Walker Creek Music Camp

Walker Creek Music Camp Music camp for bluegrass, oldtime, & country music open to all ages and levels Musicians and singers of all ages welcome. See FAQ’s page for more information.

Walker Creek Music Camp focuses on bluegrass, old-time and swing music (occasional forays into other styles). Held at Walker Creek Ranch near Petaluma, CA. The spring camp is typically held in April and the fall camp in November. Visit http://www.walkercreekmusiccamp.org/ for details. This camp is for beginning and intermediate level players of bluegrass and oldtime music who want to improve their

instrumental or vocal skills and work on jamming with others or band dynamics. Camp starts the first day with registration, early-bird classes, a meet’n’greet jam, dinner, staff introductions and mini concert, questions and answers, jamming, and dancing. The next three days will include classes each morning with instrumental and vocal instructors, average ten students to a class--these are the classes you sign up for in advance. Afternoons feature a wide array of elective classes to choose from--including instrumental workshops, vocal harmony classes, clogging, band rhythm, music theory, music history, songwriting, and more. Evening activities include staff and student concerts, an old time dance, and lots of jamming. The final evening there may be a concert and dinner opportunity at a nearby venue, details TBA. On-site camping is available, for tents (check the weather report!) or RVs (dry-camping). Housing options are economy housing (6-12 per dorm), semi-private rooms (3-5 people per room), or couples rooms (for 2), all with shared bathrooms. Private rooms for one are available on a limited basis. Various choices of nearby lodging are available for those who want more upscale accommodations—see FAQs page for details. Three delicious meals a day are served in the conference dining hall. Walker Creek Ranch is located in the rolling hills of West Marin County, about an hour north of the metropolitan Bay Area. It's scenic, beautiful, quiet, and has an abundance of wildlife, and miles of hiking trails. For more details about the site, see www.walkercreekranch.org

Scholarships are available for those who need them (see FAQs page for details). We are especially grateful to all our scholarship donors for making this possible—thank you all so much! We also offer a special class for younger children who are not yet ready for the full camp program, but would enjoy spending the morning playing music, singing, dancing, and taking breaks for arts and crafts, nature walks etc. For more information, call director Ingrid Noyes at 415-663-6030 (after 9 a.m.) or e-mail [email protected]

This is a popular camp— registration for spring opens February 1st , and classes may fill quickly. For best choice of classes, early registration is advised!

MEET CLINTON DAVIS! 🪕We’re excited to welcome Clinton Davis to Walker Creek!A fifth-generation Kentuckian and Southern C...
09/04/2026

MEET CLINTON DAVIS! 🪕
We’re excited to welcome Clinton Davis to Walker Creek!
A fifth-generation Kentuckian and Southern California-based old-time musician, Clinton is a multi-instrumentalist whose musical journey spans Kentucky fiddle & banjo, ragtime piano & guitar, and traditional music from across the country.
At camp, Clinton will take you beyond clawhammer into the fascinating world of old-time two-finger banjo—a style that’s not clawhammer and not Scruggs! You’ll explore thumb-lead and index-lead playing, learn techniques from some of the great players of the tradition, and dig into their tunes.
With a doctorate in music and a passion for helping students find their own way into music, Clinton brings a unique perspective to teaching—and a love of helping people develop the skills and confidence to play with others.
Come discover something new with Clinton at Walker Creek!

 CONCERT SERIES V — A BENEFIT CONCERT FOR WALKER CREEK MUSIC CAMP!Friday, September 11 • 7:00 PMSebastopol Community Cul...
09/01/2026

CONCERT SERIES V — A BENEFIT CONCERT FOR WALKER CREEK MUSIC CAMP!

Friday, September 11 • 7:00 PM
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center
390 Morris St., Sebastopol, CA

Join us for an inspiring night of world-class live music, community, and generosity as we raise funds to help young musicians attend WCMC and build a lasting endowment for future generations.

CRYING UNCLE BLUEGRASS BAND
One of the most exciting young bands in acoustic music, Crying Uncle blends bluegrass, Dawg music, jazz, and original compositions with remarkable musicianship and youthful energy. Brothers Miles and Teo Quale are joined by Andrew Osborn and 2023 National Flat Pick Guitar Champion Ian Ly, creating a fresh, innovative sound rooted in tradition.

“Go and check out Crying Uncle! We dig what they are doing! The future of music is in good hands here!” — David Grisman

EVIE LADIN BAND
Banjo player, singer, songwriter, percussive dancer, choreographer, and square dance caller, Evie Ladin is one of contemporary roots music’s most dynamic voices. Blending old-time Appalachian traditions with African Diaspora influences, rhythm, dance, and storytelling, Evie and her band deliver performances packed with joy and energy.

"A natural entertainer with a gift for infusing folk practices with contemporary verve.”— San Francisco Chronicle

PACIFIC DRIVE
Born right here at Walker Creek Music Camp in 2015 — at dances, beside the pond, and in late-night jam sessions that stretched well past midnight. Pacific Drive features Dana Frankel, David Thiessen, Jesse Fichman, Helen Foley, and Sam Reed, lifelong friends who grew up in California’s bluegrass community. Expect hard-driving traditional bluegrass, tight harmonies, and plenty of chemistry.

🎟️ GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/wcmc-teacher-concert-v

Can’t make the concert? You can still make a difference.
Donate to help send a young musician to camp!

