Kari has been leading singing classes and workshops for more than a decade.  Kari draws on her vast experience as a Spanish and English teacher and her lifelong love for and experience with music to create a safe and encouraging environment for new and experienced singers alike.

For four years now, Kari and host, Kathy Scott, have been organizing singing weekends for women in Kathy’s north Georgia mountain cabin in the woods.  Aptly named Mountain Mama Madness, these weekends have become cathartic and valuable for the singer wannabes as well as for those who simply want to expand their repertoire and improve their vocal and harmony skills.  Sorry, gentlemen, these weekends are for women only.

Every weekend has a theme and a set of songs to learn and explore, while we explore our own selves, voices, and each other.  If you have ever wanted to sing your heart out but wished you could do it in a place where only the bears could hear you, these weekends might be just what you have been waiting for.  As many Mountain Mamas will tell you, even if you have never heard of the genres or artists we will be exploring on a given weekend, you will take away much more than you could imagine with the always supportive and generous spirits around you.

Here are some Mountain Mama quotes:

My first Mountain Mama singing workshop exceeded all my expectations! Not only did I learn a lot about singing, but I laughed, cried (from laughing), enjoyed the beauty of the Georgia highlands, bonded with a sisterhood of ya y(s) came out of my shell and sang my heart out to the bears, deer, trees and hills.  Oh yeah, I ate very well too. It’s not just about the music, I came away with so much more – I feel re-juvinated, re-born, re-laxed, and will re-peat and re-turn to this re-treat!

I like the holistic nature of the experience and I will highly recommend it to anyone who will listen – although then it will be sooo popular, I’ll have a hard time securing a spot!

Kari is a wonderful teacher, singer, songwriter . . . person! I feel blessed to have had this opportunity.

Kathy’s cabin sits in a beautiful spot that emanates energy refreshing any who is fortunate enough to be there.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!

The next Mountain Mama weekends are as follows:

June 19 – 21, 2009  Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard – We will explore these two old-time harmony greats, talk about what made them so, and, as always, put our own unique voices to their music.

September 25 – 27, 2009  The Louvin Brothers – By some accounts, the best brother harmonies ever.  There are so many techniques and stylistic tricks and so much beauty in these two voices, not to mention some great songs.

Weekend cost is $125 – includes lodging.  Everyone shares in food contribution and preparation.

The views are spectacular, the hostess has the mostest (trust me), and we would love to tell you more.  Email me at kari@polecatcreek.net or Kathy at cbscott@mindspring.com for more information than you will ever need.

Come on and sing with us!

New Happenings:

Mountain Mama Madness #18:
Stanley Brothers Harmonies – Sept 24 – 26

Also:Also:Also:Also:Also:Also:Also:

Some friends from our great town of Asheville and I thought it would be a good idea to plan some Autumn Singing Workshops at a beautiful cabin on beautiful acreage right near here, north of Asheville.  They’re for boys, too.   And here are the details: