Summer Music Camps For Kids Offer A Window Into A Potential Future

During the summer many of us open up our doors and windows to let in the warmth; to air out the house and generally enjoy the sounds and scents of the season. Summer music camps for kids can also serve as openings to new experiences and potential careers.

Music camps offer either a wide variety of performance opportunities or concentrate on very distinct music styles, such as rock music or strictly classical; a blend of music and outdoor activities, or a complete immersion environment. The delivery mechanisms may vary, but the goals of these camps are to:

• Develop self-confidence and discipline
• Foster a positive self-image
• Hone performance skills and musical literacy

A typical day in one of these camps may range from classroom instruction to group interaction and one-on-one tutorials. The idea is to guide the campers from practice to performance, since most often the summer concludes with a production for the whole camp. Learning how to work cooperatively with other people and sharing the pure pleasure of singing and dancing are all positive byproducts of this kind of summer camp experience.

These camps may last from one week of day camp to a whole summer of sleep-away camp, and are set up for very young children up to college age. There are options ideal for children who already possess a certain level of skill and intense interest in music, while others welcome those with a desire to have fun singing and dancing. Some even employ entertainment professionals as instructors who love to share their craft with the younger generation.

Acting camps expose children not only to acting methods and learning to tell a story through drama, but also to the backstage technical aspects, like lighting and set construction.

If your child just wants a fun time laced with a little jumpin' and jivin' then a low-key camp that provides plenty of the traditional outdoor pursuits like swimming, hiking and campfires would be the best way to go. However, if your child is already a first chair trumpeter with dreams of a career with a symphony orchestra, then a more conservatory type session, perhaps affiliated with local music organizations, would be the best choice.

So, whether your potential diva is interested in taking the next step to stardom or is purely interested in making new and potential lifelong friends who share her passion for performing, the right summer music camp is waiting just outside her window.