Ryan and Anna -
Our first year of camp 2009
Fun with Fiddle, Theater & Art
Fun with Fiddle, Theater & Art, now in its 14th year, is an enriching summer day camp experience for children ages 4 - 13 yrs. (new fiddlers to 3 plus years experience) who are interested in expanding their repertoire by learning to play traditional fiddle music. Campers will explore various styles of fiddling, including old timey, bluegrass, celtic, rock, and other styles, through songs, tunes and art. The children will work on presenting a short play with costumes and props and have fun with theater games. On the last day, the children will put on a violin performance, small theater performance, art exhibit and reception for the parents.
LOCATION: Wild River School
Please note: The camp will start at 9:00am and end at 3pm. The camp will last six hours and children are to bring their own lunches. We will offer pre-care and after-care if needed.
July 13-17: IRISH, BLUEGRASS, OLD TIME, ROCK AND POP, ART & THEATER WEEK
Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced levels ages 4-13
9:00 am - 3:00 pm (cap 14 students)
July 20-24: BLUEGRASS, IRISH, ROCK AND POP, ART & THEATER WEEK
Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced levels ages 4-13
9:00 am - 3:00 pm (cap 14 students)
Registration form on side bar.
CAMP TUITION: TBD
This includes daily instruction in fiddle by Julie Mellon, theater with Julie and counselors, art and games with counselors and helpers, a booklet of sheet music for fiddle tunes, camp t-shirt, music bag, arts & crafts materials, and healthy snacks. There are no additional fees. You can sign up for a daily fee if needed!
TYPICAL DAILY SCHEDULE:
Please arrive by 9:45am to get set up, tuned and play time. Early drop off is at 8:45 if needed for a small fee.
The children will be divided into Groups A & B according to age/violin playing level.
10:00-10:45 Groups A & B combined fiddle jam. Practice playing fiddle tunes in a group, sing the words to fiddle tunes, and learn how to accompany singers with your fiddle.
10:45-11:30/45 All theater
11:30/45 Group A fiddle, Group B art
12:15-12:45 LUNCH and freeplay
12:45-1:30 Group B fiddle, Group A art
1:30-2:30 Outdoor adventures/games
2:30 snack, group activity and pack up (aftercare is provided for a small fee if needed)
WHAT TO BRING:
Please have your child bring lunch each day and a water bottle.
Please bring your violins, fiddle/violin books, stands, and wear comfortable play clothes that you won't mind getting messy. Wear comfortable shoes for running and playing (crocs with backs are OK, but no flip-flops please).
Healthy snacks will be provided at the end of each day. Please let us know of any dietary restrictions or allergies. Feel free to bring your own extra snack or water bottle.
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS:
JULIE MELLON:
Julie is a professional violinist and Suzuki teacher in Marin. She has a studio in Sausalito and at Dominican University. She started playing violin in the Suzuki method when she was 4 years old. She continued on to get her Bachelors at the University of Colorado in violin performance and her Masters in Violin Performance with an emphasis in Suzuki Pedagogy at the Hartt School of Music. Julie gained a love for fiddle music in 2004 when she attended Rocky Mountain Fiddle Camp. She learned many styles of fiddling such as swing, old time, irish, bluegrass and scottish fiddle. Julie is very excited to expose her students to all of these styles of playing!
SUSAN WINTER:
Susan is a museum curator in Tahoe City and also teaches art classes to children at the location. Her daughter takes violin lessons with Julie. She loves to create art from collecting items from the outdoors and loves basket weaving.
Helpers:
FRANCESCA ANGELO
Francesca Angelo is 13 years old and a rising freshman at Tamalpais High School. She began playing the violin when she was seven years old and is currently finishing Book 7 of The Suzuki Method. She is principal of the second violin section of the Marin Symphony Youth Orchestra this year. As a Slide Ranch Teen Fellow, Francesca is working with young Slide Ranch campers this summer and will teach elementary school students about their interconnection with the environment in the fall.
