Yosemite Songwriting Retreat

“LIVE” In-Person Retreat October 6th-8th, Mariposa, CA

For our 11th Anniversary In-Person event, we are excited to be featuring, Melody Walker, who has worked as a co-songwriter with Molly Tuttle who won the 2023 Best Bluegrass Album Grammy for her studio recording titled: Crooked Tree. We’re also delighted to have Zack Smith (from Smooth Hound Smith,) who is a wonderful songwriter and an excellent guitarist. The incomparable Joe Craven will also join us again and share his deep musical wisdom. We’ll be meeting at THE GROVE HOUSE in historic downtown Mariposa, CA. Join us for a weekend of music, classes, mentor sessions, and opportunities to connect with other songwriters while developing your own skills.

Photo by Sharon McCarthy, showing some of the wonderful people who made music in 2022

How was it for you?

If you attended the Spring 2022 Yosemite Virtual Songwriting Retreat, we want to hear from you. Please share your thoughts using the form below. As an added incentive, if you submit your feedback by next Monday (April 18th), we’ll enter you for a draw to win a guitar strap. Thank you in advance.

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October 10, 2021 0

Scholarships

To apply for a scholarship for the Yosemite Songwriting Retreat, please complete the application form and click the ‘Submit’ button. We will be in touch within two weeks to let you know if your application has been successful or not. Our funds are limited and we want to help as many people as possible, so any fundraising you can do for yourself is helpful.

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August 6, 2021 0

How to use Zoom for the retreat

What is a ‘virtual’ retreat anyway? If you’re confused, frustrated and / or anxious about using Zoom, you’re not alone. Fortunately, Adam has all the information you need…

May 14, 2020 0

Better Live Acoustic Guitar Tone

We’re really proud of the live sound at our concerts and open mics. Last year, David Jacobs-Strain commented that he’d never before heard so many acoustic guitars sound like acoustic guitars, and he knows a thing or two about guitar tone! If you’d like to get a better amplified acoustic tone, retreat coordinator and Beat Harvest educator Adam Burns has some tips for you in the video below. To learn more come to Adam’s live performance class at the 2019 retreat.

June 14, 2019 0

A Message from Joe Craven

November 1, 2017 1

Compilation CD

The Yosemite songwriting retreat CD is a compilation of 17 songs written and recorded by participants at the recording sessions we offer during the retreat. This eclectic collection showcases the depth of talent and diversity of styles that make up our creative community. All of the profits from CD sales go to our scholarship fund, which provides financial assistance to people who want to come to the retreat.

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September 8, 2017 0

How Did YSR Begin?

By Gail Dreifus

I was coming back from Joe Craven’s” Rivertunes” camp and frankly I wanted more. More chances to hang out with musicians, meet new people and set aside time to write and play music. However, I did not want to drive a long distance again in pursuit of my musical desires so the obvious answer to my passion was to create my own songwriting retreat in my neighborhood. Continue reading “How Did YSR Begin?” →

March 16, 2017 0