Great Lakes Music Camp 2022: Heartwarming jams

By Matt Marn

Back for its fourth year, the lakeshore’s Great Lakes Music Camp saw traditional American music instructors and attendees meet, learn and grow through workshops, collaborations, jam sessions and evening concerts.

In its inaugural year of 2017, GLMC had 40 participants. This year, the four-day camp staged at Camp Blodgett between Grand Haven and Holland (Oct. 6-9) signed up 120 attendees.

Co-founder and executive director Jason Wheeler said he’s thrilled that the 2022 edition of the camp was so well-received.

“It is a heartwarming thing to hear, when someone tells me about the powerful impact the camp has had on them,” said Wheeler, a mandolinist. “We want to be creating memories and inspiration for people at this event.”

The camp drew attendees and musicians from all over Michigan, the United States and even internationally. Friday evening’s concert, open to the public, was nearly standing room only. Saturday night saw even more music lovers pack the building to see on-stage reprisals of the music collaborations that had taken place during the camp.

“I think Saturday’s showcase was a highlight for me,” Wheeler said. “It was probably one of the better shows I’ve seen in my life … because I love acoustic music.

“We all get to spend time with our musical heroes at this event. Some of us have been listening to these musicians since we were kids. To have a weekend with them, and to just be able to talk with them…It is truly an amazing experience for me.”

GETTING YOUTH INVOLVED & MUSIC’S ‘MAGICAL ELEMENT’

New this year was the Great Lakes Music Youth Academy. A smaller, Saturday-only camp for youth performers ages 12-18, participants have a unique chance to learn from professional instructors and workshops. They presented their own youth concert Saturday afternoon.

“Getting the youth involved in the program at that level was my other highlight,” Wheeler said.

“The way the kids are growing through this experience. The reason we are setting up this particular format is to be able to pass on this form of traditional music between generations of people, so I’d say the most gratifying part is to see the youth grow and develop over the weekend. That’s really why we do what we are doing now.”

One Great Lakes Music Camp instructor, multi-instrumentalist Bruce Ling, said he values the strong sense of community that quickly develops at this camp, which celebrates collaboration.

Bruce Ling (Photo/Jacob Igor Craeger)

“Immediately, folks that are strangers are no longer strangers,” Ling said. “There’s almost a magical element that occurs from everyone having a common interest, music. It is everyone’s hope that each and every one of the campers comes away with a new skill set for their chosen instrument, and a deeper understanding of their own talents, known or otherwise.”

Ling also is president of the camp’s overseeing nonprofit, the Grand River Watershed Arts and Music Council. Ling, who has taught as a multi-instrumental instructor for all four years of the program, said he strongly recommends the Great Lakes Music Camp to any musician who wishes to improve skills, explore other genres of music, or learn new songs.

“The most rewarding aspect of the classes that I taught was having young folks approach me afterwards with thanks about how they were able to achieve another level of playing after sitting in my classes,” he said. “That made me feel like I am doing exactly what I was born to do.”

Guitarist Erik White has been attending Great Lakes Music camp every year it has been offered. White said he truly enjoys the fertile music community.

“I can’t say enough about the staff and instructors,” he said. “You get to jam, and apply what you have learned, with some of the greatest musicians in the world! It also does an amazing job, boosting the participants’ confidence. It was incredibly gratifying, to have your musical heroes compliment you on your work.”

White said at Great Lakes Music Camp, everyone, of any instrument or skill level, was welcome to come in and start to play.

“I would absolutely recommend this camp to anyone,” he said. “It has quickly become a treasure in this neighborhood. It is a very successful model of how something like this should be done.

“The performances, the staff concerts, are all happening right in front of you. Not a CD, not a video. You are sharing the same vibrating air molecules with these people, these talented musicians. It is very powerful, very impactful.”

PHOTO GALLERY: Great Lakes Music Camp 2022
Photos by Jacob Igor Craeger and Becca Ling