KAI MCCARTHY
Kai attends Terra Linda High School. She has been a camp counselor at Camp Arequipa, a local girl scout camp, teaching arts and crafts for two years. She has an additional year training as a CIT working with all ages. Kai is also a norcal girl scout from age 6 to the present year.
Past Helpers:
SARA KARKAL
Sara attends Credo High School and is entering her sophomore year in the fall. She has been playing violin since she was five years old, studying with Jan Bogart and the Dominican Suzuki Program. Sara loves both classical and fiddle music. She has played first violin in both Marin and Santa Rosa Youth Orchestras, and has competed in the Marin and Cloverdale fiddle competitions, placing first multiple times. She is a former "Fun with Fiddle and Art" camper, and looks forward to helping out at camp this year!
Here are past guest artists and helpers:
ANNE MURDOCH:
Annie has a classical music background having studied at the San Francisco Conservatory of music for over a decade in voice, piano, and violin. She has recently accepted the position of Music Theater Director at St. Hilary in the fall of 2022 and will also be teaching 2nd grade. Annie has a passion for art and theater and is looking forward to coming back for her second year teaching at Julie's Fiddle Camp!
EMILE ROHRBACH
Emile has taught theatre and music in the Bay Area for 22 years. She holds a BA in Theatre and Faith, Peace, and Justice Studies from Boston College and a MFA in creative writing from Pacific University. Emilie is also a freelance writer and currently writes for Marin Magazine as a music journalist and Front Page Live as a Features news writer. She teaches private guitar, ukulele, flute, piano, and, and voice lessons. Check out her music blog at http://www.emiliesmustsees.com.
EILEEN SCHOLL:
Eileen is the mother of two Suzuki students, Ryan and Anna Lika who are now in high school.
She has a BA in Art Education from Mundelein College in Chicago, Montessori Teaching Certifications in both Primary and Elementary, an MA in Teaching English as a Second Language from St. Michael's College in Vermont, and over 30 years of experience teaching in general. Eileen is originally from Illinois, but has lived in SF Bay area since 1992. She has also worked in various camp programs over the years as arts and crafts director or camp director. Eileen plays Irish and Old Timey fiddle. She also enjoys folk-dancing. Eileen is looking forward to sharing her love of music, art and dance with the children.
CATHERINE JOHN
Catherine John plays fiddle and was born and raised in Marin County. Her world travels led her to play traditional Irish music in Mexico and traditional Mexican music in Ireland, during which time she obtained a Masters degree in Community Music at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick, and after which she went on to teach and lead workshops in the two traditional musics and create an original album of Irish-Mexican musical fusion, ¡Fandango Bragh
BRIANA DI MARA
Briana Di Mara has been playing violin since age 6. She was trained in classical music with the Suzuki Method and has since gone on to study a variety of traditional styles including Irish, English, Greek, Turkish, Persian, Afghan and Arabic. She has been influenced by master musicians from all corners of the world, which she harmoniously weaves into her own unique style on the violin. WEBSITE: brianamusic.com
PATTI WEISS:
Patti grew up in San Francisco. She began studying classical violin at the age of six and bluegrass at thirteen. In high school Patti joined the jazz ensemble and began to give this genre serious study. After high school she studied for a year at Berklee College of Jazz in Boston, and spent the next year traveling from Greece to India overland through Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan.
Recently Patti has guested with the Gipsy Kings on their last three North American tours, as well as performing and composing music for five feature films, including The Truth About Cats and Dogs, written by her best friend, Audrey Wells.
In 2011, Patti is completing a new album of flamenco/world music, with two of the Gipsy Kings as guest stars. She has been performing with Boris Goldmund, her agent, as a hip-hop violinists.
KENNY BLACKLOCK (Session 1 and 2)
We are delighted to have Kenny Blacklock returning to us this year! (Kenny was our guest Bluegrass fiddle instructor in 2009). Kenny is an experienced music & orchestra teacher at the Waldorf methods Charter School in Novato. He is also the father of two children. Kenny's specialties are Bluegrass and Rock and Roll. He plays fiddle, mandolin and guitar. Kenny is looking forward to sharing his own rock ensemble arrangements with the children this summer!
