My Trips to Song Camp
by Suzanne Reed
I first heard about SummerSongs, Inc. when I was thumbing through a music magazine and happened to see their ad. I went to their website—www.summersongs.com—and found out that although this camp was based on the east coast, they were also starting camps on the west coast. A weekend camp was coming up in January 2005.
I was intrigued because after 41 years singing and playing cover tunes, I now felt compelled to try my hand at writing songs too. I’d written some songs before, but they were half-hearted attempts. I felt now I was ready to see what would happen if I actually focused on it.
For some reason this SummerSongs ad really drew me in. There was a three-day weekend retreat in Los Angeles, and it was just a couple hours drive away. The location of the camp was still up in the air, but one of the writers/instructors (Severin Browne) generously offered his home for this first west coast camp (WintersongWest is now held at a campground above Santa Barbara).
Browne’s home is an old Spanish-style hacienda, a “mini-mission,” complete with a bell tower! It was built by Severin’s grandfather back in the 1920s, and was where Severin grew up. It was the perfect setting to ease me into the songwriting world. I felt like I was in an old Irish castle. It added a perfect touch to my adventure.
I met some very talented and warm-hearted people that weekend, instructors and students alike. I think there were about 15 attendees, and we were a diverse bunch. We were different ages and professions and from a variety of locations—around LA, Santa Barbara, San Diego, and some from the east coast—but songwriting was our common denominator.
Most of us slept in our sleeping bags in the “chapel” room, a big room complete with stained glass windows, an old pipe organ, and a huge wood-burning fireplace). The first night I drifted off to sleep listening to a group of folks sitting around the fireplace singing these great songs they had written, complete with beautiful harmonies.
The next two days I took workshops on writing, harmony, vocal-strengthening, and guitar technique—they were all really informative. I enjoyed the gift of being surrounded by music for a whole weekend, with no interruptions, no having to stop and pay the bills, no having to go to the store, or answer the phone, or clean the house … just musical saturation.
I tried to write something that day and the next, but nothing came to me. At the first Open Mike we got to do two songs, so I tried singing a tune I had written long ago, as well as a cover tune, but they didn’t feel right. I was getting frustrated but told myself to just relax and enjoy the workshops and just listen for a change. I listened and learned, and made new friends.
We all left on Sunday afternoon, and I was surprised to find how bonding that short amount of time was for us all. That first night I felt like I didn’t fit in, but by Sunday something just caught up with me and I was really sad to be leaving these folks.
Ironically, I never wrote a thing at that first camp, but I was head over heels in love with the idea of it all. I went home and stayed in touch with the gang via a Yahoo Group site.I tried a bit of writing but nothing was coming to me, yet.
After that first camp, emails were flying back and forth. Soon I heard about the SummerSongs West camp. This would be a week-long camp in June at a campground just a few miles north of Santa Barbara. The expense was a bit more this time. At first I just couldn’t justify going, but when I found out it was the same week I would be off work, it seemed “meant to be,” and I signed up.
This time the accommodations were cabins. You could opt to be by yourself or share a cabin with one to three others to help a little with the cost. I chose to share a cabin with a couple other gals (Renee and Jaynee, who were great cabinmates). I was a little concerned, because I’m not one to camp, and hearing the words “cabin” and “campgrounds” made me afraid this would all be a little too rustic for me (I’m a wimp; I love hotels) but it turned out these cabins were my idea of “camping.” The cabin was well-insulated; the bathroom and kitchenette, though small, were really clean and nice; and the bunk beds were very comfy.
First day at camp we had an orientation and received our packet of info with all the workshop choices listed, what time meals would be served, and so on. I took several workshops through the week. At one workshop we were encouraged to read our lyrics out loud and get feedback from others. I found that really difficult at first, but again, I got nothing but constructive advice and encouragement. It helped me a lot. Each of us got fearless as the class rolled on.
There were also a few of the more “New Age”-type workshops too, for those who like to explore things like Auras, Tonings, and Chantings. Nothing was pushed on anyone. You were free to participate, or just observe.
We did a lot of walking from the cabins to the different huts or outdoor areas for the workshops, so I was very glad I brought my tennis shoes, as well as a lightweight gig bag for my guitar.
Something clicked for me at this camp. At the voluntary Open Mike the first night I was still unsure of myself and I stuck to a cover song. But by the second day, words and music ideas were coming at me left and right, and I got braver at the Open Mike that night and just did a part of a song I was working on. By the fourth day I had finished two songs and had four other songs started. I knew these were just “beginner” songs, but that’s exactly what it’s all about—you have to start somewhere, so this environment is the perfect place to start. Seasoned writers seemed to be getting just as much out of it, too. Everyone was so supportive.
On the next to last day, a song found me, grabbed me, and wouldn’t let go. I spent most of the day writing, forgoing any workshops. I was writing it all the way up to 7 p.m., 10 minutes before I was supposed to go on at the evening Open Mike. Up until then, I’d been writing all these “serious” songs, but that last song was purely ridiculous, a totally bizarre novelty tune. You never know what you may come up with at camp!
The instructors were great (take a look at the SummerSongs website and read those bios!) Each instructor has his or her own educational and entertaining information to impart. They didn’t write the songs for me, they helped me begin to find my own voice. Some folks attending had never written anything before, not even a poem, but they got just as much out of the camp as I did, perhaps more.
We all came away learning a bit more about ourselves. It was an especially poignant time too because the director/founder of SummerSongs, Penny Nichols, was battling cancer so she couldn’t be there at camp that year. She kept in touch with some of the group via laptop exchanges, though, when she could.
Nichols referenced everything in these wonderful “nautical” terms. I thought she really was at sea! But the ones who knew her situation soon filled me in. Penny was on a serious medical journey. I’m happy to say that she is now back on “land” and doing very well!
I didn’t get to go to SummerSongs West 2006, but I’m going to do my best to attend their 2007 summer camp. It’s held at another campground now, about hour north of Santa Barbara, but I hear it’s just as wonderful; it’s all about the people anyway, not the park.
My Muse is alive and well because of Summersongs, Inc. I have a long way to go to really get good at the craft, but how wonderful to have another new hobby in this “beginning of my second chapter” stage in life.
To learn more visit www.summersongs.com.
This column first appeared in longer form in the San Diego newsletter “Troubadour.”
