Song academy draws musicians to camp

Students at work in the Americana Project Songwriting Academy.

The Americana Song Academy hosted a week-long songwriting retreat at Camp Caldera in the week leading up to the Sisters Folk Festival.

Based on the response of the registrants, the newest Americana Project offering will likely become a regular feature of the festival.

"It's hard to put into words," said songwriter/musician Emily Kurns, who came from Santa Rosa, CA, to attend the Academy. "It was very inspiring to just spend a couple of days devoted to songwriting."

Recording artist Alison Violette traveled from Maine for the three-day event. Violette, who plays guitar and has written music for the past seven years, recently released her first CD.

"I entered the (festival's) songwriting contest last year and got put on the mailing list," she said. "That's how I heard about the songwriting academy. It has been great to be a part of, a lot of loose ends have been tied up for me -- the hurdles I had in writing songs were put into words so I could work through them."

The academy focused on songwriting, lyric development, guitar technique and accompaniment. The participants slept in teepees at the camp (described as "comfortable but chilly").

The event was coordinated and facilitated by Brad Tisdel, director of the Americana Project.

"Through my involvement in Americana, I saw that the interest level in songwriting was increasing," said Tisdel. "I put together this academy based on my experience with a similar project in Colorado.

"My goal was to celebrate song and give people an opportunity to learn the craft of songwriting. I wanted to have an open, intimate atmoshpere, with an eye-opening, sharing experience."

Tisdel brought in a handful of qualified instructors. Professional songwriters Steve Seskin, Don Conoscenti, Tom Prasada-Rao and Chuck McKabe all offered their expertise to the small group of students.

Steve Anderson, a representative from Breedlove, also came for an afternoon and let the students have some hands-on experience with Breedlove guitars and mandolins.

Because of the small number of participants -- 15 in all -- there was plenty of time for one-on-one sessions with the instructors.

"If I could change anything for next year," said Tisdel, "I would have longer and more frequent mentoring sessions. I'd also like to add a woman instructor to this group."

Laura Leis, a senior at Sisters High School, was one of the five high school students who attended the academy.

"It has given me a nudge," said Leis. "I tend to do the same things over and over; this gave me new ideas and techniques. I really liked the one-on-one sessions where they listen to your songs and give critique."

Leis was nervous about participating in an event with more experienced musicians.

"I think it's even better when you are nervous," she said. "It makes it more of a challenge. My goal is to finish a song while I'm up here."

SHS junior, Kerani Mitchell, found the lyric workshop with Steve Seskin helpful.

"It was amazing," she stated. "One of the older students in the class said it was the most amazing lecture he'd ever heard."

Mitchell, who is involved with the Americana Project, wants to pursue music after graduation.

"I want to grow in self-expression and relating to others through music," she said. "Music is a means of communication."

Katie Cavanaugh, a local songwriter/musician attending the academy, was a finalist in the folk festival songwriting contest. Cavanaugh has been playing guitar and writing music for the past 30 years.

"The songwriting workshop I took, taught by Chuck McKabe, was wonderful," said Cavanaugh. "It was an extraordinary opportunity to review my old works and create new. The teachers here -- bar none -- have been highly inspirational."