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Announcing a New Initiative for New Students – First Lesson is free!

Headwaters Music & Arts announces a new initiative offering a free first music lesson for new students. The free lesson, combined with financial assistance for all ages including adults, ensures that music education is accessible to everyone, regardless of income or age. Increased access to the arts strengthens community connections and promotes lifelong learning and creativity. A free first lesson benefits families and individuals who may be hesitant to invest in lessons due to financial concerns, opening doors to people who might not otherwise have the chance to explore their musical talents. Headwaters music program has immediate openings in most instruments, including piano, guitar, voice, percussion, violin, cello, and band instruments. Details on how to sign up and take advantage of the free first lesson, financial assistance, and lesson scheduling are available at www.headwatersmusicandarts.org or by calling 218-444-5606.

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Headwaters Welcomes back Paraguayan Harpist Nicolas Carter to Bemidji for Presentations and Performance

Headwaters Music and Arts is pleased to welcome internationally acclaimed Paraguayan harpist Nicolas Carter back to Bemidji for a series of workshops and a live performance. Some may remember Nicolas from his well received workshop and performance at Headwaters in fall 2021. Thanks to a grant from the Region 2 Arts Council Headwaters will partner with Nicholas to do it again, this time with a workshop 12-4 pm Thursday, June 22, followed by a free performance by Nicolas at 7 pm that same day. The public is invited to both of these events that will be held at Headwaters Music and Arts’ performance hall. For those who want another opportunity to experience Nicolas he’ll also be offering a presentation at Bemidji Public Library Friday, June 23, at 10 am.

Nicolas Carter is a talented and versatile International harpist, born in Minnesota and raised in Paraguay where he learned to play the Paraguayan harp. Carter creates unique performances blending his musicianship with his skills as a theater artist/storyteller. His authentic, warm and friendly interaction creates an intimate experience bringing inspiration, motivation and joy. Carter has been composing, recording, teaching and performing for over 30 years and has played all over the United States, Latin America, Europe and Israel.

Nicolas’ June 22 workshop Improvising with Latin American Rhythms is for local musicians ages 14-adult. There is limited space for this program so advance registration at HeadwatersMusicAndArts.org is required. The cost to attend the 4 hour workshop is $25. His June 23 presentation at Bemidji Public Library is a free educational event which will include a reading of Maliya Gorman-Carter’s book Hanish: The Story of the Harp.

The 7 pm Thursday, June 22 live performance is also free and open to the public. Folks are invited to come and relax, renew, refresh with nurturing soul music and touching stories of Latin American culture.

Headwaters Music and Arts is an independent non-profit multidisciplinary organization whose mission is to provide opportunities for creativity through instruction and to inspire community through music and the arts. They offer a variety of programs for all ages.

Register or find out more about Nicolas Carter’s Improvising with Latin American Rhythms  workshop here.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota, through a grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

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Headwaters Holds Its Annual Summer Fiddle Camp

Calling all fiddlers, strummers and pickers! Headwaters Music & Arts’ week-long Fiddle Camp is set for 9 am-4 pm, June 26-30. The string camp is for all string players, ages 8 to adult, with at least one year of experience. Guitar, fiddle, cello, bass, uke, banjo or mandolin are all welcome. This year’s camp also welcomes players of the tin-whistle. Participants will get to jam with instructors Brian Miller, Mary Vanorny, Eric Carlson, Carrie Dlutkowski, and Sawyer Corcoran during both small and large group sessions. Campers will showcase all their hard work with a public show put on by attendees on Friday afternoon.

Headwaters Fiddle Camp focuses on learning tunes, songwriting, improv and playing by ear as well as other aspects of traditional fiddle music. This year participants can expect to learn the basics of Ottawa Valley step dance, how to build their own tin whistle or bodhran (Irish hand drum) and chording. The camp will also feature activities exploring the history of fiddle music in Bemidji and northern Minnesota and will get a chance to take a field trip to the Beltrami County History Museum and jam at the waterfront.

The cost to attend Headwaters Fiddle Camp is $100 per participant. Headwaters offers several scholarship and grant options for all of its youth programming in an effort to make their programming accessible for all. Registration deadline and full payment are due June 21.

Headwaters Music & Arts is an independent non-profit multidisciplinary organization whose mission is to provide opportunities for creativity through instruction and to inspire community through music and the arts. They offer a variety of summer camps for all ages.

Register or find out more about Headwaters Fiddle Camp here.

Headwaters Fiddle Camp is made possible by the voters of Minnesota, through a grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.