After my trip to Nashville, for Song Camp 201 in May 2007, I began voice lessons with Ron Browning. He is a vocal coach who was, at the time, also a teacher at the Nashville Jazz Workshop. In June, he was going to be on the faculty at the Blue Ridge Song Camp. Although I had only had four lessons with Ron, I already deeply respected his opinions and advice. He urged me to attend.
It’s a terrible thing, I think, in life to wait until you’re ready. I have this feeling now that actually no one is ever ready to do anything. There’s almost no such thing as ready. There’s only now. And you may as well do it now. I mean, I say that confidently as if I’m about to go bungee jumping or something—I’m not. I’m not a crazed risk taker. But I do think that, generally speaking, now is as good a time as any.
— Hugh Laurie (b. 1959) English actor, director, singer, musician, comedian, and author
Deciding to Go
On Thursday, May 31 I wrote in my journal:
It’s official. I am going to Blue Ridge Song Camp in June. The google map says it is nine hours and forty-six minutes from here to Charlottesville, Virginia. I am nervous about driving that far. I will need to spread the travel out over two days which means I will need to spend the night somewhere—
The camp is from Monday, June 18 through Saturday, June 23. I will add four days of travel (up and back). That is a long time. I have never done anything like this and I thought going to Nashville was a huge step—this is even more adventurous.
There are only two weeks to pack and get ready. I will be rushed to get all my songs revised and re-recorded—and, perhaps have some new ones—plus pack clothes for such a long trip.
You would think I am addicted to song camps—but I am not. I want to work and learn as much as possible while I have the time. I may not always have the freedom or means to do this. So, there is no better time than now!
Vision is the art of seeing things invisible.
— from a poster on the wall in a restaurant in Buchanan, Virginia
When I purchased and listened to CDs of Paul Reisler and John McCutcheon, two of the teachers—I knew I had to go. I knew I would learn something different than I had in Nashville. Paul’s music is influenced by jazz, classical, and folk. The harmonies and rhythms are sensuous. His CD, Birth of a River, is sophisticated and orchestrally rich. John McCutcheon’s CD, Mightier Than the Sword, is intelligent and sensitive. He is considered one of folk music’s most literate songwriters. When I heard the song “Sail Away” I was completely taken by the beauty and simplicity of the melody. And, the piano accompaniment was stunning. There was no doubt, I needed to meet these songwriters.
Driving to the Blue Ridge Song Camp
I left Birmingham Saturday morning, June 16, and spent that night in Bristol, Virginia. I got up early the next morning and drove until lunchtime. Sunday about noon I arrived in Buchanan, Virginia. A sign at the entrance to the city says it is the “Gateway to the Shenandoah Valley.” It is a quaint town with historic buildings lining the main street. I stopped and ate lunch at a small restaurant. A poster hanging on the wall had this quote: “Vision is the art of seeing things invisible.”
From downtown Buchanan there is a winding road that goes up the mountain and connects to the Blue Ridge Parkway. I spent Sunday afternoon on the Parkway and had a wonderful time enjoying the views, the slower pace, and my favorite CDs. I stopped a few times to take pictures. Once, a mother and baby dear crossed the road in front of me.
Driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway was a perfect Sunday—no chores and no job to do—just me alone in my car with my favorite CDs. Church—today this was church—the trees, the sky, and the mountains. The sun was shining bright and felt warm on my arms. Periodically the tree canopy filtered the light providing shade and a coolness that filled me with peace. The views along the ridge and edge of the mountain were beautiful.
As I looked over to see the valley and mountains, I understood why they call it Blue Ridge. The surrounding mountains appear to be blue—a deep blue. The valley was dotted with shades of browns and greens. I could see houses, farms, and animals. Once I saw white smoke billowing from something burning. I arrived at the Blue Ridge School at about 5:30 Sunday afternoon. The camp is north of the Charlottesville airport and is nestled below the mountains between farms and deep green pastures.
At the Blue Ridge Song Camp
It is impossible to completely describe an entire week of experiences that ultimately changed my life. I did not realize, until Friday night, that I was not the same person who had arrived on Sunday afternoon. In many respects it was a hard week—an emotional week. By Wednesday, I felt so insecure I wanted to go somewhere to hide and just sit and cry. I did not actually do that. I had not come that far to give in to such weakness. Somehow, everywhere I turned, there was always someone offering support and encouragement.
Singing My Own Songs
In November, when I began writing songs, I had no idea I would ever sing and play them myself. I am not sure I would have taken that first step toward writing songs if I had known that. I am not sure I would have gone to Blue Ridge Song Camp if I had known that the week would be very much about writing, singing, and performing songs. It was also about music being a natural part of your life—not just an intellectual activity. We were encouraged to find that part of ourselves where music exists inside us.
