Circle of Music
August 15 - August 21, 2021
Hybrid Conference
August 15 - August 21, 2021
Hybrid Conference
Description
Workshops
Conference Leadership
Pricing
Description
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Circle of Music
Learn from the Masters! Come join us for a magical week where we build a music community. You will be welcomed, accepted, encouraged, and challenged to grow whether you start as a beginner or are polishing skills. From the generosity of the workshop leaders to the support of the other participants who are taking risks along side you, join the opportunities to improve your musical abilities and decide how you will take your music back to the world.
Each day begins with chapel, followed by workshops, and optional afternoon activities of classes, singing, teaching, creating, playing and learning. Other options include the beach, naps, walks or all of the above. The evenings have more opportunities to create music in song circles, coffee house, talent/no talent shows and anywhere else the spirit hits you including porch sings and jams. Let the ocean waves create new rhythms, the cry of the seagulls – new melodies and the spirit of the week – new lyrics. |
Nancy Smith Circle of Music Scholarship
The Nancy Smith Circle of Music Scholarship fund has been established in memory of the late Nancy Smith, long-term Circle of Music Attendee. Nancy nurtured her spirituality and celebrated her love of music through Unitarian Universalist church choirs and the Ferry Beach Retreat and Conference Center Circle of Music Program. Through the scholarship started by her loving son Scott Smith and sister Lucinda Sanders, the memory of Nancy will live on in one of her most cherished places. To apply for the scholarship, please fill out the form below. Each year a scholarship recipient will be selected two months prior to the start of the Circle of Music Conference. |
Workshops
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Yes, You Can Improvise!
Pat Wictor Improvisation is at the heart of our natural creativity. We all do it. Every conversation is unscripted, and we each improvise our way through large parts of our lives. Through playful games and exercises adapted for Zoom, we’ll use voices, gestures, and handclaps to create spontaneous musical pieces together. 
Pat Wictor is a Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter known for his lean, poetic songs and expressive guitar playing. Grounded in rural blues and gospel traditions, Wictor’s performances incorporate elements of jazz, pop, spoken word, and improvisational surprise. He first gained attention as an innovative lap slide guitarist, which made him a sought-after collaborator and session musician. For seven years he toured nationally as one third of Brother Sun, the powerful harmonizing trio with Joe Jencks and Greg Greenway. Wictor’s newest recording is a duo album titled Counterpoise, a collaboration with jazz vocalist Deborah Latz. The two first sang together at a vocal improvisation workshop led by Bobby McFerrin. His latest solo release, This is Absolutely Real: Visions and Versions of Phil Ochs, reached #2 on the Folk-DJ charts and was nominated for Best Tribute Album by the Independent Music Awards. His national tour schedule includes solo concerts and teaching workshops on a variety of topics, including guitar, songwriting, vocal and instrumental improvisation, and body percussion.
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Sing Heart Body, and Soul
A vocal warm-up play shop Sloan Wainwright putting together a simple , personal and joyous vocal practice. 
Defying standard categorization, singer/songwriter Sloan Wainwright, consistently demonstrates her easy command of a variety of American musical styles — pop, folk, jazz and blues — held together by the melodious tone of her rich contralto, with the end result being a unique and soulful hybrid. Sloan’s incredible gift is not only her unique songwriting ability but also her dramatically voiced rendition of original songs.
“She’s folk influenced, but the real star here is her voice. Warm and smoky and smooth, it makes her earthy, ominous lyrics seem all the more intense.” With a solid and impressive discography of 10 original CD releases to her credit, Sloan continues to write, sing and perform live and has won two songwriting awards at the annual EmPower Posi Music Awards. In addition, Sloan has written numerous musical compositions for theater and dance and teaches at many of the best-known master songwriter series and workshops. |
Jamin' with John Prine
Rudy Gabrielson
Thursday Aug 16 - Friday Aug 20
Rudy Gabrielson
Thursday Aug 16 - Friday Aug 20
Leveraging the extensive catalog of John Prines music, the workshop will cover the basics of jamming and playing with a band and others including:
At the end of the workshop students will have:
All instruments and experience levels invited.
- Rules for jamming - how to play nicely with others :-)
- Lead versus rhythm for a variety of instruments
- Singing harmony
- Percussion
- Playing from a chord chart
- a little music theory and various song structures
- Basic arranging - how to keep the music interesting: builds, key changes, solos, music drops, call and response
At the end of the workshop students will have:
- learned 6-10 John Prine songs,
- have new tricks for playing with others,
- heard wonderful stories about John Prine's life and background for some of his most famous songs,
- be ready for the next Ferry Beach TnT show
- be inspired to make more music!
All instruments and experience levels invited.
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Workshop Leader: Rudy Gabrielson
Long time Ferry Beacher Rudy Gabrielson has been performing and teaching music for over three decades. Activities include Musician of the week duties for several different Ferry Beach conferences, writing and performing music for community theater, facilitating music workshops at the Nutmeg Dulcimer festival, and performing in numerous bands throughout southern Maine - Most recently with his son Andrew in the band "Onward" and with long time Ferry beacher Paul Riechmann in "The Collins Band". |
Conference Leadership
Please call Ferry Beach at 207-282-4489 x1, or email info@ferrybeach.org with questions for the conference coordinator.
Pricing
Pricing per Person |
Adult: $384 (Includes Conference Fees + Meals) Online Attendance Only: $25.00 (if applicable to your conference) Off-Site Daily Fee: $64.00 Adult / $47.00 Youth (Includes all Meals) On-Site Daily Fee: $19.00 (Staying On Campus and Not Registered for Programming. Does not include Meals) |
Lodging |
Lodging Prices Vary. See our Lodging Page for pricing information. |
Membership |
Membership must be paid to attend any Ferry Beach program and is due annually. Individual Membership: $30.00 Family Membership: $50.00 See our Membership Page to learn more and to purchase or renew a membership. |
Or Call 207-282-4489 x1 to Register by Phone
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Due to our financial situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Ferry Beach will not be able to provide the traditional amount of support for our conference volunteers. If you are able to, please consider donating to help support a volunteer this summer and ensure your conference runs as smooth as you expect!
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Our mission at Ferry Beach is to awaken hearts to explore, grow and renew the spirit of universal love.
We work by creating programing and events in the areas of Arts & Culture, Education, Spirituality, Sustainability, Personal Growth and Justice & Action.
We work by creating programing and events in the areas of Arts & Culture, Education, Spirituality, Sustainability, Personal Growth and Justice & Action.
