Photo Credit: Nic McPhee
Growing up I was very involved in music over the summer. I took lessons and went to band and musical theater camp. While I know the phrase “one summer at band camp….” has turned into a bit of a cliche, I can say I thoroughly enjoyed all the different music related camps and activities I was a part of.
When I was going into 8th grade, my parents sent me to Lake Tahoe Music Camp. I also spent many summers at marching band camp for my high school marching band. In addition, I spent a few summers putting on musical theater shows. One year I got to play Gretl from the “Sound of Music”. I was in heaven! I even attended a week long piano master class in Washington State one summer with my piano teacher and fellow students from my piano studio.
It was a ton of hard work practicing and rehearsing for hours in these intensive environments, but it was so amazing to be around other kids my age who loved and appreciated music just as much as I did!
I very very strongly recommend that all of our students continue with their music lessons over the summer. In addition to that if you enjoy attending camp, going to a musical or arts related camp is another fantastic way to keep up with music over the summer. Today I’m going to share with you some local to the Washington, DC area recommendations along with a couple non local ones.
In the Metro DC area, I recommend:
1. Levine School of Music Music and Art’s Day Camp
This 4 week long camp is open to 3 and ½ year old to twelve year olds. Eight hundred campers convene at 5 different locations. Depending on their age, they sing, play instruments, dance, make art, do yoga, and more. What a great way to explore music and the arts in many capacities that are all perfectly age appropriate.
2. Adventure Theater Musical Theater Center Summer Camp
This musical theater camp takes place at Glen Echo Park in Maryland. Students in 1st through 6th grade sing and act eventually putting on a full scale musical complete with sets, props and costumes. How fun!
Here children ages 8-15 come to Georgetown Prep school and take classes in all different artistic forms including theater, music, dance, art and more. I love it that they put on a show everyday at noon and family and friends are welcome to attend.
As far as music camps and festivals away from the DC area, there are too many to count. Many of the non local camps are for very serious musicians on track to major in music in college. An audition is usually required to be accepted to the program.
Here are couple well known programs outside of Washington, DC:
1. Interlochen Summer Arts Camp
Located in Michigan Interlochen offers everything from creative writing to dance to art to music to even motion picture arts. Amazing faculty instruct students in their area of passion and expertise.
2. Boston University Tanglewood Institute
As a part of Boston University, the Tanglewood Institute offers 2-8 week intensive summer programs in music. Students can focus on orchestra, voice, wind ensemble, piano, composition, or harp. Faculty from the highly esteemed Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) instruct these amazingly talented students.
Do you have experience with one of the summer programs I mentioned? How was it? If not, is there another summer music or arts camp that you would recommend? Share your thoughts in the comment section below. Please “like us” on Facebook and subscribe to the newsletter. Have a wonderful day!
Sincerely,
Cassie
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