Summercamp. It conjures up memories of swimming at the lake, long hikes in the woods, making leather wallets in arts & crafts and sitting around the campfire making smores and listening to stories. Perhaps a few memories of upset stomaches and homesickness might also be recalled. Still, the memories and lessons learned usually stay with you.

There is a unique camping experience available for adults who share an interest in songwriting. Now celebrating it’s 10th annivesary, SUMMERSONGS will be holding their annual summer camps in August on both the east and west coasts.

The camp was established by Penny Nichols in the summer of 1999 to assist songwriters and to nuture the creative community that supports their work. The summer camp in the Catskills has evolved to 4 events per year with the establishment of a West Coast SummerSongs and winter weekend retreats on both coasts appropriately titled WINTERSONGS. Over the years more than 500 students have taken part in the program. Instructors have included Grammy Award winning songwriters such as Julie Gold along with the cream of the crop of contemporary folk music’s finest! With instuctors like Wendy Waldman, Scott Ainslie, Sloan Wainwright, Bob Franke and Cliff Eberhardt – you know that the attendees will be a group of happy campers!

This year, the east coast camp will take place August 2nd through the 8th at Camp Ashokan(the camp that inspired Jay Ungar to write the memorable tune!) located in the heart of New York’s Catskills, and there will be a west coast camp August 17th through the 21st at Camp Ocean Pines in Cambria,California.

I guess when you are an adult you can call these opportunties “retreats”, but when you get down to it – you are going back to camp! In addition to the songwriting workshops, there is plenty of time for enjoying the “camp” experience. Summersongs offers a wonderful opportunity for songwriters to work on their craft, to enjoy the amentities of a camp experience, and to help nuture the singer-songwriter community that is integral in carrying on the music. Networking among artists and sharing experiences creates a very healthy atmosphere – and those of us who enjoy this music receive the gift of great music. For more information, visit their website at http://www.summersongs.com/ .


Steve Gillette, who along with his wife Cindy Mangsen will be instructors this year, sent along a note to encourage people to sign up for camp! I’m happy to share his note with all of you:

Dear Friends,

Just a quick note to let you know of something special that Cindy and I will be doing next month. We’re going to be teaching at SummerSongs which is a terrific songwriter’s retreat at the Ashokan Conference Center near Woodstock, New York, from Saturday, August 2nd, through Friday, August 8th.

It’s a wonderful group of people, and a very nice atmosphere. The food is spectacular and there are many activities, classes and performance opportunities. If you are working on your songwriting or know someone who would enjoy spending a week working on their music, please pass this information along. Here’s the information about the camp.

Calling all singer-songwriters! Join us a the beautiful Ashokan Field Campus for the 10th anniversary SummerSongs songwriting camp and camper reunion where we’ll again explore many aspects of songwriting, music, singing & the music business. Listen and learn from nationally known artists, attend workshops & concerts, network, perform, collaborate, swim, jam, and relax at a beautiful summer camp in the Catskill Mountains of New York…not to mention the best “camp food” you’ve ever had. Classes will include songwriting, song arranging, performance/stagecraft, harmony singing, co-writing, guitar, keyboard, marketing, and more, and you’ll have many opportunities to share you music in song circles, coffeehouses, concerts, and feedback sessions.

ALL levels are welcomed, We’re looking forward to spending quality time with many old friends among the staff and the campers. Teaching this year will be Mark Dann, Cosy Sheridan, Sloan Wainwright, Bob Franke, Penny Nichols, John Redgate, David Roth, Ruth Ungar Merenda, Michael Merenda, Cadence Carroll, Vito Petrocitto, and of course, Cindy and me.

For more information visit the SummerSongs website at http://www.summersongs.com/ or call (845) 750-6871 You will receive a generous discount if you let Penny know that we referred you.

All the best,

Steve Gillette
Compass Rose Music
Post Office Box 1501
Bennington, VT 05201
http://www.compassrosemusic.com/