Silver Bay, NY at the Silver Bay YMCA Conference Center

Silver Bay is a large Y Camp and Conference Center, on Lake George in the Adirondacks.
87 Silver Bay Road
Silver Bay, NY 12874
August 20-25, 2023
Tuition: $490
$15 off thru Jan 31. Deposit of $150 holds your spot; 50% refundable for cancellations more than one month in advance. Balance due (check or cash) at camp.


All Bluegrass Skills Taught
9am-12:30pm: Daily classes for banjo, guitar, fiddle, mandolin, dobro, bass…AND… Coached small jam groups, intermediate/advanced.
1:50-5pm: coaching on harmony singing (one coach per trio), classes on songwriting, basic music theory, practice “boot camp”, playing under pressure, stagecraft, and more!
Activities every evening: fiddle tune jam, open mics, karaoke, history, jamming, beautiful sunsets!
Organized Bands: $410 for Each Band Member
For band members registering together, to work together as a band throughout the week: $65.00 off each member’s tuition. Bands will have opportunities to perform and get performance coaching including working with a sound system on stage (band lab), band cohesion, rehearsal guidance, band decision-making, “how to make a band work”.
Band members must first contact Pete as a group, for approval of the group members’ band discount.
In 2023 we will have two concurrent camps:
Level 2 (this camp) | Basic Camp | |
---|---|---|
Qualifications | Experience with bluegrass jamming; able to play in more than one key; able to follow guitar chord changes; willing/able to lead songs; know basic chord number system and jam etiquette | Ability to change chords smoothly between G, C, D, A (or the notes that work on bass and fiddle) |
Tempos | Ranging over 100 beats/minute | 60-95 beats/minute |
Singing | Ability to sing melodies accurately is expected; harmony singing taught to those who can learn and “hold” a harmony part most of the time | Please try! |
Soloing | Willing/able to fake passable solos (exceptions: bass players and rhythm-only guitar players). Melody-based solos are the standard, so we try for that; ability to find melody notes by ear is expected | Minimal “placeholder” soloing taught, and acceptable; more advanced soloing taught but not required |
Performing | Performance opportunity (expected but optional); some performance coaching; extra coaching available for bands | No performing expected |
Night Activities | Open to participate in open mic and karaoke | Attendance welcome at all nighttime activities |
If you’re not sure if you qualify, write Pete regarding your skills in these areas. |
Both camps will have the same hours. Sunday evening following dinner is an informal kickoff get-together for all. Classes and coached jamming run Monday-Friday 9-5 daily, in separate but close-by locations at Silver Bay.
Scholarship
One scholarship is available for either a bass player in the Level 2 camp, or for any instrument in the Level 1 camp. It covers full tuition and about half of housing/meal expense. People under 25 and service veterans are especially encouraged to apply. To donate or apply, write to Pete.
Applicants should give their age, instrument(s) played, and experience and goals in bluegrass, and a short statement of their financial need. Applications must be received by June 21 and applicants will be notified by June 26.
Silver Bay YMCA Conference Center

For accommodations reservations, call 518-543-8415 or email reservations@silverbay.org.
Call any time… Your message left will get a callback during the next business hours. The Silver Bay reservations team will help you with housing choices and all info.
Comments from recent camps:
Click any photo to enlarge.
Tentative Schedule
The schedule shown here is based on recent years’ schedules and is sure to incorporate some changes.
silver-bay-schedule-2022-1
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