View/download 2025 Class Schedule
View/download Camp Ocean Pines Map
Johnsmith
“How to be comfortable in your own skin while bearing your soul on stage”—Singing through the fear (Workshop)
You’ve got your songs, now it’s time for gathering the skills to deliver them in public with confidence and grace. In this class we will talk about the art of delivery. “How to be comfortable in your own skin while bearing your soul on stage.” How to deal with the fear. Staying grounded, connecting with the audience, eye contact, dynamics of your voice and instrument, introductions, pre-show mojo, set lists, and more. If time will take turns in the classroom critiquing each others performances.
What’s in your songwriting toolbox? (Workshop)
What tools do we have available to us in our writing? This class will talk about the “Tools” in our songwriting toolbox: The use of Metaphor, Rhyming, Object writing. Is our song a journey? Besides verse and chorus do we use bridges, channels, refrains? Writing from 1st, 2nd, 3rd person. Do we bring out the Zen knife for editing? John will breakdown one of his songs sharing his process and what tools he chose to use.
“Roll Up Your Sleeves” (Two-session class)
This class will be a “roll up your sleeves and start writing” workshop. Most of us just need a gentle push to sit down and do it. Along with a few helpful writing exercises, there will be song assignment prompts. Throughout the week, we will share and critique our new “works in progress” in a safe, supportive, constructive circle.
teresa tudury
Unfortunately, Teresa has had to cancel for health reasons. We welcome Brad Colerick who will be teaching in her place.
brad colerick
Finding your Voice as a Songwriter (Workshop)
Our songs are a reflection of ourselves. We’ll discuss the power of revealing pieces of ourselves in our songs, of being vulnerable. By opening up and utilizing our own voice and our own experiences in our songs we create more compelling art. By writing what’s true and personal we connect in a more universal way.
Raid your Warehouse! (Workshop)
Inspiration is all around us. We just need to recognize and receive these wonderful packages that land on our doorsteps. We’ll take inventory of our experiences, pull out moments of inspiration, and turn them into compelling ideas and songs. Bring your favorite pencil.
Michael McNevin
“He Said, She Said” (Workshop)
The use of casual conversation, expository dialogue, can enhance a lyric like no other storytelling element can. Speaking through a character means not having to spell it all out for the listener. Colloquial dialogue leads to unpredictable thoughts, rhymes, visuals, and “heart skips.” The more real the feel of the language, the more permission given to be quirky, clumsy, lovingly poetic, or authentically weird. Even awkward silences are part of the terrain—things can be read between the lines of dialogue. Let the language fly, let your character’s hair down.
“Look Ma, No Melody” (Workshop)
Is melody a happy accident? Can a cool new chord take you to a previously undiscovered melody? Can a key change inspire your ears and vocal range? Does singing a cappella hatch more ideas? Yes to all that. Keep an open mind—melody is a big dartboard. Many of the melodies you love aren’t “thought through.” Experiment—whatever gets you humming something new or different is fair game. Surprises come when you woodshed a verse, a chorus, a bridge. Let’s steer (or careen) your song into some happy accidents.
LATE FOR THE TRAIN
Copacetic Co-Writing (Workshop)
You don’t always have to go it alone as a songwriter. This hands-on class will walk you through the art of the co-write, with exercises you can use to collaboratively write lyrics and melodies to build musical arrangements that are greater than the sum of their parts.
DAVE PASCOE
Get Your Groove On (Workshop)
Stuck in a rhythmic rut? Let’s add some spice to your right hand! We’ll break down the elements of “groove” and build them back up into unique strumming/picking/plunking patterns to keep your songs feeling fresh.
LAURA BENSON
Not My Story (Workshop)
Expand your songwriting horizons by journeying into someone else’s world. In this workshop, we’ll explore a lyrics-first approach to songwriting and focus on bringing dynamic characters to life. We’ll use visual prompts, writing exercises, and a few games to mix things up and inspire you to step outside of your usual perspective.
SEVERIN BROWNE
Chords and Melodies (Workshop)
Severin Browne has been called a “Chord Guy” for many years because he delights in finding unique harmonies for his melodies. In this workshop, he will take you on a ride through some fabulous songs, and demonstrate how to use the secrets in these songs to make your own memorable. There will be a small serving of music theory so you can understand how to apply the secrets in whatever key is preferred.
Stan DeWitt
Harmony Choir (Daily class)
Camp Choir is more than just a choir. It is a class on how to create and sing harmonies, and work on a couple of songs to be sung at the end of camp! There is something for every singer of every level. Come learn how to sing well with others!
Understanding Music Theory for Beginners (Workshop)
It’s actually fairly easy to de-mystify music theory, and you don’t even have to know how to read music! Stan leads you through a simple method to being able to have a better grasp of why and how music works. Never be afraid of the “T” word again!
Sara Glaser
Be Here Now (Workshop)
In this lyrics-based workshop, we’ll be writing about surroundings. You will choose from a selection of images of evocative environments, and we’ll use our imaginal senses and a list of prompts to bust out of the room into the wild. Fill your backpack with fresh and original impressions for use in your songs.
Rebecca Troon
Morning Stretch & Tunes with Troon (Daily class)
Start the day with Troon’s voice tuning and toning, and tuning your body too. Stretch your body and voice, wake up and warm up for an amazing day.
Troon plays banjo, fiddle, and guitar, so look for her “at large” in camp, coaching and chipping in on songs.
Mark Dann
Running the Basses (Workshop)
Accompany anybody on the bass after one class? Yes, it can be done. Bring a bass if you have it, or just a guitar if you don’t. If anyone coming to camp has a spare bass to loan to others, that would be great.
GarageBand 101 (Workshop)
Have a Mac? Then you have GarageBand and you can record yourself on it.
Song Charts and Cheat Sheets (Workshop)
A lyric sheet with chords written above it only works if you already know how the song goes. What if you need a chart to give to someone, or to remember how your own song goes? We’ll address all this and more.
Mark is also the camp Guitar Doctor. Yes, he diagnoses and fixes guitars. And Mark is a staple at our evening coffeehouse shows. Grab him for help on your song arrangements and/or tap him to be your backup band leader.
All Teachers & Coaches
Writing Hall for All/Pick Your Poison
Friday–Sunday, 3:30am–5:30pm, stay in the main lodge or find a special spot to work with our teachers and coaches, with peers or by yourself. Improve your instrumental chops with our teachers; refine your lyrics or melody with a coach; jam with others in the Crafts Lodge; practice at the Amphitheater Open Mic; or go on a Haiku walk with Arturo.
Song Finishing
Have you ever been stuck on that one verse, or been unable to find a graceful exit out of your song, or just feel that your song needs some luster? Fret not! Our teachers and coaches are here to help you finish up and get your song polished for Sunday night’s New Song Coffee House!