Harmonica Camp Anyone?
While I won't be able to do this coming October's myself, check out https://menucha.org/programs/harmonica-northwest . Hosted by great folks including none other than Joe Filisko!
I've never been to the Menucha Retreat and Conference Center, but I'm familiar with the beautiful Columbia River Highway area, and for a number of years friends have gone to the uke camp that happens earlier each year and is directed by Aaron & Nicole Keim, who've made some of my non-harmonica instruments. (See www.thebeansprout.com). Those who've been there have brought back glowing reports about the facility.
I've been in touch with Joe to see about future years' plans, and he's let me know that if this year's is a success, he can make it a more regular thing.
So please ... sign up. And have a great time!
Winslow: And add to that, Jon Gindick's been doing small-group seminars at his cabin on beautiful June Lake in the Sierras, and I read a while ago about one that Ronnie Shellist did in a cabin in the Rockies. Being in a cabin in the woods with either Jon or Ronnie definitely wouldn't be a scary movie. It'd be fabulous!
This is one of multiple harmonica seminars/camps, etc. that occur at various times. And it looks relatively expensive.
Jason Ricci and I produced the Harmonica Collective for four years (2013-16) in Indianapolis, with teachers that included, in addition to ourselves, Mitch Kashmar, Ross Garren, RJ Mischo, Richard Sleigh, Magic Dick, James Conway, Michael Peloquin, and Buzz Krantz, and a later edition in New Orleans, produced by Tom Watson, that included Rick Estrin and John Nemeth. (the planned 2019 event with Jerry Portnoy, James Conway, and Catriona Sturton, was postponed until 2020, then cancelled due to COVID).
Our cost didn't include accommodation but was at a relatively inexpensive hotel (or, in New Orleans, a nightclub)and with a much lower registration fee.
There are others in North Carolina, hosted by Todd Parrot, and in Florida, hosted by Jerry Fierro, that are even cheaper than the Harmonica Collective.
And then there's the SPAH convention, a weeklong smorgasbord of teaching, jamming, concerts, and vendor booths that again has a fairly low registration fee. The first live one in three years just wrapped up this last Saturday. I've been involved in planning and running that event for several years now.
It's great tat Kim Field is doing this (Joe Filisko is one of the teachers). but I know how hard it is to make money or even break even doing these events.