Attendees of this year's WinterWonderGrass Festival in Steamboat are set to embark on an extraordinary journey. They will have the unique chance to become an integral part of the event, engaging in an interactive manner like never before. This festival, hosted by the Coletrain Music Academy, offers a one-of-a-kind educational experience that combines the joy of music with community spirit.

Unlock the Musical Magic at WinterWonderGrass

Workshop-Based Learning for All Ages

At the WinterWonderGrass Festival in Steamboat Ski Resort's Knoll parking lot from Feb. 28 – March 2, workshop-based learning takes center stage. Children and adults alike can watch and listen to musicians while also delving into the art of creating string-based magic. Robin Vega and Coletrain Smith, partners in the Buena Vista-based CMA, have worked tirelessly over the last seven years to make this possible. Vega serves as the marketing director and creative business manager, while her husband Smith is a master violinist and music director, also playing with Yonder Mountain String Band at this year's festival.For children, workshops in child-friendly areas provide age-appropriate materials, curriculum, and instruments to awaken their musical talents. The mornings of Feb. 28 and March 1 offer workshops before the festival gates open, allowing music lovers to extend their festival experience in a creative and interactive way.

Smith's Musical Journey and Its Impact

Smith began his musical career on the violin at the age of three and started performing at music festivals at six. His desire to share this experience led him to found the CMA, providing music immersion experiences in both classroom and festival settings. "It's amazing to see the synergy and full circle moments when a child watches their favorite artists perform and then comes to learn about the same instruments," said Vega. Children get up close to various string instruments and, with professional instruction, learn proper techniques while connecting them to what they saw on stage.Smith's path also led him to meet Scotty Stoughton, the organizer behind the WWG festivals. Their pop-up music workshops, modeled after CMA's week-long summer camps, allow festival-goers to create music and immerse themselves in a welcoming educational and communal setting. It offers the opportunity to learn from professional musicians and educators.

Workshops for Adults and Youth

The festival features a one-day workshop for children on Saturday and an adult workshop on Friday. The adult workshop in the Steamboat Grand ballroom is a group acoustic learning immersion with various instruments, focusing on collective learning of melodies and backup rhythms.For the kids group aged 6-12, parents and children are welcome. Instruments are provided by CMA, and participants can bring their own. There's an instrument show-and-tell, instruction on fundamentals, and a family, teacher, and student sing-a-long. Both workshops conclude with a public-pick jam session open to WWG festival ticket holders."It's a great confidence builder," Vega added. Some students who were shy or had trauma are now on stage, performing and writing their own songs. Instructors for the Steamboat workshops include Smith, Casey Houlihan of Trout Steak Revival, and Kay McKenzie of Steamboat's Little Moon Travelers. McKenzie assisted at Renewal Festival workshops and is a student of Smith's.The workshops require registration and have a small fee. For more information and to register, visit Tickets.Coletrainmusicacademy.com/e/wwg-steamboat.