Every day I was singing and playing two to three times a day. It was a huge stretch for me. I did not have many songs that I felt comfortable performing. (Honestly, I did not feel comfortable performing any song. I had only come prepared to sing one for the Friday night concert.) Every night we met down at the Music Barn for a Song Circle. Everyone had the opportunity to perform at least one song, depending on how late you chose to stay. It was refreshing to hear so many different styles of songwriting. The variety amazed me—from religious, jazz, pop, folk, country, blues, and even parody.
The Song Camp Teachers
The teachers for the Blue Ridge Song Camp were Paul Reisler, Julie Portman, John McCutcheon, and Ron Browning. Paul taught a songwriting class in the mornings. He also demonstrated how he writes a song with children at a Kid Pan Alley session. Julie covered the dramatic aspects of songwriting and performing, Ron’s classes focused on conversational singing, and John talked about empathy, sharing, and writing songs for the community.
Friday night there was a concert at a local high school where we all performed one of our songs we brought. Also, during the week we each had to write a song which we would perform for the group on Saturday.
Paul Reisler
Why was this week so special? Paul was constantly telling us to reach beyond what we normally do—to take risks—to learn on the edge. His philosophy is that learning to write songs is about doing it, not just talking about it. He said an artist should respond to the world with artistic statements. He urged us to use our music to make the world a better place—and especially in our own community.
Julie Portman
Julie stressed the importance of “giving our song to the audience.” In one class she illustrated this by taking a ring from her finger and placing it carefully in my hand. The ring symbolized the song, she was the singer, and I was the audience. The feeling of that moment, that instant of understanding what performing is really about will remain with me forever.
Ron Browning
At the Song Camp, Ron taught classes that centered around using conversational sounds and phrasing—making your songs come alive by sounding like you with your unique voice. His approach to singing is very natural. I had had four voice lessons with him before this song camp. I felt that with each lesson I had learned techniques that had improved my singing.
Some of his clients are Wynonna Judd, Alison Krauss, Amy Grant, and Patti LaBelle, to name a few. He has continued to develop quite a reputation as being a phenomenal vocal coach.
John McCutcheon
One moment that touched me particularly—and demonstrated John’s vision of songwriting—was when he sang the Phil Ochs song, “When I Am Gone.” Tears filled my eyes as I heard these words: “You won’t hear me singing this song when I’m gone. So I guess I’ll have to do it while I’m here.” I had spent so many years merely existing. Those words echoed in my mind and reached down to the core of my soul. That is what my songwriting journey is about. It began as something I wanted to do—something I thought I could learn to do.
Realization
Songwriting was beginning to take on another dimension. It was becoming something I simply had to do while I am here on this earth. It was not just doing it for me, not doing it for commercialism, but doing what an artist does in the world—make the world a better place. I know, that sounds highfalutin. I believe we are here on this earth to do whatever it is that we are specifically capable of doing. The process of doing that, of being that, and helping others do that—makes the world better. As we find our own humanity, we see the humanity of others. When we find the beauty in ourselves, we see the beauty in everyone else.
Friday Night Concert
I am not sure I realized something was happening (or had happened) until Friday night during the concert. As I was on stage performing my song, in a momentous flash (an epiphany), I experienced a feeling of absolute ease as I sang and played my song. For the first time in my life, I was doing something that seemed totally natural. I felt completely self-unaware. (I am normally somewhere outside myself viewing myself as an outsider or a critical party. In that moment, I was totally unselfconscious.)
I had never experienced this in a performance—or even in just living. I have sung in choirs since high school and had played organ and piano professionally since I was fifteen. My undergraduate degree is in organ performance. I have conducted countless performances of choirs and handbell groups at church. That Friday night was different. I never expected I could feel such a connection with my music and with an audience.
Changed by the Blue Ridge Song Camp
That week changed my life. Being with a group of people who were so focused on songwriting, concerned about the world around them, and who worked to express the truths they’ve found through the process of songwriting—how could I not be changed? That week was about experiencing music and rhythm pulsing through my veins and finding that lost connection of my joy and love for music. I learned that songwriting is part of the flow of life—a natural product of just being alive.
During the week I received unconditional love and acceptance. The week helped me realize that I am competent enough to write songs and sing them. I was forced to reach down into myself and let go of the fears of being alone, fears of being around people, fears of feeling worthless, fears . . . there are so many fears aren’t there? And, many are contradictory. Fears can become that security blanket we wrap around ourselves, hoping to be protected. Instead, we become so insulated that we cannot feel anything and we cannot live our lives. It is only when we let go of that false security that we can begin our life’s journey.
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What is something you have done that was out of your comfort zone? Did you grow from that experience?
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