KAI KOHLWES:
Kai was born in SF. He has been at Greenwood Waldorf School since kindergarten. Kai loves his school and friends/classmates he's had since kindergarten. He plays soccer, is an amazing skier, hip hop dancer and loves movies. Kai is known for his witty sense of humor and kindness. He has been playing violin in Julie's studio for almost 8 years and attended the first Fiddle and Art Camp!
EMMA HERMAN:
Suzuki violinist who will be starting her first year of high school in the fall at Marin Academy. She has a love for music of all styles and helping with kids!
YOSHI KOHLWES:
One of Julie's first Suzuki violin students. She attends The Bay School in SF and is an incredible snowboarder. She has a passion for music and sports!
ISABEL KEENE (Sports Session 1)
Isabel is a freshman at Marin Academy. She has played the violin for over 7 years starting with Julie Mellon in the Suzuki Method. She has fiddled for the last 4 years for at the harvest festival with a live band in Larkspur. She loves children and is CIT for camp doodles for the past 3 years. She has taken the red cross babysitting class and knows CPR. She is currently on the MA soccer team.
EVAN NEAL (Sports Session 1)
Evan is a sophomore at Marin Academy. He has played cello for over ten years, starting in the Suzuki method when he was five years old. He also played in a Saint Marks Quartet, is in the Chamber Ensemble at Marin Academy, and plays during church services. He played soccer for eight years, baseball for five years, basketball for four years, and lacrosse for six years, and has just started running cross country for MA.
ALEC NEAL (Sports Session 1)
Alec is a sophomore at Marin Academy and has been playing the violin for 10 years. He was in the school quartet at Saint Marks middle school and is currently in Advanced Chamber Ensemble at Marin Academy. He is a frequent performer at First Presbyterian Church in San Anselmo. He currently plays varsity lacrosse for the Marin Academy Wildcats and runs cross country in the Fall. He also enjoys playing soccer and basketball.
YANNICK ALPHONSO-GIBBS (Sports Session 2)
Yannick is a sophmore at Marin Academy and has played the violin for 8 years. He was in the Dominican Suzuki program for 7 years with Julie Mellon as his teacher.
Video of Fun with Art & Fiddle camp 2009 by Nicole Gothelf:
http://gallery.me.com/rgothelf#100059
LOCATION: Wild River School
Please note: The camp will start at 9:00am and end at 3pm. The camp will last six hours and children are to bring their own lunches. We will offer pre-care and after-care if needed.
July 13-17: IRISH, BLUEGRASS, OLD TIME, ROCK AND POP, ART & THEATER WEEK
Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced levels ages 4-13
9:00 am - 3:00 pm (cap 14 students)
July 20-24: BLUEGRASS, IRISH, ROCK AND POP, ART & THEATER WEEK
Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced levels ages 4-13
9:00 am - 3:00 pm (cap 14 students)
Registration form on side bar.
CAMP TUITION: TBD
This includes daily instruction in fiddle by Julie Mellon, theater with Julie and counselors, art and games with counselors and helpers, a booklet of sheet music for fiddle tunes, camp t-shirt, music bag, arts & crafts materials, and healthy snacks. There are no additional fees. You can sign up for a daily fee if needed!
TYPICAL DAILY SCHEDULE:
Please arrive by 9:45am to get set up, tuned and play time. Early drop off is at 8:45 if needed for a small fee.
The children will be divided into Groups A & B according to age/violin playing level.
10:00-10:45 Groups A & B combined fiddle jam. Practice playing fiddle tunes in a group, sing the words to fiddle tunes, and learn how to accompany singers with your fiddle.
10:45-11:30/45 All theater
11:30/45 Group A fiddle, Group B art
12:15-12:45 LUNCH and freeplay
12:45-1:30 Group B fiddle, Group A art
1:30-2:30 Outdoor adventures/games
2:30 snack, group activity and pack up (aftercare is provided for a small fee if needed)
WHAT TO BRING:
Please have your child bring lunch each day and a water bottle.
