.
All refund requests due to COVID exposure, or COVID-related concerns will be honored.
Longhouse bunk rooms will be capped at 1/2 occupancy.
Overall camp attendance will be limited to provide ample space for distancing.
On Site:
The Ashokan Center will provide onsite rapid testing upon request or as needed.
Anyone who tests positive or develops symptoms consistent with COVID will be asked to leave the event and will be entitled to a refund.
Masks are recommended while gathering indoors (except when eating or performing.) N-95 masks can be provided on request.
Whole room exhaust fans in the Performance Hall & Dining Hall will draw a constant stream of fresh air.
Daily cleaning includes disinfectant for all door handles, tables, and any frequently touched surfaces.
You may pay in full or hold your place with a deposit of $200 per person. If making a deposit, full payment is due 4 weeks before camp begins. If you register within 4 weeks of camp full payment is required.
To cancel your camp registration, email events@ashokancenter.org
• We retain $50 per person for cancellations requested up to 4 weeks before camp begins, and for COVID-related cancellations made at any date.
• We retain $200 per person between 4 and 2 weeks before camp.
• We retain the full registration amount within 2 weeks of camp.
MONDAY
TUESDAY-THURSDAY
FRIDAY
You may choose to pay up front or pay a deposit and balance. Balance payment is due 4 weeks before the event.
Registration includes all activities and meals. Lodging is optional and camping is free.
Children under 5 attend for free (under 3 for Family Camp). Campers under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
All meals are included. You may indicate your dietary restrictions when registering. We make every effort to include a range of allergen-free dishes and to inform diners of meal ingredients.
The Ashokan Center is licensed to serve beer and wine in Esopus Lodge (the main building). The bar is generally open from late afternoon to early evening. Sorry, by law, guests are prohibited from bringing their own alcoholic beverages into this licensed building.
LONGHOUSE BUNKS: Rooms hold up to 12 people (50% capacity) and are designated women, men, or all gender. Place your belongings on a top or bottom bunk after you check in to claim it. Pillows are available, please bring your own blankets, sheets, pillowcases, and towels. There are a small number of light blankets for those bunkhouse residents who are unable to bring one of their own. If you will need us to provide one, please let us know well in advance.
PRIVATE ROOMS: There are a limited number of private rooms that must be reserved in advance at extra charge. Pillows are available, please bring your own sheets, pillowcases, and towels. There are light quilts in each private room.
CAMPSITES: Camping is available with access to bathrooms and outdoor showers. Please park by your campsite only if you plan to leave your car in place for the duration of the camp.
If you’re lodging with us please remember to bring a blanket and linens (or sleeping bag), towel, toiletries, soap, flashlight, earplugs (for light sleepers). There are light quilts in each private room and we have a small number of light blankets for bunkhouse residents who can’t bring one of their own. Let us know well in advance if you’ll need one.
Flashlight, recording device, camera (or maybe those are all your phone!)
Comfortable informal clothing for wet and dry weather. Some may also bring dressy, wild or fun clothing as well but that is up to you! There’s no laundry on site so bring enough clothes for the camp.
Please, no pets or drop-in guests.
Incoming mail
Your Name c/o Ashokan Music & Dance
477 Beaverkill Rd,
Olivebridge, NY 12461
Outgoing mail leaves each weekday at 4pm.
Music & Dance Camp Phone (845) 657-8333 x 3
Cell phone reception is available but spotty. Calls may be dropped but texts are reliably received.
High speed Wi-Fi is available in all buildings.
Physical Address:
Ashokan Center, 477 Beaverkill Rd, Olivebridge, NY 12461
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
Take NY State Thruway (1-87) to Kingston exit #19.
From traffic circle take Route 28 West (toward Pine Hill).
In 12 miles (shortly after Mobil & Citgo) turn left onto Reservoir Rd.
Cross the Ashokan Reservoir, turn left at the Tee.
Head down the hill, pass the first left (Rt 28A East) and merge onto 28A West.
Take next left onto Beaverkill Rd.
Follow Beaverkill for about one mile, then turn right into the Ashokan Center driveway and follow the signs.
AIRPORT Albany, NY (ALB) is the closest major airport (about 1.5 hours away). Public transportation is available from the airport to the Kingston bus station, where you can take a taxi to Ashokan. Or contact us at least one month before your program begins for a list of people driving from the Albany area who may be able to give you a ride.
If there are no camp spots or private rooms available above, you may add your name to this waitlist. If space opens up we will contact you.
The Ashokan Center builds community through shared experiences in nature, history, music and art. We have hosted traditional Music & Dance Camps at our 385 acre nature preserve for over 40 years. In 2020 we learned how to host them online and in 2021 we began to reimagine how to gather in person once again.
Come join the Ashokan family to celebrate, learn, connect, deepen your music, make new friends, and brighten your day. Our events are open to all folks, all ages and all orientations.
The Ashokan Center
477 Beaverkill Rd.
Olivebridge, NY 12461
General Inquiries
info@ashokancenter.org
845-657-8333
Music & Dance Camps
camps@ashokancenter.org
845-246-2121
Ashokan Center programming is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature
