ACOUSTIC GUITAR CAMP - ITALY
22nd ANNUAL ACOUSTIC GUITAR CAMP
ITALY 2027
June 23 to 27, 2027
Falcade (BL), Italy
Flatpicking guitar with
Roberto Dalla Vecchia and Tim May
WHAT THE CAMP IS ABOUT
The camp is all about playing. Everything we work on, exercises and pieces, is in a booklet in both standard notation and tab, so you can keep practicing at home.
There are 20 guitarists, split into two classes of no more than ten, so there is time for everyone.
You’ll go home with new songs for your repertoire, enough homework to keep you busy for a long time, and probably a few new friends.
And there will be plenty of chances to jam with Tim and me.
THE DAILY SCHEDULE
Wednesday, June 23
Arrivals
12:30 p.m. Lunch
2:30 p.m. Orientation and group photo
3:30 to 7:00 p.m. Afternoon workshop
7:30 p.m. Dinner
9:30pm Song circle
Thursday, June 24
9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Morning workshop
12:30 p.m. Lunch
3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Afternoon workshop
5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Slow jam
7:30 p.m. Dinner
9:30 p.m. Roberto and Tim in concert
Friday, June 25
9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Morning workshop
12:30 p.m. Lunch
3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Afternoon workshop
5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Slow jam
7:30 p.m. Dinner
9:30 p.m. Raffle and open mic
Saturday, June 26
9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Morning workshop
12:30 p.m. Lunch
Free afternoon
7:30 p.m. Dinner
9:30 p.m. The Never Ending Concert
Sunday, June 27
10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Morning workshop
12:30 p.m. Lunch
2:30 p.m. Goodbye until next year
THE LOCATION
Falcade is a small town in the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, surrounded by mountains. The highest of them, the Marmolada, is just to the north.
The area is full of small villages, and there is plenty to do on the free afternoon or if you stay a few extra days: hiking, biking, tennis, swimming, chair lift rides. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Venice... maybe, depending on how much of that local vino you have been sampling. Anyway, Venice is less than two hours away by car.
MEET YOUR TEACHERS
ROBERTO DALLA VECCHIA
Roberto is an Italian flatpicking guitarist, composer, and teacher. He has recorded nine albums, and in 2003 he won Acoustic Guitar Magazine’s Homegrown CD Award.
He has written several instruction books and teaches online with TrueFire, where he also hosts Flatpicking Experience, an online community for flatpickers.
He has taught at Steve Kaufman’s Kamp in the USA and at the Musique Acoustique Workshop in Virton, Belgium, and he has run this camp since 2005..
TIM MAY
Tim May is a Nashville-based multi-instrumentalist, producer, writer, and sideman. He played guitar on Charlie Daniels’ Grammy-nominated 2005 recording of “I’ll Fly Away” and has toured with Patty Loveless, John Cowan, and Rodney Dillard.
He has been a regular on the Grand Ole Opry for many years and currently tours with Kathy Mattea, Steve Smith (as a duo), Richard Gilewitz, and his wife, Gretchen Priest-May.
Tim is co-author of the eight-volume course Flatpicking Essentials and of The Guitar Player’s Practical Guide to Scales and Arpeggios, and he has taught regularly at Camp Bluegrass, Kaufman Kamp, the Swannanoa Gathering, and more.
ACCOMMODATION
We stay at Park Hotel Arnica, a traditional four-star alpine hotel among pinewoods and riverside gardens, about 1 km from the bars and restaurants of Falcade.
Rooms have mountain-view balconies, free Wi-Fi, and TV.
There is a piano bar, a wine cellar, a restaurant with a garden terrace, and a wellness center with sauna, Turkish bath, and hydromassage.
PRICING
SINGLE PACKAGE - €830.00 per person
One camper in a single room.
DOUBLE PACKAGE - €930.00 for two people
One camper and a companion sharing a double room.
Your companion doesn’t take part in the lessons but joins in everything else.
If they play an acoustic instrument, they’re welcome to bring it along for the jams.
For every camper:
All workshops
Welcome goodie bag and workshop booklet
For everyone, camper and companion:
4 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 4 dinners each
Wine with lunch and dinner
Evening concerts, jams, open mic, and raffle
Access to the wellness center
Places are given in order of registration.
DEPOSIT
A €370 deposit holds your place. You pay the balance directly to the hotel when you check out.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Your deposit is a commitment to attend and is non-refundable, unless the camp itself is canceled.
If you cancel after June 1, you will also need to pay the hotel half of its rate.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
When do I check in and check out?
Please arrive on Wednesday between 10:30 a.m. and noon. The camp ends the Italian way, with one last delicious lunch on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
What should I bring?
Picks, capo, strings, tuner, and a music stand. And if you play another acoustic instrument, bring it too: the jams will be even more fun.
May I record the classes?
Yes. Bring an audio recorder, and you can go back to the lessons all year long.
I’m vegetarian. Can I sign up without the meals?
Meals are included in the price, but there are always vegetarian options. Not just cheese sandwiches, either: this is Italy. For particular needs, write to the hotel at arnica@dolomiti.com.
Can my partner come even if they won’t take the classes?
Absolutely. Partners and friends join in everything except the lessons. See the double package above.
Can I book extra nights?
Sure. If you want to arrive the day before or stay longer in the area, write to the hotel at arnica@dolomiti.com.
What’s the weather like?
Usually around 68°F (20°C) during the day and in the low 50s (about 10°C) at night. Sometimes it rains or it’s foggy, and the weather can change quickly, so bring layers.
Where does the camp take place?
Park Hotel Arnica
Via Tabiadon di Canes, 36
32020 Falcade (Belluno), Italy
Tel. +39 0437 599523
www.parkhotelarnica.it
arnica@dolomiti.com
What’s the nearest airport?
Venice (VCE), less than two hours away by car (140 km, 85 miles).
How do I get there?
By car: take the A27 highway to Belluno and exit at Belluno. Continue on SS51 di Alemagna, then take the Sinistra Piave road (SP1), SR204, SR203, and SP346 to Via Tabiadon di Canes in Falcade.
By bus: the Brusutti coach (www.brusutti.com) leaves Piazzale Roma in Venice at 7:45 a.m., goes through Mestre and Treviso, and arrives in Falcade at about 11:00. It’s a comfortable coach but has no restroom; there is a 15-minute stop in Belluno, about halfway. The fare is €11, plus €2 for luggage in the hold. You can buy your ticket online or pay the driver. The coach stops in the town square in Falcade: call the hotel, and someone from the camp will pick you up.
Any other questions?
Write to me any time at info@robertodallavecchia.com. I may answer at the strangest hours.
SPONSORED IN PART BY
