ROCK MUSIC CAMP

ROCK CAMP PROGRAM

The original rock camp, we've been working with kids and bands for over 25 years. We have great facilities, top-notch staff, and a non-competitive, individual-choice philosophy that meets every young musician at his or her own level. Our rock campers have space and time to refine their skills, explore new instruments and styles, and learn about new music from friends and share the music they love. Many of our campers write songs or song lyrics, and camper bands are constantly forming to arrange, refine, and record camper-written material.

Experienced guitarists, drummers, and bass players wanting to work with a staff-coached bands towards a performance in a band night will be most interested in our 2-week Rock Farm sessions. Campers work daily on several songs with their primary bands, can form secondary bands with their friends. Band rehearsals start the second day of camp, and bands get really tight by the end of the two weeks.

Campers in all sessions, and of all experience levels, can take lessons in our rock program, form rock bands with other campers, and perform in weekly camper cabarets and daily “5:00 specials.” Campers from all sessions are invited to be vocalists, keyboard players, and instrumentalists for our band night performances.

Check out our performance spaces.

BANDS
After informal auditions shortly after campers arrive, staff-coached bands begin playing together on the first full day of camp. Band meetings are not just rehearsals: they are an opportunity to work on many aspects of rock musicianship: listening, collaboration, and improvisation; stage presence and performativity; arrangement, style, and dynamic range. Bands work on several songs suggested by the coaches and the campers themselves. Campers are involved in at least two bands, both staff-coached. Staff-coached bands perform in a spectacular band night at the end of each two-week session. Camper-organized bands perform in nighttime “Camper Cabarets,” and at the “5:00 Specials” which are impromptu performances held each day before dinner.

LESSONS
Campers receive lessons on their primary instrument, and can opt for lessons on other rock instruments as well. Through the instrumental and vocal music department, rock campers can also take voice, keyboard, woodwind, and brass lessons.

The rest of campers’ time is self-directed: they can dedicate their entire day to rock: forming more bands and projects, participating in impromptu jam sessions, practicing, recording, composing; whatever direction their creative vision takes them! They are also free to get involved with one or several other camp programs: theater, art, music, dance, and film are all available to every camper.