I've explored music and dance camps nationwide
for over 20 years and "Lark camp" proved to be a pleasant
surprise as one of the most musically stimulating events I've
ever attended. Its not that this camp necessarily has the best
music or faculty. There are lots of other excellent camps. Its
just that this camp comes closest to satisfying my own eclectic
musical tastes. In the course of a typical day I found myself
playing fiddle in a lively celtic session, attending a class in
Yugoslavian dance music, pounding the ivories at a swing and jitterbug
dance, and sitting on Persian rugs jamming on arabic music while
belly dancers circled round.
The camp is situated in the foothills east of the town of Mendocino
in a redwood forest. The rustic setting includes small cabins
with fireplaces but no electricity, plenty of camping space, dance
floors, dining halls, fire circles, and secluded wooded areas.
The days were moderately warm and comfortable, evenings cool enough
for a sweater. The camp started Friday night and continued through
till the next Saturday morning when sleepy attendees were wakened
by announcements via a megaphone to hurry and pack up so that
the next group of visiters can settle in. (The camp site is used
throughout the summer for other groups and events)
This is the largest camp I've attended at approximately 500 persons.
There is a "half camp" option at either end of the week
but I stayed for the complete event. Class scheduling is somewhat
informal as hired instructors were supplemented by anyone(students
or staff) who wanted to teach additional classes of their own
choosing. The printed advertising for the camp mentioned that
folk music "professionals," were welcome. Since I perform
and teach folk music for a living, I found this to be an inviting
feature. In addition to the classes I attended as a student, I
helped a beginning fiddler set up an instrument, explained chord
construction to a small group of accompanists, and shared other
bits of musical knowledge with many others. A teacher learns as
much or more than the student in the process of teaching and so
I came away from the week with a treasure of new musical knowledge.
It would take a couple more pages to list all of the music and
dance attractions available but I'll mention some of my personal
favorites: celtic fiddle with Dale Russ; Bosnian fiddle with Slavko;
continuous celtic sessions; Greek sessions; the Klesmer orchestra;
contra dancing; swing vocals class; cuban percussion class; mexican
music; French Canadian tunes with Kevin Carr; English Morris dancing
in the wee hours; middle eastern food, jams and dancing; the circle
of wheezing hurdy gurdys in the woods; and the numerous impromptu
jams and performances that would appear at any hour of night and
day, including a noon time concert by an orchestra of ocarinas.
Unlike other camps which have a particular weekly musical focus,
Lark heads out into almost every conceivable direction simultaneously.
It takes a bit of self discipline to limit one's activities and
still obtain the requisite sleep, nourishment, and rest. But if
music is your priority, Lark's the place! For more information
contact Lark in the Morning: PO Box 1176 Medocino, CA 95460, 707-964-5569.