Wallowa Fiddle Tunes Camp began in 2005, offering affordable group instruction to individuals and families in a relaxed, week-long camp format. To increase group participation, we’ve added instruction in other string instruments. We provide opportunities for dancing, jamming, and string-band performance.
We are pleased to introduce the faculty for Wallowa Fiddle Tunes Camp 2026:
Carla Arnold – Kidz Fiddle, minimum 1 year experience, NEW: full day
Kate Lichtenstein – Old-time Fiddle, minimum 2 years of experience
Jacie Sites – Celtic Fiddle, minimum 2 years of experience
Andy Emert – Andy’s Grab-Bag of Fiddle Tunes for Advanced Players
Matt Bell – Community Singing & Playing, any instrument
Duane Boyer – Guitar Boot Camp, beginner
Richard Melling – Bluegrass Guitar & Singing, intermediate
Amy Fairchild – Mini-Musical Theatre Camp, ages 7-12, half-day
Robyn Burns – Camp Director
Mike Burns – Luthier, on-site
Z’s BBQ – Catering
Notes about this year’s camp:
This year at Wallowa Fiddle Tunes Camp we are all about jamming, with many assigned Jam Bands, as well as informal jams that will spring up. To facilitate jamming, there are a few camp songs we can all learn or polish before July: Goodnight Irene in G, June Apple in A, Shady Grove in A minor, Sugar in the Gourd in G, and Whiskey Before Breakfast in D. Faculty member Jacie Sites will post videos or recordings on the WFTC Facebook page during March and early April to support your learning at home. Check the page frequently. The recordings will also be posted to the WVMA Website under Wallowa Fiddle Tunes Camp.
Here are some rough guidelines for the assigned ‘Jam Band Practice’ sessions:
- This is a chance to be part of a jam session.
- Some jams have a leader while other jams have no fixed leader, in which case tunes are selected and led by the players in some order. Often going clockwise around the circle.
- Jams may vary in tempos; anything from a ‘slow’ jam to quite speedy.
- You might be invited to join an ongoing jam at a campsite, for example. If not, it is polite to ask to join in. But it is generally fine to stand on the periphery of a jam and play along quietly.
- Tend towards choosing tunes that are common or at least easy to follow. Mention any surprising chords or crooked parts/odd structures before starting the tune.
For questions about the camp, instructors and classes, please contact camp director Robyn Burns (503.423.7730)
Check-in for camp is
Sunday, July 5, 3-6pm
Camp Director
Robyn Burns
