13th Annual Watkins Glen Hammered Dulcimer Retreat!! Three full days (Thursday noon thru Sunday noon) of workshops, food, fun, jamming and community with Ken Kolodner & Mary Lynn Michal (co-teaching)
We are back again in 2025!! I am pleased to announce that we will be holding another hammered dulcimer weekend retreat in Watkins Glen, NY. Last year, 16 hammered dulcimer players came to Watkins Glen for our 12th year.
Thursday, May 1, 2025 - Sunday, May 4, 2025 co-taught by Ken and Mary Lynn Friday, May 2, 2025 concert featuring Ken Kolodner & Mary Lynn Michal (details below). For the last 20 years in Sandbridge, VA, I have run intensive weeklong workshops (six weeks -- see www.sandbridgedulcimer.com). This weekend workshop is proposed to be a mini-Sandbridge. Kate LaMoreaux, a Watkins Glen resident, attended one of the Sandbridge weeks for many years, and had the idea to do this workshop. Kate helps coordinate everything. Here are the workshop details: Level: The majority of players are intermediate with some advanced level players and some advanced beginners. We hit all levels but gear the workshop to the intermediate level. 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. For me, it is mostly about attitude. As long as you OK NOT getting something immediately, you should be fine!! Meals: All meals are included in the cost. Our chef prepares dinners for us on Thursday, Friday (Maryland crab cakes) and Saturday night. For breakfast and lunch, we will be on our own to prepare. However, the workshop supplies ALL 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” to cover preferences and special dietary needs. Student "showcase": On Saturday night, participants of the workshop may elect to perform 1-2 pieces for the group. You may team up with other participants or with Mary Lynn or I. This is meant to be a positive performing experience from which you can learn. Share what you have been working on with the group! There is no obligation or pressure to do so but it is a lot of fun to hear everyone play!! Jamming: We will jam each night. I typically run a few "guided" jams as well where I help everyone find chords and help you find something to do to participate when you do not know the tune. Topics: The topics to be covered include a wide variety of arrangement techniques/ideas, application of chord theory, backup/accompaniment skills, ear training, pattern recognition of chords and arpeggios and much more. 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. Co-teaching: Mary Lynn Michal will be joining me once again with her insightful, determined and kind teaching approach. Mary Lynn ("ML") will work the room helping folks as needed. ML assists me at five of the Sandbridge weeks and can significantly help us move faster by working with those who need a bit more time or clarification. ML currently teaches 40+ of our Sandbridge regular attendees via FaceTime and in person. She has been instrumental in raising the level of the weeks through her great understanding of my approach and her undying patience and determination. From her home base in Middletown, Maryland, ML maintains nearly 100 students. Mary Lynn is my junior co-author for The Complete Guide to Theory and Mapping for the Hammered Dulcimer. Over 350 players have taken ML's yearlong course on the book. In 2022, Mary Lynn and Ken Kolodner released their first duo recording Out from the Shadows. Trained at the prestigious Eastman School of Music, ML was for many years the principal French Horn player in the Durham Symphony Orchestra. ML has joined Ken Kolodner on stage in concerts in Chicago, Watkins Glen, NY, Common Ground (MD) and at The Black Mountain Festival (NC), Kaufman Kamp (TN), The Nonsuch Dulcimer Festival (UK) and has performed at The National Cathedral in DC as a soloist and with Mark Grobner, Jim Plitt and Bob Hubbach on the main stage at "Evart". In