There is music in the mountains for those who listen.
Welcome to Camp Coletrain

Write us hello@coletrainmusicacademy.com

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3 Full Days of Instruction, Daily Yoga, Jams, Evening Concerts & More!

Camp Coletrain is so much more than just a music camp! Here you'll learn, create, build confidence, focus on music, but also wellness and camaraderie. Camp Coletrain includes daily yoga, three full days of instruction, student + teacher jams, plus super cool swag like our Camp Coletrain welcome totes and t-shirts, and we also cover the classroom snacks and beverages to keep you going. We'll wrap everything up with a student ensemble at a super cool venue on the river to give you stage and performance experience.

Violin

Beginner to Advanced

Guitar

Beginner to Advanced

Mandolin

Beginner to Advanced

Bass

Beginner to Advanced

Piano

Beginner to Intermediate

Kid's Clinic

12 & Under

Count Down To
Camp Coletrain

SEE YOU IN BUENA VISTA, CO!
We hope you'll join us June 5-9, 2023 in Buena Vista, Colorado!

Let's make music ...

Experienced Instructors. Results-Driven Content. Epic Views.

Welcome to Camp Coletrain, an annual music camp produced by Coletrain Music Academy! Camp Coletrain is truly an immersive experience that offers the perfect amount of music, wellness, community, and adventure. Our workshops are for first-time beginners to advanced performing musicians looking to gain more knowledge on their applied instruments. Our music camp instructors are both experienced educators and avid performers who have helped countless students reach their musical goals. At Camp Coletrain we start each morning with an outdoor yoga session where we will set our intentions for the day and work on the areas of our body specific to our instruments. If yoga isn't your thing we encourage you to walk the river and explore the incredible trails Buena Vista has to offer. We also carve out time for students to explore our downtown cafes, food trucks, and shops. Each evening you'll have the option to attend a free concert spotlighting teachers, students, and local musicians. Our goal is for students to discover their musical spark at Camp Coletrain, that they walk away with more knowledge, confidence, and clarity around their instrument, and find themselves more relaxed after having spent some meaningful time in the mountains making epic memories that are certain to last a lifetime.

Get To Know

Our Camp Coletrain Instructors !

Our instructors don't just talk the talk. They walk the walk. They are educators, performers, music lovers, dreamers and doers, and they can't wait to work with you!

Violin Instructor

Coleman Smith is a world-renowned crossover violinist. Coleman, a 30-plus-year veteran of violin performance and education, blends an understanding of classical, jazz, folk, country, and bluegrass elements into his performances and workshops. Coleman started playing the violin at 3 years […]

Piano + Vocal Clinic Instructor

Bonnie Lea Culpepper is an accomplished musician based in Salida, Colorado. Bonnie, who hails from New York, is a classically trained vocalist, as well as a songwriter, and pianist, and specializes in the styles of jazz, blues, and folk. She […]

Kids Clinic: Strings & Song

Bill Hussey is a Salida resident with a passion for music and education. Bill is classically trained on the violin and a self-taught guitarist, mandolinist, and bassist all of which have been nourished by the vibrant musical community of the […]

Guitar + Songwriting Instructor

David Lawrence has called Colorado home for over a decade. Whether performing solo or with his full band, ‘The Spoonful,’ David brings a unique blend of finger-picking Delta blues, roots-Americana, soulful vocals, and his style of Gypsy-infused jazz guitar. In […]

Bass Instructor

Telluride native, Charles (Charlie) Parker Mertens is a multi-genre bassist, cellist, and producer. He is currently the bass player for the award-winning international touring band Rapidgrass and The Bluegrass Journeymen. Charlie has performed with Thievery Corporation, Les Nubians, and Cyril […]

Mandolin Instructor

Alex Johnstone is the mandolin player in the internationally acclaimed, award-winning band Rapidgrass. He was also the Mandolin player in the band Spring Creek which ended back in 2012. Alex has been playing and performing for audiences for almost 20 […]

There's music in the mountains
for those who listen...

Come experience a Camp Coletrain Music Workshop
and see what all the buzz is about.
Classes, Breakouts, and Performance Oh My!

Camp Coletrain 2023 Agenda .

We run a tight ship at Camp Coletrain to ensure students get the most bang for their buck! We also want you to enjoy everything that Buena Vista has to offer so we've carved out some downtime so you can explore, shop, eat, drink, and adventure!

Students will receive their official agendas the week prior to Camp Coletrain, but here is a general overview of the flow.

Monday, June 5th | Registration + Meet & Greet

Day 1

Registration | Welcome Tote with Agenda Pickup | 5 pm - 6 pm @ Coletrain Music Academy
Pizza & Jam Session | 6pm - 7:30 pm @ Coletrain Music Academy
Tuesday, June 6th - Thursday, June 8th

Day 2-4

Musician Yoga Flow | 9 am -10 am @ South Main Town Square
Applied Instrument Workshop | 11 am - 1 pm @ Buena Vista High School
Break Out Sessions | Find Your Voice or Seed to Song | 2:30 pm – 4 pm @ Buena Vista High School
Assigned Ensembles Band Lab | 4 pm - 5 pm @ Buena Vista High School
Wed. June 7th | Camp Coletrain Jam + CMA All-Stars Concert @ The Lariat | Jam - 6 pm / Concert - 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Friday, June 9th | Student Ensemble @ River Runners

Day 5

Student Rehearsal | 9:30 am – 11:00 am @ River Runners - 24070 Co Rd 301, Buena Vista, CO 81211
Doors Open - 10:30 am | Families & Friends May Find Their Seat
Performances To Begin | 11 am - 2 pm
River Runners + Camp Coletrain Family Boat Float - 3 pm
Space is Limited

Register Today !

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Our Sponsors .

Behind every event are incredible partners and sponsors. We are so grateful for these businesses who champion the fine arts and support live music!