Pickers of all stripes come from Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and even farther, camping out on the lawn of Wallowa Elementary.
April Baer / OPB
Drive through the small town of Wallowa in the far Northeast corner of Oregon in August, and you'll see school is already in session. The front lawn of Wallowa Elementary School is filled with tents.
Pickers of all ages come to stay for a week of instruction and jams at Wallowa Fiddle Tunes Camp.
"You'd be surprised how many musicians are around here," said camp director Carla Arnold, who teaches music in LaGrande. "There's a huge community of musicians in LaGrande, and Union County. Wallowa County also has a huge scene."
Camp Director Carla Arnold has been drafting stronger pickers in recent years to help students in unofficial moments, like hallway jams and after-hours picking circles.
April Baer / OPB
One-hundred-and-ten people came to spend the week at camp this year. Last year it was 140 - a mix of kids and adults. Teachers come from all over the region, too. Fiddle instructor John Weid drove his wife and kids up from Carmel, California.
Others hail from closer spots, like Duane Boyer, who's taught guitar at Eastern Oregon University for 41 years.
Duane Boyer, semi-retired rancher and guitar teacher.
April Baer / OPB
Arnold said what sets Fiddle Tunes Camp apart is the environment.
"The point is you take what you have, and you'll be safely supported with the group."
Not every fiddler or picker will go professional, but Arnold says the validation of playing for others, in old time circles or community dances, is as rewarding as anything on the main stage. "A musician can be defined by [having a] place in the community. You don't have to be a concertmaster."
John Wied leading Intermediate Fiddle
April Baer / OPB