Youth Folk Ensemble Summer Camp with Oona and James
Music is a gift best shared with friends! Here is an exciting opportunity for youth 7-14 to learn music by playing together. Building on the format of the weekly After School Youth Folk Ensembles offered during the school year at Caffe Lena, this summer camp is a Monday through Friday day camp meeting July 7 – 11, 2025. 9:30am – 3:30pm
Three hours each morning and midday will be focused on making music, including singing, exploring various string instruments, music theory basics, rhythm exercises, how to learn songs/tunes from scratch, confidence in performance practice, and more. Each day will finish with extracurricular activities including lunch in congress park! At the end of the final day there will be a recital/sharing session for family and friends.
Youth Folk Ensemble is–
Mixed ages and abilities:
-Open to any level of experience with music
-Learn through listening and participation
Focus on repertoire:
-Learn classic tunes and songs from the American folk tradition as well as some favorite contemporary songs
Explore string instruments and singing, learning basic skills:
-Opportunities to focus on guitar, ukulele, banjo, mandolin, bass, and violin/fiddle*
(*for students interested in violin/fiddle it is recommended that they also be enrolled in private or school lessons)
Learn music fundamentals:
-Develop strong and steady sense of rhythm
-Learn how to listen and hear musically
-Explore singing finding one's own unique voice
Learning valuable life skills:
-Working in a group setting
-Creative contribution and compromise
-Being part of a team and playing your part
-Building friendships
Need based scholarships are available as well as instrument loans.
Meet the instructors:
James Gascoyne is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and teacher based in Saratoga Springs, NY. Originally from Louisville, KY, James has been an active participant in the NYS Capital Region arts community since 2004. He has toured nationally with a variety of groups, at times performing on bass, guitar, drums, and vocals, all the while maintaining an active local performing and recording schedule as well as teaching privately when time allows. James regularly performs with Oona Grady as their duo, Drank The Gold, specializing in traditional Irish and American fiddle tunes and folk songs, as well as original compositions and arrangements, plus newly formed bluegrass quintet The Millstone Rounders. With a passion for sharing his musical experience with others, he’s led various workshops at times on guitar, mandolin, banjo, ukulele, and bass for the Caffe Lena School of Music, Dance Flurry Festival, GrassRoots Culture Camp, and Winter Village Music Camp.
Oona Grady is a musician and educator living in Saratoga Springs, New York. She performs with the duo Drank The Gold, a band specializing in creative arrangements of traditional Irish and American fiddle music, folk songs, and original compositions, as well as other projects including The Grady Girls, Folk Club Kids and newest project The Millstone Rounders. Oona grew up in Ithaca, NY, nurtured by a family and community with a deep love of music. After receiving a foundation in Suzuki violin and Irish fiddle, she began performing with her family band as a teenager, and moved to Ireland at age eighteen to continue her music studies at University College Cork, graduating with a B.Mus. in 2008. Oona manages a private music studio focussed on teaching and recording and is a founding teacher at the Caffe Lena School of Music. She also works as a guest instructor for weekend workshops and summer programs, including GrassRoots Culture Camp, The Flurry Festival, and Winter Village Music Camp.
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