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Let's Go To Camp!

February 15, 2005 at 07:35 PM · It's time to apply for summer music camp. Would love to hear of your experience (good, bad, anything in between) if you have attended some of the more popular camps, i.e. Encore, Aria, Meadowmount -- and perhaps if you have suggestions for some lesser known but awesome camps that would be something to look into . Thanks.

Replies (26)

February 15, 2005 at 08:46 PM · This summer, I am attending the UNCG Summer camp. It looks fun, but it alos looks like I might not learn all that much while I am there... Once I get back (its not till July) I'll let you know how it went...

February 15, 2005 at 09:04 PM · I'd love suggestions for adult camps for timid beginners (I've played for 6 years, starting in my 40's)... I live in Washington state, and would LOVE to find a fun camp where I could immerse myself, learn a lot, and talk to other people in my same position. Any ideas out there??? Thanks!

Karin

February 15, 2005 at 10:37 PM · Greenwood Music Camp is an inspirational place. Its not geared towards solo playing however. Chamber music is what its all about at Greenwood. Its really an incredible place to play music and have fun at the same time. Email me if you would like more information.

February 15, 2005 at 10:37 PM · Greenwood Music Camp is an inspirational place. Its not geared towards solo playing however. Chamber music is what its all about at Greenwood. Its really an incredible place to play music and have fun at the same time. Email me if you would like more information.

February 16, 2005 at 01:31 AM · For adult amateurs, I recommend Summerkeys in Lubec, Maine (www.summerkeys.com). I attended the past two years. I'll be going again in 2005. There are no admissions criteria. The teachers are wonderful professional musicians, mostly from New York City. The students are from all over the country, and occasionally from overseas. I met a number of students from California, but I am not sure I met anyone from Washington State. I now have some year-round good friends that I met at Summerkeys. The programs are flexible, so you can focus on your own particular goals for the time you are there. Some people stay a month or more.

This year, I am trying Summertrios in Pennsylvania (www.summertrios.com) as well. Summertrios divides skill levels into novice, intermediate, and advanced. There is no audition required for Summertrios, but you do have to learn the chamber music in advance, and, if you want to be classified as intermediate or advanced, you have to send in about 5 minutes worth of playing--just so the Summertrios folks can confirm that their notion of "intermediate" and "advanced" coincides with yours. Hope this helps!

February 16, 2005 at 06:27 AM · I'm going to camp this summer at the Colorado Suzuki Institute, where I'm getting certification in Suzuki books 7 and 8. It is my third year going to this institute, and I have found it an excellent environment for receiving teacher training. It attracts wonderful teachers from all over the globe. It also offers comprehensive teacher training programs; it is one of the few places where you can train any one of the 10 Suzuki violin books, and they also offer teacher training in the viola, cello, bass, piano, flute and guitar books. It's also just a stunningly gorgeous location, Snowmass, Colorado, near Aspen and nestled in the beautiful Rocky Mountains. One evening I spent several hours chasing a double rainbow which we first spotted in Snowmass and followed all the way to Aspen. Not surprising the pot of gold would be there!

February 16, 2005 at 07:14 AM · im applying to musicorda, chautauqua and ENCORE. Chautauqua is more orchestra focused and has an AMAZING program from what ive heard. Kaler is at Musicorda (nuff said) and ENCORE looks good on some kinda document...and i heard its fun

February 16, 2005 at 04:56 PM · What do people think about Interlochen's summer programs (Interlochen, Michigan)?

March 31, 2005 at 08:57 PM · Interlochen summer camp depends on what you want to do... I went for 3 summers as a violinist in their intermediate orchestra, high school orchestra, and in their quartet institute. Intermediate was fun but only for 4 weeks (This summer they've changed it from two 4 week sessions to two 3 week sessions). If you're going away from home for the first time and you're just finished with freshman year or younger, I'd reccomend that. High school was awesome the year I went. The orchestra repertoire that summer was amazing, we played Dvorak 9th, La Mer, Mahler 6, Rachmaninoff 2... Plus we got to play the Beethoven with Perlman and the Brahms double with Pruecil and Eric Kim (principal cellist of Cincinatti). I liked it so much in fact that when I got home I started convincing my parents to let me go to Interlochen's Academy the next year which was great but a completely different facet. When I went back in the quartet institute I had an even better year than the summer before. It was only 4 weeks (not sure what they're doing this year) but it was all focused on chamber music and worked with the Maia and Pacifica quartets (This year is Avalon and Pacifica). When I went to the WYSO (world youth symphony orchestra) concerts last summer, I thought they were a joke... They had eliminated their challenge system so I didn't feel that the orchestra music was being practiced by everyone. Also the music they played didn't seem nearly as good as when I was in it. If you go to www.interlochen.org you can find their "Resource Center" and find the rep list for this summer. I would personally recommend the Quartet Institute (My picture is in the brochure if you look online). If you have any other questions let me know and I will be more than happy to answer them.

Matt

April 1, 2005 at 01:15 AM · Matt...now there's a name I recognize. I've been at Interlochen several summers, and remember seeing your name at ASQI concerts. I think you were in it the same year a friend of mine also was. I agree about WYSO quality going seriously downhill since the elimination of challenges.

By the way, does anyone know anything about the killington music festival in vermont?

April 2, 2005 at 07:01 AM · well.. by now most summer festival application dates have passed.

so.. is anyone going to the Heifetz Institute, or to Aria? Aria has already accepted me, and I'll go there unless Heifetz somehow decides to let me in (haha, rather unlikely but not impossible I guess!)

