About Vinland Music Camp
The Vinland Music Camp is an opportunity for all ages (7 years and up) to learn traditional music and dance in the relaxed and beautiful natural setting of Gros Morne National Park at the Killdevil Camp and Conference Centre in Lomond. The program includes daily workshops in instrumental and vocal techniques, as well as classes in dance, songwriting and story telling. The principal instruments of instruction are fiddle, button accordion, guitar, mandolin, harp, tenor banjo, tin whistle, flute, bodhran, bouzouki, bass and cello.
Vinland Music Camp 13 will take place August 18-24th, 2013. Click here for information this this year’s program, which includes the class descriptions, schedule and camp brochure. Registration and fees information can be found here. Please read and download these files before applying. You can also read our FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) and Reviews & Comments as well as view our Photo Gallery. Information about meals and accommodation at the Killdevil Camp and Conference Centre can be found here.
This year there will be a special event following the Vinland Music Camp. The Killdevil Fair will be a family festival with music, dancing, stories, interpretive hikes and crafts displays. It will be held 1:00PM – 8:00 PM on Saturday, August 24, after Vinland Musc Camp finishes. There is no admission charge for the Fair but we will be accepting donations. More information about the event can be found here.
Besides instructional classes there are many other activities to occupy Camp participants. These include jam sessions, campfire singalongs, nightly concerts, and square dancing. Since we are in a national park, there are plenty of opportunities for students to go hiking, swimming and canoeing (there are no extra charge fees for these). Throughout the week Killdevil staff lead interpretative hikes in the area. Students always find inspiration from the natural beauty of the place. On Thursday night during the Camp participants get to let loose and create their own songs and skits for a special fun night called ‘Kill the Devil Night’ which has become a much anticipated event at camp.
You can register online for both the Vinland Music Camp and Killdevil Fair here.
A short history of the Camp
Vinland Music Camp was started in 2001 by Eric West after working as musician in residence for Gros Morne National Park the previous year. With the assistance of Daniel Payne and guest instructors Shirley Montague and Gayle Tapper, the first Camp started modestly with an enrollment of eleven students. Over the years the camp has grown in size and scope to include instruction in over a dozen instruments, as well as singing, songwriting, storytelling, and folk dancing. Presently about 50 students attend each year from across Canada, the US and other countries. The Camp presently employs nine full-time instructors, including some of the top professional artists in the province. Each year we also invite special guest instructors and performers to give workshops and concerts. Since 2009 Vinland Music Camp has been run by the Soundbone Traditional Arts Foundation – a non-profit organisation dedicated to teaching and preserving the traditional arts of Newfoundland and Labrador. More information about the organisation can be found here.
For additional information check out our Frequently Asked Questions page (FAQs) or contact us at info@soundbone.ca