SummerSongs Songwriting Camp Review by Gary Gocek, copyright 1999 I attended the SummerSongs songwriting camp, June 28 through July 2, in the Catskills. The cost was $500 for room, board, and tuition. Classes included various approaches to songwriting, the business aspects of songwriting, and also musical classes for vocalists and guitar players. Instructors included Sloan Wainwright, Artie Traum, Steve Gilette, Cindy Mangsen, David Roth, Jason Blume, Penny Nichols, and Bob Franke. There were three full days of classes with additional activities on Monday and Friday, and the program is expected to expand in 2000. The student body was mostly from the northeast, with just 28 students. Our backgrounds were quite diverse, with people like me who are permanent amateurs, and several who make their living from music. Performance ability was varied, with a few really fine performers. Most of the students were between 30 and 60 years old, with two or three under 30. There were no children. Musical tastes ranged from torch songs and show tunes to contemporary social commentary folk music. At this camp, the technical aspects of the subjects were generally treated lightly. In other words, there weren't a lot of handouts and exercises. Classes consisted of a lot of discussion of particular songs and techniques. I was very pleased with the personal access we had to the instructors, since there were so few students. The food was fabulous. Beverages were available 24 hours per day, and fresh snacks were put out every evening. Vegetarian and restricted diets were handled very well. All of this was included in the pre-payment. There was no alcohol allowed. Accommodations were in bunkhouses (or camping). The bathrooms were attached, so we didn't have to go outside at night, after drinking the free coffee all day, and we didn't have to walk outside for a shower. Handicap access seemed sufficient. It's a camp, after all, with bunkhouses and gravel walkways, so point out any restrictions if you ask for information. There was nothing unusual about this workshop, aside from the small number of students and the stunning food. By the end of the week, everyone knew everyone, in ways that your best friends can't ever know you. When you break down while writing a song about your past, you tell a lot about yourself to the people around you, all of whom break down at some point during the week. These camps offer a week of intense soul searching and songwriting and jamming, along with the other students. It is not intimidating in any way. It is a very safe, secure, supportive environment. You get out what you put in. Evenings were filled with formal concerts and informal singarounds. I played for an audience at least once each day, although this is not required. I jammed with Bob Franke. I pulled David Roth aside at breakfast to go over some lyrics. I sang harmony with Cindy Mangsen. I was up each day from about 7:15 AM to at least 1:30 AM. People joked about their bedtimes, but everyone was much too emotionally pumped up to sleep. These camps offer a special chance to immerse yourself in your music for a week. You make progress as a musician that would otherwise take years. I highly recommend SummerSongs. See www.summersongs.com, or call Penny Nichols at 914-339-2025 x16.