Has anyone been to either of these?

Matt Jenetopolus!!! I was wondering when you'd show up on violinist.com :) Anyway, it's been a long time! Do you know where you're going to college, yet??

April 3, 2005 at 01:45 AM · Just a thought for a fun summer camp. How about... considering... going to FIDDLE camp! I've been to Mark O'conner's camp: http://www.markoconnor.com/fiddle.camp/ It's been 6 or 7 years ago... but I understand that it just gets better and better. You'll get a taste of many styles of fiddle music: Celtic, Cape Breton, Bluegrass, Texas Swing, etc.

I'm going to Swannanoah, NC to the Swannanoh Gathering Fiddle Week the last week in July. http://www.swangathering.org/ I'm going to take bluegrass and Irish fiddle classes (interesting combination I know...but I'm REALLY looking forward to it!)

If you've had classical experience that's wonderful...but do give some consideration to the fiddle camps. You might just like it! :)

Have fun with your music! :)

Katie

April 3, 2005 at 06:49 AM · Hey, I'm actually going to the Mark O'Connor camp this summer. How is it really? I've been trying to figure it out from his site but I don't really know what to expect... I've done classical all my life and did a year of jazz piano (also after a lifetime of classical). So in jazz band I would improv a few times when we would just have random jam sessions but is that what the camp is all about?

Matt

April 4, 2005 at 12:55 AM · Matt,

I'm sure you'll hear from other folks also... but I think you're REALLY like Mark O's camp! You'll enjoy getting an overview of several different styles during the first few days. Then you get to choose which style to focus on for the rest of the week. They year I went he had both Darol Anger and Matt Glasser as teachers for jazz style. It was a SUPER experience for me. HOpe you enjoy it, too!

Katie

www.folkfiddle.com

April 25, 2005 at 11:04 PM · Speaking of fiddle camps I went to one in Saskatawan, Canada. It was awesome. The food was great the scenery was fantastic and the instruction was terrific. This year I am going to Rocky Mountain Fiddle Camp in Denver (hope it is good) and I am going back to Emma Lake Saskatawan this year. You can't lose it is in Canadian dollars, haha.

April 26, 2005 at 01:03 AM · Violetcat/Rachel,

I went to Killington for two years, as have several of my schoolmates (my teacher was on the faculty, that's where I met her!). It was a good experience. There is a pretty wide range in ability, everything from average/intermediate highschool to the "near-prodigy" types... whatever means... (!?) The schedule--especially the required 4 hours of practice every morning--is great to make yourself buckle down improve quite a bit in a short time (4 weeks). Afternoon chamber music and masterclasses by faculty and visiting artists are also very good. The director and much of the faculty is changing this year (my teacher won't be there any more), so I have no idea what that will mean for the festival.

'Erie (-:

April 26, 2005 at 03:00 AM · Thanks for the info, Erie, I much appreciate it. :)

April 26, 2005 at 04:18 AM · Hi Beth,

I'm glad you enjoyed your time in Canada! Just want to let you know that it's SaskatCHEWan. I was born in Saskatchewan and I'm glad you agree that the scenery is fantastic. Most people think it's boring...but I love the grass planes! :)

Preston

April 26, 2005 at 05:19 AM · Hello all,

Check out these fiddle camps as well:

Mark O'Connor

Crystal Plohman at Vanderbilt University

Randy Elmore Fiddle Camp

Johnny Gimble Swing Camp

or search on Google for fiddle camps. You will have a great time with wonderful teachers and it will only add to your learning experience.

Rachel

April 26, 2005 at 01:50 PM · good resource for info on music camps:

http://www.musicfortheloveofit.com/mwg/index.html

April 27, 2005 at 12:31 AM · Anyone going to Aspen this summer?

April 27, 2005 at 02:29 PM · I applied to Encore this year for the first time and was accepted. I'm a little nervous but excited! Is anyone going this year, or has anyone gone before that can tell me a little about it?

Thanks!

--Alice

April 27, 2005 at 03:23 PM · Don't forget Kinhaven, in Weston, VT. The summer program is for kids, and in June there's a chamber music weekend for adults. I went to that weekend last year and it was just amazing. The instructors were fabulous, the musicians were all wonderful (even the less-experienced ones) and it was such a treat to be immersed in beautiful music. And the food is incredible. :)

For folk dance, Pinewoods is well-known around the northeast. There are different weeks for different styles of dance, and I understand there are fiddle courses as well.

April 28, 2005 at 07:08 PM · I went to Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp (MI) from 6th to 12th grade and loved it. That was 1984-1989. In 1988 I auditioned and went to Europe with the Blue Lake International. Good times. I did practice a lot but I'm the kind that will play out of sheer love of playing, till I drop. (That said, I probably would have done well at a more intense camp, but I got the stipends for Blue Lake so that's where I went)!

April 30, 2005 at 02:19 PM · I have gone to Kinhaven Junior Session for the last three years, and even though the age only goes up to 13 (for violists, 14) it was an unbelievable experience for me! I had so much fun and I learned a lot. The coaches/teachers are funny and nice and great at what they do, and I made a lot of friends which I am still in touch with. They also have a six week long Senior Session and I've heard wonderful things about that too. Also, as Patty said...the food is great! :-)

Kinhaven's site

I'm going back to the Junior Session this year for viola, and my 15 year old violist sister is going to Senior.

May 1, 2005 at 02:25 PM · David, I'll be there

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