Welcome to “Accordion Camps”

   Accordion enthusiasts in northern Utah know what an “accordion club” is—and they are able to attend the well-planned, highly varied, and appealing monthly events of the Salt Lake Area Accordion Club that have been going strong since January 2003. A very small percentage of attendees, perhaps 10 to15%, know from actual attendance what are annual “accordion festivals or conventions.” The Register published an article on festivals this year and by request will do another.

   But what are “accordion camps?” a number of you have asked. Likely no more than 3 or 4 of SLAAC attendees have ever attended one. Briefly put, the difference between a festival/convention and an accordion camp is as between night and day. Both can be excellent experiences, depending on your interests, which ones you attend, and what you want out of the time and money you expend.

   Festival/conventions can be said to be (1) “spectator experiences” with almost no or highly limited contact with some top-notch and exiting-to-hear performers and with limited contact with fellow attendees unless on your own you forge ahead and make an enduring acquaintance or two, and (2) some conventions provide workshops that you may attend, though these brief experiences generally do not advance playing skills very much yet can help brush-up former skills and give a few new ideas, and (3) attendees at most of these events have limited to no opportunity to play their accordion and jam with others. These events primarily focus on what “others do.” Yet they can be stimulating and energizing experiences, sometimes exciting from being entertained by some outstanding performers. Also, some festivals/conventions have “vacation flavor” locations that add to their appeal.

   Accordion camps, however, are (1) “participant experiences” where (1) attendees play an instrument during the day in group sessions and also play in small-size workshops where (2) the whole intent of the experience is to significantly advance your personal skills (whether you come in as a beginner or intermediate or advanced generally does not matter), and (3) as a result of your personal talking with renowned instructors and from practicing, talking, and jamming with fellow attendees you form personal relationships that allow you to contact each other on a first-name basis the rest of your life. These events focus on “improving you” and on “you making some real accordion friends with teachers and attendees.” These events will be stimulating, and they also can be exciting and energizing. And some are also held at “vacation flavor” locations that add to their appeal.

   With these advantages, one would expect many accordion camps being held, but as Linda Reed, last year’s president of the American Accordionists’ Association, said, “they seem to be a western U.S. thing.” After much searching, we inform you of five, grouped by category—accordion, button box, and an Irish event that has classes on piano accordion, button accordion, concertina but is focused on Irish music styling. If you know of others, please let us know so we can inform everyone.

   Three accordion camps

   Frank Marocco/Nick Ballarini Accordion Camp (mobile to various locations around the U.S. at different times of the year)---A camp is set for January 24-28, 2007 at Best Western Dobson Ranch Inn & Resort in Mesa (adjacent to Phoenix), Arizona. Key attraction is internationally famous concert, jazz, and recording artist Frank Marocco, one of the world’s most recorded accordionists with hundreds of credits on movie tracks, TV series, specials, recordings, and commercials over a near 60-year career, a quiet, unassuming person with a passion for helping other accordionists improve. Assisting is Nick Ballarini, well-known Dallas accordionist, pianist, bandleader. Private one-hour lessons with Frank or Nick available at additional cost. This camp’s format: short orchestra rehearsal on Wednesday eve and daily 3-hour rehearsals Thursday, Friday, Saturday led by Frank Marocco. Daily workshops by Ballarini, duet partners-teachers Stella Allison and Joan Grauman, and others. Evening activities: Wednesday-- introductions, short rehearsal, playing by Marocco, Ballarini, and others. Thursday-- attendees perform individually or in groups of 2 or more. Friday is dance/dance music night, attendees invited to bring favorite dance music to play. Saturday evening--public performance by camp orchestra and others. Spacious rooms of 2 queen beds; daily breakfast, lunch buffet Thursday thru Saturday, dinner buffet Wednesday thru Saturday. Fee includes room, meals noted above, all camp activities, music to be played, polo shirt with camp logo. 2 persons per room: $565 for playing participants; $345, non-players. 3 per room: $505, $285, respectively. 4 per room $465, $245. Commuter: $345, player; $125, non-player. Single occupancy: $785, player; $565, non-player. Limited to 50 players. No limit on non-players. Details, registration at www.frankmarocco.com or call 301-279-8716 or email morocco-ballarini@comcast.net.

   Rose City Accordion Camp (Oregon)—Held first full week of June (June 3-8, 2007); 5 days—Sunday afternoon until Friday morning; at gorgeous Silver Falls State Park 20 miles east of Salem; at conference center; lodge rooms, bedding, meals provided; RV locations available. Format: focus is on 2 orchestras—a “morning orchestra” with workshops in afternoon (improvisation, theory, performance skills, etc.) and an “afternoon orchestra” with workshops in the morning; music in multiple parts; players select desired parts subject to conductor’s needs. Music is sent shortly before camp; each orchestra works on several pieces to be performed Thursday night with performances from various attendees. Evenings are for practicing, jamming, forming duos or trios as attendees desire, playing for camper audience, talking, etc., with one free evening; other activities available include bike rentals, seeing nearby Silverton for shopping, enjoying the location. Two orchestra conductors and 2 workshop teachers: conductors for 2007 are heralded Joe Morelli and widely-known Ilmar Kuljus; instructors are Sylvia Barber and Gordon Kohl.  Full accommodations, meals, tuition--$485; discounts for non-accordionist spouses and those staying off-site. Any playing skill and age invited. Focus is on having fun while learning new skills and becoming better accordionists. Limited to 50-60 persons; registration by January 2007 generally a necessity due to camp popularity. Call 503-463-9909 or email marlenem26@msn.com.  

