TradMaD Camp —
Traditional Music & Dance Camp
Saturday August 24 – Friday August 30, 2024
Online Registration form * More registration info * 2024 Staff List
Sponsored by the Folk Music Society of New York, Inc and co-directed by Joy Bennett and Heather Wood, TradMaD Camp is an annual six-day gathering of live music and dance for adults interested in traditional music and dance. Held at the beautiful and historic Pinewoods Camp in Plymouth, Massachusetts, campers can enjoy daily workshops on specific topics (such as traditional ballads), instrument instruction, dances to live music, staff concerts, vocal coaching, parties, camper concerts, jamming, and singing — and much, much more.
WHEN?
WHERE?
WHAT?
WHO?
WHY?
HOW MUCH?
READ ALL ABOUT IT
THINGS TO
READ / FILL
FACEBOOK
MEETUP
YOUTUBEVisit our
Photo Gallery
More specifically (subject to staff availability, phases of the moon, etc.):
- "If you don't pick it, it will never get better" —Beginner to advanced classes in a variety of folk instruments (and yes, cello is a folk instrument!)
- Dancing: Community dancing which may include a variety of American and international dance with evening dance parties for all.
- Community singing and playing
- Vocal Coaching
- Ballads
- Camper Concerts — and the applause will be for you
- Parties, including the popular Pub Night
- Spoken not Sung (story-telling, poems, monologues, etc.)
- Blues
- "Spotlight on ..." where staff members get to do whatever they choose
- Swimming, boating (canoes, kayaks, rowboats) on Long Pond
- Stitch 'n' Bitch — no set time or place, but bring your knitting, needlepoint, crochet, etc. Read Eileen Pentel's account of Weaving the music into your knitting (pdf format).
- Bioblitz, where we catalog the diverse fauna and flora of camp. Here's the 2023 Bioblitz Report.
- Silent Auction, all proceeds to the Scholarship Fund. Remember, one person's old stuff is another person's new stuff, bid early, bid often, and bid high. Cash, checks and credit cards accepted.
- Take and Make — again, all proceeds to the Scholarship Fund, and you don't have to wait. Just take the item and make an instant contribution.
- Bookstore, where you can buy CDs etc. from the staff (and, depending on space, from campers). Again, cash, checks and credit cards accepted.
- . . . and more. Lots more.
See the staff lists for 2023, 2022, 2020 (virtual), 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015 . Sadly, Pinewoods Camp closed just before the planned 2021 gathering, too late to organize a virtual event. But we did have a Zoom chat, and many of our projected artists dropped in. Our staff members are not only performers, they are also teachers who enjoy sharing their knowledge.
As well as listening and learning, campers will find plenty of opportunities to sing, jam, dance, and hang out with the staff and each other.
This event is being put together by the Folk Music Society of New York, Inc., with support from a bunch of associated organizations, including
- Ballad-L email group
- Branford Folk Music Society
- CD*NY (Country Dance * New York)
- FMSH (Folk Music Society of Huntington)
- FSSGB (Folk Song Society of Greater Boston)
- The Folk Project, NJ
- FSGW (Folklore Society of Greater Washington)
- Golden Link Folk Singing Society
- Jalopy Theatre & School of Music
- LITMA (Long Island Traditional Music Association)
- NEFFA (New England Folk Festival Association)
- NYFS (New York Folklore Society)
- PFMS (Princeton Folk Music Society)
- Traditional Song Forum (UK) plus others yet to be announced. With help and advice from
- CDSS (Country Dance & Song Society) and
- Youth Traditional Song Weekend
- Read about Life at Camp
- All campers and staff must read, sign, and return the Waiver, which will be available soon in Word and pdf format.
To ask questions, make suggestions, or be added to our email list, send us an email
Rev 3/26/24 ©2015-2024 TradMaD Camp