Song Making Retreat 2007

One morning in November '06,
Carolyn Rames woke up thinking,
“what the folk community in this area
needs is a great songwriting retreat,
one where singers and songwriters of
all levels can come together for a
whole weekend, with instructors who
not only write and play great music,
but are icons of social responsibility.”
She went on thinking. “It should be
held someplace that exemplifies the
beauty of our world.” Not one to stop
while on a roll, she thought, “the
place should show how people can
live in harmony with nature and create
a sustainable world.”
Is that too much to ask from one’s
passing morning thoughts? Not if you
truly believe that your dreams can
create something meaningful.

Last Memorial Day weekend, Carolyn was joined by internationally recognized
folk artists, John McCutcheon and Peggy Seeger for the first annual Ramblin’
River Retreat for SongMaking. Also joining the staff were regional and local
songsters Sally Potter, Hal Walker, and Michael Grady.

The weekend retreat was held in the scenically stunning landscape of the
Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Workshops were presented in a passive solar,
“green” building that was built largely from recycled, sustainable materials and
designed to efficiently use minimal resources. Healthy and tasty meals included
local and organic foods.

And Music! Of course there was lots of music. The weekend was a success in
that music and community were created in as many different ways as there
were people.

This year, the event will be held at the ecologically harmonious and inspiring,
C rown Point in Bath Ohio, still only minutes from the national park. Renowned
songwriter and songwriting instructor Bob Franke will lead five, two-hour
workshops and give a Saturday Solstice Concert.

Workshops will be on Friday evening, Saturday morning and afternoon, and
Sunday morning and afternoon. Enrollment will be limited to about 20
people so register early!

The cost for attending the workshops will be $185 per person, and will include
lunches with healthy, organic, and local food, as well as snacks and
refreshments from the Mustard Seed Market

Tickets for the Saturday Solstice Concert will be $12 per person and con be
purchased through Crown Point.