The information below is from our April 2023 event. Our next camp is tentatively schedule for May 11, 2024. If you would like to be on the mailing list for next year, please email Maggie at mags@timandmaggie.net . THANKS! 

This is a weekend workshop with Piano Tech learning stations one can explore on various topics. It will be held at the Appalachian South Folklife Center at 820 Rocky Mount Rd, Pipestem, WV 25979 in southern WV.

The event runs from Friday, April 14 evening through Sunday, April 16 afternoon. Dorms will be available Friday night through Sunday night for those who would rather leave Monday morning. 

Tentative work stations include: 
1. Install a string, hitch pin loop, string splice
2. Travel grand hammers 
3. How to read a micrometer
4. How to set up a grand hammer hanging jig
5. How to use a Renner hammer-boring jig
6. Rebush keys, fix key spacing, fix key tilt
7. Repin flanges
8. Fix stripped screws
9. Fix a loose rib
10. Fix a broken upright hammer shank
11. Fix a broken upright damper spring
12. Grand damper wire bending
13. At least one 3-key upright model for practice regulating
14. At lease one single-key model to assemble from the ground up
15. Several single-key grand models for assembly and regulation 
16. Broken agraffe repair
17. Remove a hammer from the shank, then glue it back
18. Install a new tuning pin on a grand using a pinblock jack and floor floor jack for support
19. Replace broken wippen cord, unpin and repin the jack, then use gram gage to verify friction
20. Bed a grand action keyframe
21. Tilt a piano with a tilter
22. Regulation troubleshooting

PLEASE read about the facilities: This is a relatively primitive campground. There is a ladies dorm, a mens dorm, and a mixed dorm with semi-private rooms. BASIC room and board is included in the price of $50. For a semi-private room, one can pay an extra $10 but availability is limited. There are 6 rooms that can house individuals, couples, or small groups in a co-ed dorm. There is one private room in the mens dorm and one private room in the ladies dorm, both with 2 beds. The mens and ladies dorms have bathrooms with 2 showers, 2 sinks, and 2 toilets with dividers. The co-ed dorm has 2 separate bathrooms with a shower, sink, and toilet in each. There are no private rooms with their own private bathroom. ALL beds are single sleeper bunk beds. You must bring your own bedding/sleeping bag, pillow, towel, etc. There is a primitive camping area for tents or campers but no power, water, or "hook ups". Please click here for more information. 

BASIC food items will be available at the center. There will be coffee and hot water available 24/7. Breakfast will be oatmeal, eggs, grits and toast. Lunch will be PB&J and breakfast leftovers. Dinner will be beans and rice or cornbread. Snacks will include granola bars and trail mix. For those who wish to bring their own food, there are 3 refrigerators which should be enough for all of us. There is a fully stocked (pots/pans, dish-ware, silverware) commercial kitchen which can accommodate some who wish to prepare their own food, although we may have to stagger a bit. Saturday evening will include an optional fire circle with marshmallows (I will try to have vegan marshmallows available) and s'mores, pending weather.

If anyone wants better accommodations, there are several locations nearby but one must cover that cost on their own. Pipestem State Park is the closest but is now booked. Pipestem Place Log Cabins is the next closest. Bluestone State Park cabins and The View Bed & Breakfast still have availability and are only 15 minutes away. Restaurants are available at Pipestem State Park and near the Folklife Center (including The Oak , Brandon's BBQ ,  Rock Ridge Grill , a small pizza place, and a "mom & pop" store). 

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:

FRIDAY
- Arrive in the afternoon or evening to get settled.
- Visit a nearby restaurant, prepare your own food, or have some beans & cornbread on us after 5PM.
- 7PM: greetings and orientation with coffee, hot chocolate, tea, and surprises! 

SATURDAY
- 8AM: breakfast
- 9AM: learning stations start
- 12:30PM: lunch
- 1:30-5PM: learning stations continue
- 5:30PM: dinner
- 7PM: fire circle or inside circle with marshmallows & s'mores

SUNDAY
- 8AM: breakfast
- 9AM: learning stations start
- 11:30: lunch
- 12:30-2PM: learning stations continue
- 2-4PM: learning station pack up
- 5:30PM: leftovers for anyone remaining 

TWO LISTS TO HELP YOU PREPARE:

Things you must provide: 
- regulation tools
- Your own food for Friday if you want more than beans and cornbread in the evening
- Your own bedding (sleeping bag or other bedding, pillow, bath towel) 
- Your own toiletries (we have toilet paper and paper towels)
- Any food for any special dietary needs that we aren't providing

Things we will provide: 
- dorms with beds & bathrooms 
- toilet paper & paper towels 
- coffee & hot water (Friday through Monday morning)
- three refrigerators
- dry food storage shelves (no food in dorms, please)
- a full kitchen with pots and pans, a commercial stove (6 burners; 2 ovens), a commercial sink, and a microwave
- dishware (plates, bowls, cutlery, glasses, mugs, etc.) 
- kitchen towels, dish soap, dish cleaning supplies

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY 

The Appalachian South Folklife Center and our workshop welcomes participants regardless of race, sex, gender identification, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, citizenship, ability level, or any other such characteristic. The Appalachian South Folklife Center was founded in part to promote respect and understanding among all peoples, and we will fully embrace this sentiment in our workshop. 

If you have any questions, please contact Maggie at 304-952-8615 or mags@timandmaggie.net .