   Galla-Rini Accordion Camp (California)---Held last full week of July (July 22-27, 2007); 5 days—Sunday evening until Friday morning; at beautiful campus of Dominican University in San Rafael, 11 miles north of Golden Gate Bridge; stay in new dormitory suites, eat in dining hall; RV daytime parking on campus; RV park 2 miles away for evenings. Format—in the morning 1 big orchestra for everyone; music arranged for 11 parts includes six or more pieces of classical, show tunes, popular, and original compositions. Music sent to attendees a month in advance. Afternoons are for workshops (2006 workshops included Fingering, History of Musette, Fine Tuning Ensemble Play and Performance, Phrasing, Inter-relationships within 10 Commonly Used Chords and How to Locate Them in Any Key, Charles Magnante). Evenings: Monday & Tuesday everyone together in great fun jam led by camp leader; Wednesday “dance night” for dance-style music playing and line dance music and dancing, as well as small group socials, often nightly; Thursday orchestra concert, with solos, duets, from various attendees. Musical conductor is famed Joe Smiell, Sr.; arrangements played are by him or Galla-Rini. Joe is assisted by outstanding workshop teachers from across the nation. Private lessons with teaching staff available. Camp cost (abt) $580, non-playing spouse $380; $270 for commuter and RV parking--no meals, though meals available; $200 tuition, for resident or commuter. Limited to 60 persons; if interested, inquire early because generally fills up by early Spring. Valerie Kieser, editor of San Francisco Acc. Club, said “I’ve never seen so much learning mixed with pure fun packed into one short week.” Additional feature: Saturday night before camp, big get-acquainted social and playing accordions at a home near campus; Friday night after camp individually-paid group dinner at Volpi’s restaurant in nearby Petaluma, well-known accordion players hangout. Call 408-554-6275 or email vic3458@pacbell.net

Button box camp

   Joe Smiell’s Button Box Camps (California)---Twice yearly: on first Sunday after July 4 thru Saturday morning and on first Sunday after Labor Day thru Saturday morning; at Norden Ski Lodge in Sierra Nevada mountains close to Donner’s Summit, about hour west of Reno; arrangements for airport pickup by fellow attendees. All lodging, meals, instruction, recitals, etc., take place in lodge. Two dormitories line one floor with bunk beds for attendees to put down their sleeping bags, pillows. Format---after Sunday dinner attendees play a selection of choice to enable Joe Smiell to place attendees in groups according to ability—beginners, intermediate, advanced. Two unusual features: an attendee is not required to read music due to notation system used for button boxes; attendees not required to bring an instrument if they do not have one. By informing Joe previously, he provides attendees with instruments. Morning group lessons are given, then separation into ability groups for another lesson where exercise material is given for each attendee to work on at his/her pace. Joe daily writes or arranges music to fit individual participants. In afternoon are practicing, and individual lessons when helpful. Evenings are for practicing, playing, jamming with button box or accordion, and question/answer sessions. Free time Wednesday eve. Thursday eve each attendee plays selection of choice. Friday night attendees play a number each learned during week. Said Jeannie Berg, “I knew nothing of the button box but knew the camp would not only teach me how to play it but would teach musicianship as well. I expected it to be good and it exceeded my expectations---it was great!” Key attraction is Joe Smiell, Sr., legendary U.S. button box virtuoso player, composer, teacher, and performer who has played throughout the world. He is assisted by several prominent button box players. $725 for one person, $1,300, couples. Attendance limited to 30 per camp. Contact soon due to early fill-up. See www.buttonboxmusic.com and for email. Call 510-832-6938 or 510-236-3784. 

Irish Music Camp

   O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat (Texas)---Held October 27-29, 2006, at Hoblitzelle Camp & Conference Center in Midlothian, Texas, 30 miles south of Dallas. Camp focuses on Irish music. Has classes on fiddle, flute, harp, uilleann pipes, tinwhistle, bodran, guitar, piano, piano accordion, button accordion, concertina, piano, mandolin, tenor banjo, bouzouki, singing in English and Gaelic, and dancing--but all focused on “What makes it Irish.” The retreat is to help people learn and play traditional Irish music. Teachers are outstanding U.S. players in the Irish tradition.. Button box accordion classes, by Rick Cunningham with a long list of credentials; concertina by Ken Fleming, equally outstanding, and piano accordion by Mark Kenneth of equal prominence. $60 per day, $100 for 3 days; tent camping $10 per day; dormitory $20 per night per bed; motels nearby. Contact www.irishtradmusic.org. Email retreat@irishtradmusic.org. Call 972-238-8724.

   It would be exciting if a number of accordionists from Utah were able to attend a camp of their choice this year or next and return with new information, skills, and ideas. We would all be immeasurably enriched! If you attend a camp, please let us know so you can tell us about your experience.—Jay Todd