“The Jumpstart approach is really a fabulous way to learn by spending quality immersion time with the best teachers and students! The location was ideal and of course the food was amazing.I really enjoyed the small class size and intimate approach. I’ve been to the big banjo camps and after Jumpstart I’m focusing on looking forward to keeping thing small. I can’t imagine a more ideal immersion into the old-time tradition than one of Janie’s Jumpstart weekends. The collection of talented instructors, the small class size, the jamming opportunities, the bucolic setting, the great food — see for yourselves. You’ll learn a lot and have a ton of fun. ”
JANIE’S JUMPSTART HOME CAMPS FOR OLD TIME MUSIC!
10 Year Anniversary!
Janie’s Jumpstart Weekend Old Time Camps began in January 2013 in Oxford PA offering instrumental classes for Old Time Fiddle, Clawhammer Banjo, and Guitar! Since then, there have been over 40 Janie’s Jumpstart Weekends throughout the USA and Europe and more to come!
The goal of Janie's Jumpstart Camp is to help you get to the next level in your music, while also cultivating community and fun!
Janie’s Jumpstart Old Time Music Weekend Camps feature small instrumental classes (max 8 students per instructor) with amazing teachers (and players), delicious food, tons of jamming with staff, concerts and a whole lot of fun! Janie’s Jumpstart weekends are held in a comfortable home setting where the student is the focus and the goal is to help you not only learn tons of music and tunes, but how to play better!! Our teachers will show you practical techniques to add rhythm and musicality to your playing and singing-no matter what your skill level or genre of music you are playing. Students do NOT stay on-site and will need to arrange off site accomodations. ALL MEALS are included from Friday Dinner-Sunday Lunch!
Janie’s Jumpstart Old Time Music Weekend in Oxford PA
November 1-3, 2024
with Janie Rothfield, Rachel Eddy, Ivy and David Sheppard and Allan Carr
REGISTRATION IS OPEN! Click HERE to register
Early Bird Rate until June 1st!
For more info contact Janie at info@janierothfield.com
Don’t forget to sign up below to be on Janie’s mailing list get her newsletter!
The Story (so far) of Janie’s Jumpstart Music Camps!
In 2009, I decided I wanted to develop a weekend camp model that really focused on the student-to give people the opportunity to not only learn a bunch of tunes, jam with friends and have fun, and get to know their teachers and staff, but really help them “jumpstart” their playing to the next level. This meant creating an environment that would include fabulous teachers-not just great players, who would focus on the individual needs and learning styles of each student, multiple small classes (max 8 per person), small jams, delicious food, held in a comfortable home setting and most importantly-to create community and long lasting musical friendships. It took a while, but by 2014 I held my first Janie’s Jumpstart Weekend in Oxford PA at the home of dear friends and master old time musicians, Pete Peterson and Kellie Allen. Since then, I’ve held Jumpstarts throughout the USA, including Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Texas, California, Oregon, New Hampshire and Washington, and Europe too!!
Starting in 2023 I added ENSEMBLE CLASSES to the weekend schedule! In addition to your instrumental classes, you will also have classes that focus on being able to play with others in a jam and/or ensemble setting. Plus MORE JAMMING with staff!
I’ve had hundreds of people come to the Jumpstart Weekends and look forward to seeing you soon.
If you are interested in having a Janie’s Jumpstart at your home, please contact me and let’s talk! It’s pretty turnkey operation in that me and my team take care of organizing and running everything from registrations, marketing, food, Covid safety protocols and including insurance! info@janierothfield.com
Teaching Testimonials for Janie:
“Janie has shown me how to pull the melody out of old time tunes on my banjo… to make them less busy and more musical. I had developed some poor habits throwing every banjo cliché I ever learned into each tune I played. Janie showed me how to strip out all of the unnecessary stuff… to concentrate on the melody and rhythm which ultimately “pops” the tunes and makes them more beautiful.”
“ I can’t imagine a more ideal immersion into the old-time tradition than one of Janie’s Jumpstart weekends. The collection of talented instructors, the small class size, the jamming opportunities, the bucolic setting, the great food — see for yourselves. You’ll learn a lot and have a ton of fun.”
“I feel fortunate to have Jane [Rothfield] as my instructor. She was recommended to me by Sule Greg Wilson who said “You can learn a lot from Jane”. He’s right! I have learned tunes & songs I thought were beyond my beginner level. Jane has an encouraging and enthusiastic style that put you at ease. I enjoy the banjo sessions I have with Jane and look forward to the times we meet.”
“Jane’s teaching is unique and uniquely effective. With her help I finally divorced myself from over-reliance on tab and began to play more intuitively. Now I can begin to pick up new songs by ear, even during jams. Before I had a lot of technique but I couldn’t make the music I wanted. Now I can make music, and the technique is taking care of itself. ”
“Janie came highly recommended, so I had high expectations. They were met and exceeded. I’ve been playing fiddle for years, trying to learn from books and the internet. After Janie showed me the proper way to hold the fiddle and bow, and proper bowing technique, all those tunes I know became so much easier to play. Then she showed me the most important thing about playing any instrument; the difference between playing notes and making music. And the whole time I never feel like I’m taking lessons. I feel like I’m just hanging out playing music and learning new things. Most importantly, I’m excited about learning because it has become fun again.” Jamie McCracken- Janie’s Fiddle student
“Janie has shown me how to pull the melody out of old time tunes on my banjo… to make them less busy and more musical. I had developed some poor habits throwing every banjo cliché I ever learned into each tune I played. Janie showed me how to strip out all of the unnecessary stuff… to concentrate on the melody and rhythm which ultimately “pops” the tunes and makes them more beautiful.” Tim Wade-clawhammer banjo (Doylestown, PA)