Summer camps -compare and contrast
I was wondering if anyone out there had younger violinists who have attended any of the "junior" sessions at Kinhaven or Greenwood or Point Counterpoint and would be willing to share thoughts, relative merits, compare programs if your kids have been to more than one or ??? Living in VT we are familiar with Kinhaven and PCP, and more recently learned of Greenwood, though I understand it's been around a while. Encore/Coda is in our radar as well, depending on how it all pans out audition and dollar-wise (the first 3 have 2-week programs, E/C has a 3-week program, exciting but also pricier, depending on scholarships...)
Also, about audition recordings -- all the camps we're looking at say "home recordings are fine..." what quality have you found to be achievable in a home recording, and how "perfect" do they need to be (I envision endless takes as my kid misses a single note...)...
Thanks in advance for your input, parents, former campers, and violinist community at large!
Replies (10)
Point Counterpoint is under new management since I went, but I know a few of the "old familiar faces" are still there. I made tremendous progress thanks to Dave Lamse and his willingness to humor my ambitious attempt at a concerto that was out of my league at the time, and I learned some of my first and most important lessons about chamber music there. I remember good times swimming in the lake, great food, picking blueberries, nominal chores, weekend trips to Ben & Jerry's and playing capture the flag. They have numerous cabins where kids were grouped by gender and age and each cabin had an adult RA. It was a small, close-knit group of people; everyone knew everyone else's name before long. Years later, I know at least two other PCP alumni at the Hartt School (I think one of them is pictured holding a canoe on the 'Activities' page of the website).
About practice -- as always, one gets out of these things what one puts into them. I don't think you or your young violinist would be disappointed.
AJ,
PCP also has a 2-week session that DOES require an audition -- that's the one we're looking at. It runs from 8/8–8/21. The Prelude session is an option but I think it would be too "beginner" for our dd. Since we live about an hour from the camp, the short session's not an issue, but since our dd has been to a 7-day, all-day program (not residential, though) it seems like the longer, residential option would suit her better.
FWIW, I have had very nice email correspondence from both PCP and Greenwood. I am in the phone-tag process with Greenwood, but I'll keep you posted.
As for Kinhaven, I'm waiting for some updated info from dd's violin teacher and also from a friend of a friend whose daughter attended junior session last year and is looking at Greenwood for this year.
I've been on Luzerne's website, and it looks interesting, though I seem to recall reading mixed reviews about the level of challenge and fun (after all, our kids are 10 - mine will be 11 by the time camp starts), and for the first "intensive" experience, there needs to be a good balance.
Anyone else out there who can provide firsthand info on these camps or others in New England? Encore-coda? New England music camp? Any other suggestions?
Ideally, we're hoping for a 2-week to 3-week program, as a week just seems too short to get the full benefit with what I've seen of the daily schedules.
AJ any updates?
Hi, Jane,
I agree; one week is too short. Two weeks is my preference because my daughter has never been to overnight camp before, and also because she has other plans for the summer as well.
I did consider PCP's regular 2-week session, but the minimum age is 11, and I had heard that it was not too flexible. But even if it were, I'm not sure that I'm confortable sending a 10-year-old to a sleepaway camp with mostly teenagers.
If you hear any more about Kinhaven or Greenwood, please post (or e-mail me directly). I would also be interested in more detail on what you heard about Luzerne. Is it not rigorous enough? Not enough fun?
I think that it's probably my third choice, after Kinhaven and Greenwood. They seem to have a warmer atmosphere. When I posted about this a few weeks ago, I did get some positive feedback from someone whose daughter went to Luzerne for 2 summers and then PCP. Loved both.
Right now we're just trying to coordinate recording a DVD to send in. Do you know when applications to Greenwood need to be in?
AJ
Concerning your question about quality of recordings/endless retakes for missed notes: the staff who reviews these recordings will care less about recording quality (of course there is probably a point of diminishing returns, but you don't need studio-quality) than about intonation, rhythm, other technical issues, style, and musicality. A missed shift or out-of-tune note should not put you out of the running. The point is to give an overall picture of your child's playing so they can see whether he or she will be a good match for the program. So don't make yourself crazy trying to produce a perfect audition tape. Also-- remember that it is unlikely they will listen to the entire movement, so make sure that the take you use is one with a strong opening. Good luck!
AJ -
Since our daughter will be 11 in May the age is not an issue. She's been to sleepaway camp before, at 9, and loved it (3 weeks!) but it wasn't a music camp and that's what she really wants. Since she's currently the youngest person in a school that runs from 6th to 12th grades, and is happy as a clam, I'm less concerned about the age bit, as from what I understand PCP has good cabin supervision and groups kids according to similar ages. The nice thing about Kinhaven and Greenwood seems to be that by the time the juniors roll into camp, the seniors are done - so it's all kids within a closer age cluster. I'm still waiting to hear back from dd's violin teacher about what she thinks Kinhaven's shaping up to be. I had a very pleasant conversation with Sally Bagg, the director of Junior Greenwood, and dd has an audition at the end of the month.
AJ - Feel free to email me off list for more thoughts, etc.! Also, I'm playing phone tag with a mom of a friend who has experience with Kinhaven, Greenwood and PCP...
E Smith - Thanks so much for your insight and reassurance. Our school librarian has offered me the use of one of the school's hi-def camcorders (and even showed me how to use it properly!), and since it seems like the trend is toward video, that seems our best bet. I especially appreciate your comment about the strong start. A useful tip.
A couple more weeks' brush-up and dd will be all set...hopefully!
Can anyone comment on their child's experience at Greenwood, Kinhaven, or any of the other music programs mentioned in this thread? Our 11-year-old is interested in a music program for summer 2011. Thanks for any advice, experience, guidance, etc.
My 10-year-old DD (violinist) attended the junior session at Kinhaven last summer. She LOVED it, and can't wait to go back. I would be happy to answer specific questions if you need more information.
AJ
I'm having a tough time finding a violin camp for my 7.5yr old this summer. She really enjoys playing in groups and has been playing for a bit over a year, now at a ABSRM grade 2 level. Most camps seem to be for the 9/10yr+ old player (unless Suzuki).
Has anyone attended the Mark O'Connor string camps? He has one in Boston this summer and from the limited information on the site it seems to include violinists from age 6+. I'm trying to find someone to talk to about the program as the program for children seems to be only for beginners and my daughter would find that very frustrating.
Any advice on violin/orchestra groups for 7yr olds+ in either the US or Europe for this summer would be greatly appreciated.
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January 10, 2010 at 08:51 PM ·
I don't have any advice to offer, but I just wanted to say that I'm in the same boat. We're looking at the junior sessions for Kinhaven, Greenwood and Luzerne. We ruled out the Point Counterpoint "Prelude" session because it doesn't have any audition requirements, and it isn't worth the drive for a 6-day program. PCP's senior sessions sound very tempting, but I'm a little concerned about sending a 10-year-old to sleep away camp with teenagers, so we're leaving that one off of this year's list.
I would love to hear about the strengths and weaknesses of each program. It would also be nice to know how they stack up in terms of the level of playing expected at each camp. I get the impression that the students at Kinhaven are more advanced than those at Greenwood, but this is not based on any hard data, so please correct me if I'm wrong. I really can't tell where PCP's regular sessions would fall on the spectrum.
How old is your child? You're lucky that you live close to so many great music camps.
AJ