I am pleased to announce that we will be holding a hammered dulcimer weekend retreat in Watkins Glen, NY Friday, April 27 – Sunday April 29 plus a concert on Saturday April 28 (with my son Brad). For the last 7 years in Sandbridge, VA, I have run an intensive weeklong workshops (three weeks -- see www.sandbridgedulcimer.com). This weekend workshop is proposed to be a mini-Sandbridge. Kate LaMoreaux, who has attended one of the Sandbridge weeks for a few years now, had the idea to do this workshop and will be helping me coordinate everything.  Kate lives right in the area. My son is a senior at Ithaca College so this gives me another chance to visit in the area and do a workshop plus the concert with Brad before he graduates (in May!) We are working on the details for a Saturday night concert on April 28. 

Unrelated to all of this, Brad and I will be playing on “Bound for Glory” on WVBR radio on April 8 at Cornell. We will be performing three sets at 8:30, 9:30 and 10:30. Catch us on the air and come to the show!

Here are the workshop details:

Level: The majority of players who have responded are roughly intermediate level players. Thus, the workshop will be geared to the intermediate level but I will cover a range of ideas. If you are unsure whether this will be appropriate for you, please contact me. Typically, I offer plenty for those who might be below or above the level of most in the class.

Meals: All meals will be included in the price with a chef cooking dinners for us on Friday and Saturday night. For breakfast and lunch, we will be on our own but we will supply the food so that folks don’t have to run out and buy meals. Commuters are welcome to join us. A few weeks before the workshop, we will send out a brief “food survey” in case anyone has any special dietary needs.    

Topics: The topics to be covered will be determined in consultation with the participants but will likely include arrangement techniques/ideas, theory, backup skills etc.

Location: The workshop will be held at the lovely Seneca Lodge Lake House in Watkins Glen, NY. We have a variety of lodging options including staying at the lodge in shared rooms (one private room), “home stay” (shared or private rooms in several private homes very close to the workshop), and commuting for those who are local.

Housing options and costs (food included from Friday dinner through Sunday breakfast):

Lodging at the Seneca Lodge Lake House: $350   

Commuters: $250 (also includes all meals)

"Home stay" shared room: $300 (2 rooms)

"Home stay" private room: $325 (4 rooms available)

Guest/spouse fee: $75

(1.) Lake House (sleeps 9 which includes Ken) -- sleeps 8 participants

Bedroom 1: 2 queen beds

Bedroom 2: 2 twin beds

Bedroom 3: 1 king, 1 pullout (2 beds)

Bedroom 4: 1 double bed -- Ken or couple?

Loft: 2 pullouts (1 queen sleeper, 1 twin sleeper)

(2.) "Home stay" in order of our likely use – sleeps 6 participants

(a.) Kate's house (5 minute drive) -- sleeps 2

Bedroom #1: Double

Bedroom #2: Double

(b.) Betsy's house (5 minute drive) -- sleeps 4

Bedroom #1: Queen (master bedroom) 

Bedroom #2: 2 Twins

TV room: Pull out queen

(c.) Additional home stay options are available but I believe we will likely max out!

Registration and payment: To reserve your spot, please send a $125 non-refundable deposit to Ken Kolodner, 3806 Fenchurch Rd., Baltimore MD 21218. I can accept credit cards (for a small extra fee) if need be (call me at 410-746-8387 or 410-243-7254). Please specify your first and second choices for housing. Commuters only need to let me know that you are commuting.  The bigger issue is to figure out where people are staying and whether you prefer a private room.

Kate can be reached at dlamoreaux@aol.com and 607-546-6477

Thanks so much for your interest in the workshop. This will be fun!!  Any questions, contact Kate or me.

Schedule (approximate):

Friday April 27

12-2 Arrival, check-in, set-up and get in tune etc
2-5 p.m. Session #1
6:00 p.m. Dinner
7:30-8:30 p.m. Session #2 – this depends on everyone’s energy level!
8:30 Jam till??

Saturday, April 28

9:30-12 Session #3
2-5 Session #4
6:00-7:30 Dinner
8:00 p.m. Concert with Ken and Brad Kolodner at The St. James Episcopal Church at 6th and Decatur, Watkins Glen, NY 14891 $15 general admission; $10 workshop participants

Sunday, April 29

9:30-11:30 Session #5
12:00 Depart