General FAQs

What does “community-based, participatory traditional genres and singing styles” mean?
These are traditional genres that allow and encourage people to sing together. They are usually learned and harmonized to without rehearsal, and sound very satisfying when sung in a group, although they can also include solo songs. Lots of genres share these qualities, including (but not limited to!): work songs, blues, gospel, old-time, Appalachian, sea songs and chanteys, ballads, railroad songs, prison songs, lullabies, forebitters, broadsides, hymns, vaudeville, camp songs, farming, mining and factory songs, country, bluegrass, spirituals, cowboy songs, American, English, Irish, Scottish, Canadian, Caribbean and Australian songs, labor and union songs, drinking & pub songs, children’s songs, field hollers, and love songs. They can include contemporary songs in traditional genres, as well as songs that have stood the test of time.

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What are the many ways I can participate at YTS?
You can lead songs, join in on songs in the way the song leader indicates, listen attentively and appreciatively, harmonize, ask and answer questions about songs, play an instrument, introduce yourself to folks you’re seeing for the first time, sign up to lead a workshop, start your own informal song swap or jam, attend workshops and group meals, prepare something for the open mic (maybe with someone you’ve met during the first part of the weekend!) or just smile at the people around you.

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I’m not sure I know any songs that I could lead at YTS. Where can I find some?
You probably already know some songs without realizing it. Songs you learned at school, camp songs or songs your parents taught you could all work. For some more ideas, check out some of the resources at http://www.cdss.org/song-resources.html. Or, if you know someone who sings a really great song, ask them to teach it to you!

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How do I sign up to lead a workshop? What are the criteria for leaders?
A key part of YTS is participants leading workshops on whatever parts of singing they’re most interested in! We’ll have plenty of blocks of time and rooms available for you to lead your own workshops, song sessions or discussions. If you have an idea for a workshop you’d like to lead, you’ll be able to let us know during registration; that way, we can figure out any supplies you might need and let people know about it in advance. Otherwise, you’ll be able to sign up to lead workshops at the event itself. You don’t have to have professional expertise to lead a workshop, just a lot of enthusiasm and a topic other singers will enjoy.

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I really like music from non-English speaking traditions (Balkan, Georgian, Corsican, etc.) and I like music for which the harmony parts are prescribed (shape note, rounds, etc). Can I do that at your weekend?
Yes, we hope that weekend participants will sing in any and all traditional styles that interest them. However, our programming led by staff members focuses on songs in English that have components that can be learned quickly by ear and sung without rehearsal. We feel that this choice will make the weekend distinct from other youth-focused events and will provide a venue for a different style of song sharing.

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I love dancing! Will there be dancing at the weekend?
We want to give everyone a chance to get themselves moving on the dance floor, while still keeping the focus of the weekend on singing. (Of course, there are lots of connections between traditional dance and song, too.) Most of the dancing at YTS will be organized by participants, and we’ll make sure there’s a dance location available at certain times over the weekend so you can grab some musicians and make an afternoon contra or midnight Kerry set happen.

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Can I sell my band’s CDs at YTS?
Yes, but we won’t provide a display table for them, and we ask that you don’t set one up.

YTS is a weekend focused on community singing. We recognize that we have many talented performers at the weekend, but we’d like all our participants to be attending primarily as community singers. Singing with seasoned, talented performers can be intimidating to newcomers – we’re striving to maintain a welcoming atmosphere that breaks down barriers between “professional” singers, brand new folks, and everyone in between!

For that reason, we’re providing CD display space as a perk for our staff only. We don’t mind participants selling CDs, but we’d like to keep it low profile. Thanks for your understanding!

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What do you mean by youth? I’m in my 30s or 40s—do I count?
We think “youth” in the traditional singing community is a pretty broad concept. Do you feel young? Are you thought of as young in your community? Are you excited to come to something billed as Youth Traditional Song Weekend? If any of those fit, you’re it!

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I’m pretty sure I’m not a youth. Can I still come?
Yes! We’re excited to build a multigenerational community where we can all teach and learn from each other and encourage younger singers to build their skills and leadership. However, be aware that we may need to reserve a number of spots for younger attendees, in order to give them an opportunity to benefit from the weekend and ensure a good balance of ages.

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Age grouping: what is it, and why do we do it?
We’re excited to build a multigenerational community where we can all teach and learn from each other and encourage younger singers to build their skills and leadership. After giving a great deal of thought to age cohorts, we have decided to offer 80% of our tickets to attendees under the age of 50, and 20% to folks over the age of 50. If tickets are still available from one of the ticket groups when registration closes on December 15 and there is a waitlist for the other, we will offer the remaining spaces to folks on the waitlist.

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How does housing work?
We’ll be staying in four winterized lodges with rooms that sleep three to fourteen people per room. These rooms involve bunk beds! When you register, you can indicate preferences including preferred roommates, top/bottom bunk bed needs, and whether you’d like to be in a “quiet” bunkhouse, and we’ll do our best to make it happen. Wheelchair accessible rooms are available.

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Will any kind of ride sharing be organized?
Yes! Folks who would like to carpool to YTS can indicate this during registration, and our ride coordinator will do their best to get everyone connected and transported. If you’re interested in giving or receiving a ride, please email the ride coordinator at rides@youthtradsong.org.

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Can I bring kids along? If I’m under 18, can I come?
People under 18 can come to YTS as long as they have a parent, guardian, or other chaperone; they’ll need to fill out permission and medical release forms. Just like adults, kids are welcome to participate in the weekend as much as they want, as long as they’re not disruptive. Just keep in mind that YTS is aimed at adults, and that there won’t be activities organized specifically for children.

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Will there be childcare available?
YTS will not be providing childcare. However, we’ve set aside a space for kids to play in, and we’re hoping to help parents set up some sort of system to share childcare among themselves, so everyone can get some time off to go and sing. If you’re interested in getting involved or want to volunteer to head up the childcare swap, e-mail us at info@youthtradsong.org.

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Will there be alcohol at this event?
Yes. To learn more, read our alcohol policy.

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What if it snows and I’m unable to make it or the weekend is canceled?
Chimney Corners has its own crew ready to plow, shovel, and sand, and is located close to Interstate 91 and the Massachusetts Turnpike, meaning that we’ll be fine in the event of normal snows. If there’s a serious storm and the camp cancels, we will refund your fee for the weekend. If YTS is still on but you can’t attend because of the weather, we may be able to give you at least a partial refund, depending on circumstances; we’ll work with you and the camp to make this happen to the best of our ability, but cannot guarantee a refund.

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I’m coming! What should I bring?
Check out our packing list.

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Do you have a question we haven’t answered? Contact us at info@youthtradsong.org. We’d love to hear from you!