Wood working school?

[Mike Davis]

I know there are a few schools in North Carolina and a few fine craftsmen teach in their shop. But most folks don't seem to take many classes and I was wondering why.

Have you taken classes and where?
What did you think of the experience?
What is a reasonable fee? By the week? Day? or other
Do you expect a place to stay included? Meals?
Do you only want nationally known instructors? or as long as the skills are taught well and the facility is nice you're happy?
How nice would the shop have to be?
What other skills beside woodworking would you like to learn?
Would you go during the week or only on the weekend?
What would it take to get you into a class?

Who can guess what I'm thinking?

[skeeter]

Have you taken classes and where?
Finishing class from Woodguy. Signed up for a beginners bowl turning class at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tenn. last month and was really looking forward to it but pulled a back muscle 1 day before leaving for class and had to cancel.
What did you think of the experience?
Woodguy class was very informative.
What is a reasonable fee? By the week? Day? or other
??
Do you expect a place to stay included? Meals?
Maybe a lunch. Lodging would depend on what is available close by.
Do you only want nationally known instructors? or as long as the skills are taught well and the facility is nice you're happy?
As long as the instructor knows his subject matter and can help with students hands on time, I'd be happy.
How nice would the shop have to be?
I'm used to a small shop so, as long it's not cramped and is well equipped for the type class being taught, it's good.
What other skills beside woodworking would you like to learn?
??
Would you go during the week or only on the weekend?
Depends on subject matter. Finishing class was 1 day, bowl turning was to be a 5 1/2 day class.
What would it take to get you into a class?
The right class for a reasonable price.


LOML usually goes with me and finds something to do while I'm in class, so maybe a map or lists of things to do (shopping, attractions fairly close by, etc.) would be useful.

[Mike Davis]

Yes Pete,

That's why i asked about other skills. We're looking at basketry, cooking, music, spinning, weaving, gardening, art. And on the "far side" maybe hunting, butchering, campfire cooking, archery, leatherwork...

[rcflyer23]

Oh man if your looking at all that my wife would be all over that also. It sounds like a great plan. Put us on your waiting list. Are you planning on it being in the Greensboro area or somewhere else.

[walnutjerry]

Originally Posted by Mike Davis

I know there are a few schools in North Carolina and a few fine craftsmen teach in their shop. But most folks don't seem to take many classes and I was wondering why.

Have you taken classes and where?
I have taken 7 or 8 weeklong workshops-----most of them at John C Campbell folk school (I know you are familiar with them Mike) and with 2 nationally known chairmakers.
What did you think of the experience?
The atmosphere at the folkschool is great for learning. The class size at that time was limited to 6 students for the chairmaking class. Not too big and was an opportunity to get input and encouragement from other students as well as the instructor. Michael Dunbar's class was 12 students. He came in at 8am, gave his lecture and demo then left the class to his assistant. His emphasis was on production and he was much more business oriented. Dunbar is, without doubt, a craftsman. I paid to take a class with Dunbar----not his assistant, although, he too was competent. For me, the best workshop was a one-on-one with Curtis Buchanan. He has placed quality of construction at the top. BTW, he usually does not take students unless they already have some chairmaking experience . It was the only workshop that I did not completely finish the chair, but that was ok because I got a much deeper insight in some of the phases of chairmaking you normally will not get with big classes.
What is a reasonable fee? By the week? Day? or other
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. If someone had told me 5 years before I started taking workshops that I would pay that much to work hard all week, I would have said "you are crazy". But, it was a strong desire to learn the art of making a chair. And---if you want your work to compare with the masters, work with the masters. It is a perceived value just as the handcrafted chair is.
Do you expect a place to stay included? Meals?
I expect a list of preferred lodging for students based on convenience and price, meals and lodging at the same place is nice though. You don't have to worry about what or where to eat. Just remember, if you ride the bus you have to pay the fare.
Do you only want nationally known instructors? or as long as the skills are taught well and the facility is nice you're happy?
If the instructors have proven their ability and are able to convey the knowledge while making you feel good about being there, that is what is important.
How nice would the shop have to be?
If it is equipped with the needed tooling and equipment to give hands-on learning, that is all that is needed. A student should have the option to bring their own tools but the school should have enough tooling for those who do not have all the tools needed. One of the workshops required students to bring tools according to the instructors list, a very expensive list to say the least.
What other skills beside woodworking would you like to learn?
Most anything in woodworking once the interest has surfaced.
Would you go during the week or only on the weekend?
Being retired---it really does not matter if I really want to do it.
What would it take to get you into a class?
Create the interest----make it appealing in all phases---activity, setting, price............................

Who can guess what I'm thinking?

Good luck---------if you cease to dream, you die.

Jerry

[Mike Davis]

This is something I have been thinking about for a long time and now I have decided to keep my farm, build a multi-purpose training center, several small cabins and build up our homestead.

While we may host some wood working classes the main thrust of our school will be homesteading skills.

There is still a lot of planning to do and I have to wait a while before any major building projects begin. But we are open to ideas and any help we can get.

[toolferone]

I have both taken and taught classes. The first nationally known person class I took was a weekend class with Frank Klausz (sp) on hand cut dovetails. I stayed and took the class with a friend up in Indiana at a woodworking school. It was a remote location so lunch was provided. I LOVED the class. I liked the idea of a class/vacation for something special. I taught over 20 classes at Woodcraft and really loved teaching them. The woodworking 101 class I taught the most was a 5 person 18 hour class taught on 6 Wednesday nights. This class was usually all 1st time woodworkers. I liked the opportunity to teach these budding woodworkers. It was very different then teaching a new technique to a experienced w/w. If and when you might like I would be happy to get together and talk more about my thoghts on teaching classes.

P.S. Chris, thanks for the kind words.