addition to assisting Ken at "Sandbridge", she has taught at Evart (3 years), The Black Mountain Music Festival, The Poconos Dulcimer Festival, "Unicoi," Kentucky Music Week, many of the Quarantune Dulcimer Festivals and many private workshops. Housing options and costs (food included from Thursday dinner through Sunday breakfast): Lodging at the Seneca Lodge Lake House (shared rooms): $950 Lodging in private cabins at The Seneca Lake Cabins (two bedrooms) - $950 (4-8 bedrooms available - these are private cabins with two bedrooms with a common area; private bathrooms in each room Lodging in private cabin (one bedroom) - $1000 (for couples; add guest fee of $325 which covers lodging and food - total $1325) Lodging in private cabin (one bedroom) - $1150 (one participant with no guest) Commuters: $850 (also includes all meals) "Home stay" shared room: $850 (2 rooms) "Home stay" private room: $925 (6 rooms available) Guest/spouse fee: $325 (includes all meals) (1.) Lake House (sleeps 9 which includes Ken) -- sleeps 8 participants Bedroom 1: 2 queen beds ($950) - shared room Bedroom 2: 2 twin beds ($950) - shared room Bedroom 3: 1 king, 1 pullout (2 beds) (Ken's room) Bedroom 4: 1 double bed (ML's room) Loft: 2 pullouts (1 double sleeper) ($950) (2.) Private cabins very close to the gorge (sleeps 8 in separate rooms, two private rooms to a cabin) ($950); also single private cabins available ($1150) (3.) "Home stay" – sleeps 10 participants (a.) Kate's house (5 minute drive) -- sleeps 2 ($925) Bedroom #1: Double Bedroom #2: Double (b.) Betsy's house (5 minute drive) -- sleeps 4 ($950) Bedroom #1: Queen (master bedroom) Bedroom #2: 2 Twins ($850 if shared) TV room: Pull out queen (c.) IF AVAILABLE Tony's house (12 minute drive) -- sleeps minimum of 4 ($950) Bedroom #1: Double bed Bedroom #2: Double bed Bedroom #3: Double bed Bedroom #4: Double bed (d.) Additional home stay options are sometimes available Registration and payment: To reserve your spot, a $350 non-refundable deposit is due Dec 1. Full payment (non-refundable) is due Jan 15. As we have to secure housing and reserve your space, all fees are non-refundable. REGISTER HERE - Required to attend The following payment methods are acceptable:
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. I secure housing based on your commitment to attend. All fees are non-refundable after Jan 15, 2025. Deposits are non-refundable after December 1, 2024. Early bird discount of $25 if paid in full by December 1, 2024. Kate can be reached at [email protected] and 607-546-6477 Thanks so much for your interest in the workshop. This will be fun!! Any questions, contact Kate or me. Fri, May 2: Concert with Ken Kolodner, Mary Lynn Michal (fiddle, hammered dulcimer and mbira) Concert at 7:30 p.m. with Ken Kolodner and Friends, St. James Church, N Decatur & 6th St Watkins Glen, NY 14891. The concert benefits The St. James Medical Mission in memory of Dr. Blanche Borzell. Contact: [email protected] 607-275-7050; [email protected] 410-746-8387 Tickets: $20; $10 - children under 14; kids under 5 are free |
Schedule (approximate):
Thursday, May 1, 2025 12-2 Arrival, check-in, set-up, tune 2-5 p.m. Session #1 5:00 p.m. Happy Hour! 6:00 p.m. Dinner 7:30-8:30 p.m. Session #2 – this depends on everyone’s energy level! 8:30 Jam till we drop! Friday, May 2, 2025 9:30-12 Session #3 12-2 Lunch/hiking 2-5 p.m. Session #4 5:00 p.m. Happy Hour! 6:00 p.m. Dinner 7:30 p.m. Concert with Ken Kolodner and Friends (with Mary Lynn Michael) at The St. James Episcopal Church at 6th and Decatur, Watkins Glen, NY 14891 $20 general admission; $10 children 14 and under; kids under 4 are free 10:00 Jam till ? Saturday, May 3, 2025 9:30-12 Session #5 2-5 Session #6 6:00-7:00 Dinner 7:30-9:00 p.m. Student showcase! 9:00 Desert and jam till we drop! Sunday, May 4, 2025 9:00-11:30 Session #5 12:00 Quick lunch and depart |