Please bring your violins, fiddle/violin books, stands, and wear comfortable play clothes that you won't mind getting messy. Wear comfortable shoes for running and playing (crocs with backs are OK, but no flip-flops please).
Healthy snacks will be provided at the end of each day. Please let us know of any dietary restrictions or allergies. Feel free to bring your own extra snack or water bottle.
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS:
JULIE MELLON:
Julie is a professional violinist and Suzuki teacher in Marin. She has a studio in Sausalito and at Dominican University. She started playing violin in the Suzuki method when she was 4 years old. She continued on to get her Bachelors at the University of Colorado in violin performance and her Masters in Violin Performance with an emphasis in Suzuki Pedagogy at the Hartt School of Music. Julie gained a love for fiddle music in 2004 when she attended Rocky Mountain Fiddle Camp. She learned many styles of fiddling such as swing, old time, irish, bluegrass and scottish fiddle. Julie is very excited to expose her students to all of these styles of playing!
SUSAN WINTER:
Susan is a museum curator in Tahoe City and also teaches art classes to children at the location. Her daughter takes violin lessons with Julie. She loves to create art from collecting items from the outdoors and loves basket weaving.
Helpers:
FRANCESCA ANGELO
Francesca Angelo is 13 years old and a rising freshman at Tamalpais High School. She began playing the violin when she was seven years old and is currently finishing Book 7 of The Suzuki Method. She is principal of the second violin section of the Marin Symphony Youth Orchestra this year. As a Slide Ranch Teen Fellow, Francesca is working with young Slide Ranch campers this summer and will teach elementary school students about their interconnection with the environment in the fall.
KAI MCCARTHY
Kai attends Terra Linda High School. She has been a camp counselor at Camp Arequipa, a local girl scout camp, teaching arts and crafts for two years. She has an additional year training as a CIT working with all ages. Kai is also a norcal girl scout from age 6 to the present year.
Past Helpers:
SARA KARKAL
Sara attends Credo High School and is entering her sophomore year in the fall. She has been playing violin since she was five years old, studying with Jan Bogart and the Dominican Suzuki Program. Sara loves both classical and fiddle music. She has played first violin in both Marin and Santa Rosa Youth Orchestras, and has competed in the Marin and Cloverdale fiddle competitions, placing first multiple times. She is a former "Fun with Fiddle and Art" camper, and looks forward to helping out at camp this year!
Here are past guest artists and helpers:
ANNE MURDOCH:
Annie has a classical music background having studied at the San Francisco Conservatory of music for over a decade in voice, piano, and violin. She has recently accepted the position of Music Theater Director at St. Hilary in the fall of 2022 and will also be teaching 2nd grade. Annie has a passion for art and theater and is looking forward to coming back for her second year teaching at Julie's Fiddle Camp!
EMILE ROHRBACH
Emile has taught theatre and music in the Bay Area for 22 years. She holds a BA in Theatre and Faith, Peace, and Justice Studies from Boston College and a MFA in creative writing from Pacific University. Emilie is also a freelance writer and currently writes for Marin Magazine as a music journalist and Front Page Live as a Features news writer. She teaches private guitar, ukulele, flute, piano, and, and voice lessons. Check out her music blog at http://www.emiliesmustsees.com.
EILEEN SCHOLL:
Eileen is the mother of two Suzuki students, Ryan and Anna Lika who are now in high school.
She has a BA in Art Education from Mundelein College in Chicago, Montessori Teaching Certifications in both Primary and Elementary, an MA in Teaching English as a Second Language from St. Michael's College in Vermont, and over 30 years of experience teaching in general. Eileen is originally from Illinois, but has lived in SF Bay area since 1992. She has also worked in various camp programs over the years as arts and crafts director or camp director. Eileen plays Irish and Old Timey fiddle. She also enjoys folk-dancing. Eileen is looking forward to sharing her love of music, art and dance with the children.