❤️ DONATE TO WCMC:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/donate-to-wcmc--2026

How do we find our authentic voice—and develop a songwriting style that feels like our own?Join Lucy Clearwater this Fal...
08/27/2026

How do we find our authentic voice—and develop a songwriting style that feels like our own?
Join Lucy Clearwater this Fall at WCMC teaching Songwriting and Vocal Technique. Lucy presents a supportive class exploring songwriting games, co-writing, vocal technique, harmony, vocal health, and authenticity.
Whether you’ve never written a song or you’ve been performing for years, come exactly as you are. No experience required—just curiosity.
Come and explore, experiment, and find your voice together. ❤️

08/26/2026

Is your M&M’s camper becoming a teen? We have exciting news!

Walker Creek Music Camp is expanding its youth programming with a brand-new Teen Band Lab for grades 6–12, led by longtime M&M’s instructor Krishna Feeney!

Teen Band Lab gives young musicians a chance to:
Play in small bands
Sing, jam & write songs
Rehearse and arrange music together
Develop their own unique musical voices

Whether your teen is just getting started or already an experienced musician, they’ll have a chance to collaborate, laugh, play, and grow together—all in a space designed specifically for young musicians.

We’re excited to create a place where our M&M’s kids can grow and keep making music at WCMC! ❤️

👉 Learn more: https://walkercreekmusiccamp.org/teen-band-lab/

Know a Walker Creek family with a teen? Please share this post! We’d love to welcome the next generation of Walker Creek musicians.

Video: M&M teens rehearsing "Catharsis" by Amy Cann in the Natural History Museum at Walker Creek Ranch Outdoor School and Conference Center

Registration Opens Tomorrow at NOON!We’re excited about new programs like our nightly themed Buckeye Barn Bash, a brand ...
08/24/2026

Registration Opens Tomorrow at NOON!
We’re excited about new programs like our nightly themed Buckeye Barn Bash, a brand new Band Lab for TEENS class and our upcoming Teacher Concert Series V on Friday September 11, 2026.

Stay tuned for more details coming shortly - we’ll see you tomorrow at registration!

Registration OPENS at NOON on
Monday August 24, 2026!
Classes will fill FAST so REGISTER EARLY!

Class Descriptions HERE:
https://walkercreekmusiccamp.org/classes/

Hey Campers!Class descriptions are now live on our website, and registration opens in just 3 days — at noon on Monday, A...
08/21/2026

Hey Campers!
Class descriptions are now live on our website, and registration opens in just 3 days — at noon on Monday, August 24!
If you know which classes you want, register early for the best selection of classes and lodging. We’ve got a stellar group of teachers lined up, and we expect Fall Camp to fill quickly!
Come spend four days making music, learning, jamming, and enjoying the Walker Creek community.
Mark your calendar: Monday, 8/24 at noon.�We’ll see you at camp!
Camp Dates: Thursday-Sunday October 22-25, 2026
Photos by: Evan Thompson

Tickets Are On Sale Now!Don’t miss our Teacher Concert Series V Benefit Concert celebrating the rich traditions and exci...
08/20/2026

Tickets Are On Sale Now!
Don’t miss our Teacher Concert Series V Benefit Concert celebrating the rich traditions and exciting future of American roots music!
Join us for an incredible evening of live music and support the future of music education at Walker Creek Music Camp.
Get your tickets now!

Can’t make it to the concert? Please donate here and help send a young musician to camp!

Link in bio

We’re excited to welcome Janie Rothfield to the Walker Creek Music Camp staff!Janie is a powerhouse American fiddler, cl...
08/19/2026

We’re excited to welcome Janie Rothfield to the Walker Creek Music Camp staff!
Janie is a powerhouse American fiddler, clawhammer banjo player, and guitarist whose music combines deep roots in tradition with an inventive spirit, in-the-pocket rhythm, whimsical grooves, and award-winning original tunes.
Janie has been playing, teaching, and recording Traditional American Old Time and Celtic music since her teens, when she began learning and performing alongside older-generation musicians from New England, North Carolina, and Quebec.
Since then, her music has taken her around the world. With more than 20 recordings to her credit, Janie has performed at festivals, music camps, concerts, dances, and workshops throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and beyond.
Janie is also the founder and director of Janie’s Jumpstart Home-Based Weekend Music Camps, bringing intimate, immersive music experiences to communities around the world.
We can’t wait to have Janie sharing her music, knowledge, and infectious enthusiasm with the Walker Creek community!

We had so much fun playing the Walker Creek fundraiser in the Spring and stopping by KRCB104.9 to help promote, and we’r...
08/17/2026

We had so much fun playing the Walker Creek fundraiser in the Spring and stopping by KRCB104.9 to help promote, and we’re back for round two!

Pacific Drive is excited to be part of the Walker Creek Music Camp Teacher Concert Series alongside Crying Uncle and the Evie Ladin Band on September 11 at the Sebastopol Community Cultural Center.

Walker Creek holds a pretty special place in Pacific Drive history. It’s where our band first came together back in 2015, through dances, jams, and lots of late-night shenanigans. We’re always happy to come back and support a place that has given so much to us and to the traditional music community.

Come hang with us and support Walker Creek!

—Friday, September 11 | 7–9 PM
—Sebastopol Community Cultural Center
—Tickets at walkercreekmusiccamp.org

08/13/2026

to waking up in the mornings at WCMC to the sounds of campers making music! 🎶 Come for the music, stay for the magic, and become part of the community. ❤️

Camp Dates: 10/22-25, 2026
Registration opens Monday, August 24 at NOON! ⏰ Register early for the best class choices and lodging.
Video by John Nelson

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Petaluma, CA
94952

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