By George S. Lilly

            On Saturday, March 9, The Glenville State College bluegrass program will host a youth camp focusing on Irish music. Students of all skill levels between the ages of five and 12 are welcome. Skills such as tuning/changing strings and learning basic chords will be taught, and there will also be more challenging material offered for those who are more experienced. According to Dr. Megan Darby (the head of the bluegrass department), the camp will set the basic foundations that fit into most traditional music, but, she adds, “We’re going to enhance it a bit for those who actually want to learn songs of more Celtic roots.”

This is its twelfth youth camp at The Pioneer Stage. Many camps have been hosted by the program, including Bluegrass, Christmas, and a camp focused specifically on the music of Bill Monroe. Recently, there was a bluegrass camp at the pioneer stage, and one in Bean Blossom, Indiana.

Dr. Darby also wants parents to know that they need not worry: The program has several instruments that it can provide for rent to students in need of one. It’s also important to remember that the staff are well-trained, so it’s important to trust the instructors and not to hover over the students while they work, lest it make them too nervous to learn effectively.

The camp will be hosted at the Pioneer Stage at 10 East Main St. in downtown Glenville. Drop-off and registration will be at 9 a.m., and pick-up is at 4:30-5p.m. Registration is $30, which includes snack, official camp shirts (guaranteed to registrants before February 22), oral traditions, and instrumental and dance lessons. For pre-registration and additional information, email bluegrassmusic@glenville.edu or call (304) 462-6355.