CATHERINE JOHN
Catherine John plays fiddle and was born and raised in Marin County. Her world travels led her to play traditional Irish music in Mexico and traditional Mexican music in Ireland, during which time she obtained a Masters degree in Community Music at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick, and after which she went on to teach and lead workshops in the two traditional musics and create an original album of Irish-Mexican musical fusion, ¡Fandango Bragh
BRIANA DI MARA
Briana Di Mara has been playing violin since age 6. She was trained in classical music with the Suzuki Method and has since gone on to study a variety of traditional styles including Irish, English, Greek, Turkish, Persian, Afghan and Arabic. She has been influenced by master musicians from all corners of the world, which she harmoniously weaves into her own unique style on the violin. WEBSITE: brianamusic.com
PATTI WEISS:
Patti grew up in San Francisco. She began studying classical violin at the age of six and bluegrass at thirteen. In high school Patti joined the jazz ensemble and began to give this genre serious study. After high school she studied for a year at Berklee College of Jazz in Boston, and spent the next year traveling from Greece to India overland through Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan.
Recently Patti has guested with the Gipsy Kings on their last three North American tours, as well as performing and composing music for five feature films, including The Truth About Cats and Dogs, written by her best friend, Audrey Wells.
In 2011, Patti is completing a new album of flamenco/world music, with two of the Gipsy Kings as guest stars. She has been performing with Boris Goldmund, her agent, as a hip-hop violinists.
KENNY BLACKLOCK (Session 1 and 2)
We are delighted to have Kenny Blacklock returning to us this year! (Kenny was our guest Bluegrass fiddle instructor in 2009). Kenny is an experienced music & orchestra teacher at the Waldorf methods Charter School in Novato. He is also the father of two children. Kenny's specialties are Bluegrass and Rock and Roll. He plays fiddle, mandolin and guitar. Kenny is looking forward to sharing his own rock ensemble arrangements with the children this summer!
KAI KOHLWES:
Kai was born in SF. He has been at Greenwood Waldorf School since kindergarten. Kai loves his school and friends/classmates he's had since kindergarten. He plays soccer, is an amazing skier, hip hop dancer and loves movies. Kai is known for his witty sense of humor and kindness. He has been playing violin in Julie's studio for almost 8 years and attended the first Fiddle and Art Camp!
EMMA HERMAN:
Suzuki violinist who will be starting her first year of high school in the fall at Marin Academy. She has a love for music of all styles and helping with kids!
YOSHI KOHLWES:
One of Julie's first Suzuki violin students. She attends The Bay School in SF and is an incredible snowboarder. She has a passion for music and sports!
ISABEL KEENE (Sports Session 1)
Isabel is a freshman at Marin Academy. She has played the violin for over 7 years starting with Julie Mellon in the Suzuki Method. She has fiddled for the last 4 years for at the harvest festival with a live band in Larkspur. She loves children and is CIT for camp doodles for the past 3 years. She has taken the red cross babysitting class and knows CPR. She is currently on the MA soccer team.
EVAN NEAL (Sports Session 1)
Evan is a sophomore at Marin Academy. He has played cello for over ten years, starting in the Suzuki method when he was five years old. He also played in a Saint Marks Quartet, is in the Chamber Ensemble at Marin Academy, and plays during church services. He played soccer for eight years, baseball for five years, basketball for four years, and lacrosse for six years, and has just started running cross country for MA.
ALEC NEAL (Sports Session 1)
Alec is a sophomore at Marin Academy and has been playing the violin for 10 years. He was in the school quartet at Saint Marks middle school and is currently in Advanced Chamber Ensemble at Marin Academy. He is a frequent performer at First Presbyterian Church in San Anselmo. He currently plays varsity lacrosse for the Marin Academy Wildcats and runs cross country in the Fall. He also enjoys playing soccer and basketball.
YANNICK ALPHONSO-GIBBS (Sports Session 2)
Yannick is a sophmore at Marin Academy and has played the violin for 8 years. He was in the Dominican Suzuki program for 7 years with Julie Mellon as his teacher.
Video of Fun with Art & Fiddle camp 2009 by Nicole Gothelf:
http://gallery.me.com/rgothelf#100059
