datamusicata

I've taught at a couple of camps years ago that no longer exist, and two years ago, I taught at Summersongs and Wintersongs, so that is the only camp that I know intimately, but what I did was to ask Severin Browne (www.severinbrowne.com) if he would write something about Summersongs as he's been a teacher there for years. Here's what he had to say:

SummerSongs West 2007

My name is Severin Browne and I am a song-write-aholic. It started when I was very young and has stayed with me my whole life. I know there are many out there with this same affliction that might benefit from having the friendly and supportive songwriting community that I’ve found at SummerSongs. This article will tell you a little bit about the June 2007 SummerSongs West, specifically. If you’re inspired by any of this, please join us at our next camp.

SummerSongs was begun in 1999 in Upstate New York, the brainchild of Penny Nichols, a respected singer, vocal coach and songwriter. Penny wanted to create an annual summer camp where songwriters could be nurtured and supported while they made their way along their creative journeys. I traveled to New York in August, 2000, for the second SummerSongs to find out how Penny could, “encourage, support and promote the creation of songs, the work of songwriters, and to facilitate the inclusion of original songs in the life of communities,” as she said in the SummerSongs Mission Statement. What I found impressed me, and I surprised myself by realizing that I never wanted to go another year without SummerSongs!

After a couple years SummerSongs expanded to include a winter song camp fittingly called WinterSongs. The next stage of growth led to West Coast versions of the camps called SummerSongs West and WinterSongs West. I was in Heaven knowing that I would have such a great resource right here in California.

I began my 2007 SummerSongs West adventure by driving to LAX to pick up Steve Gillette, an old friend and fellow SSW teacher. After driving about 50 miles north of Santa Barbara on Highway 101, we drove east on a little road past a few wineries until we got to the gate of the retreat. From there we drove another ten or twelve miles through typical Central California terrain of rolling hills of dried grass, spotted with grazing cattle and live oaks. Then after a while the scene changed to the lush green that we would find at the retreat. Also in this part of the journey we had to drive up and down a couple mountainous areas and down through two narrow, but very wet, river beds. We knew we were close when we saw a sign that read “ZACA LAKE, POPULATION 8,” and another below it that said “NO DOGS”. We found the lodge, got our cabins, met up with old friends, and prepared for the camp we had both been waiting all year for!

A typical day at SummerSongs West found us gathering at cabin #17 at 8am for a breakfast of eggs, potatoes, bagels, fruit, homemade granola, juice, coffee and more, laid out like a cafeteria. At 9am, the first class period had 5 choices, 4 of which were about songwriting and one about singing. At 10:30, the second class period had 2 songwriting choices, one singing class, one guitar class, and one class about organizing your creative time. At noon we all met at cabin #17 again for lunch, then had some free time until the third class session at 2:30. The choices for third period were between 2 songwriting classes, a guitar class, and a “groove” class! The last class period, 4 to 6pm, had one songwriting class, a performing class, a vocal recording class in Vince’s Pro Tools studio and another singing class. Yes, there were a lot of choices.

Each night of camp there was at least one special musical event that students were encouraged to participate in. Many students used their free time during the day to write new songs or practice old ones to perform at either the “coffeehouse”, one of the song circles, the campfire sing-along, or the final student concert on the last night. Many of the teachers played guitar or keyboards or sang background for those “big arrangement” moments on the student’s songs, and cheers were heard echoing through the canyon!

The teachers at this camp are not elite and unapproachable like they are at many music business camps. They are all seasoned veterans of the business, but they are also caring people who like to see each student get the best training and make the most progress. Two of the SummerSongs guidelines that all the teachers follow are 1) “Do not offer critiques unless requested” and 2) “Make all comments and criticisms positive and constructive.” This alone makes SummerSongs a much more growth-friendly camp than any other that I’ve heard about, especially for those of us who do not like to have our songs torn apart without some real guidance on how to make them whole again.

The Zaca Lake Retreat is a beautiful area with cabins and trails on the edge of a very deep lake surrounded with green tree-covered mountains. I was very happy to learn that this very special location will become the permanent home of SummerSongs West. It is a little bit off the beaten path, but once you arrive it is truly magical and inspiring.

And there were animals everywhere: deer, squirrels, jackrabbits, raccoons, possums, coyotes and bears. I’m sure this must be the reason for the “No Dogs” sign. I did not see any coyotes or bears, but two of the campers said they saw bears on the road leading to camp. And we all heard a couple coyotes howling after our campfire sing-along.

On the third day of the retreat, I spent a little time recording a new song at Vince’s “Zaca Lake Studio” cabin. I was surprised to see a little squirrel in the cabin, and Vince told me his name was Ed. We finally got him to leave the cabin before recording. But when I was finished and opened the door, there was Ed on the inside of the screen door (hanging about halfway up) wanting back in. I thought that Ed was just enjoying my new song, but someone else suggested that he smelled the chocolate and strawberries that Vince had… Naw, I still think it was the music!

I’ve tried to understand what it is about SummerSongs that makes it so magical for me. I’ve written songs and attended functions for songwriters since the early seventies when I was a staff songwriter and artist for Motown. Being from a music industry center like Los Angeles, I’ve been to many songwriter groups and industry seminars that don’t even begin to capture the warmth and support that I feel at SummerSongs. And the reason is clear: they are about business and SummerSongs is about personal growth and community. I don’t mean to say that SummerSongs ignores the music business, but rather that the priority is to support the writer in digging deep into his or her songwriting craft. And when you add in the community, it’s just magic!

The students at SummerSongs (both East and West) span the range from beginning songwriters who have never performed for anyone to experienced writers with loads of gigs and recordings. Many of these experienced students have helped with tutoring other students too. The performances each night of camp at coffeehouse or in the song circles are a great gauge to show everyone’s growth too. And the support that naturally comes from being in the same boat together makes it easier to risk and grow naturally.

The next camp will be WinterSongs West in January 2008. There is room for you to join us if you like the idea of singing and laughing and growing as an artist. So visit the website at www.summersongs.com and enroll early. I hope to meet you there!