Encouraging kids to pursue their passions is always a positive thing. And when it comes to the arts, like music and theatre, it’s also important to remember that the things kids learn at summer camp can have an impact on not only their personal development within that art, but may also be useful in pursuits outside of acting, singing, and dancing.
And to prove that, we’ve got ten benefits your kids can reap from attending a summer theatre camp that will set them up for success come fall and the start of the new school year!
1. Empathy Development
One of the hallmarks of learning to act in a theatre setting is the act of putting themselves in the shoes of another person. To act with skill, kids must learn to step into another person’s mind, and learn to understand that person’s unique point of view based on their own lived experiences. This encourages the development of understanding both others’ emotions, as well as their own. In this way, theatre camps offer a special place for kids to develop their emotional intelligence.
2. Presentation Skills and Self-Confidence
Performing in front of other is one of the most common fears in our culture, and kids who learn to do it from an early age give themselves the gift of courage and self-confidence. They learn that, with practice, they can hold an audience’s attention, as well as to speak with clarity and passion. And when they go back to school in the fall, they are ready for those oral presentation they’ll inevitably need to give to the entire class.
3. Collaboration and Teamwork
Music, theatre, and dance all require kids to work with other toward a common goal. Depending on the project, they may need to collaborate on choreography and play off one another. Activities like these encourage the development and deepening of many social skills, especially cooperation and respect for their peers; it fosters generosity, patience, and many more skills useful in the classroom and beyond.
4. Making New Friends
One of the special things about the camp experience is that attendees are often a mix of students who have been to the camp before, and those who have not. Many kids may attend the same school during the years, and many may go to different schools. The novel environment of the camp offers a great place for kids who might not have met each other before to come together and create lasting friendships. They are, after all, spending a lot of time together doing something they enjoy! Is there a better way to make new friends?
5. Builds Creative Thinking
One thing most camps–especially those that focus on the arts– insist on is a “no electronics” policy, which helps encourage kids to understand that they can live without all those screens for a while. In real life, there is no “delete” or “undo,” so most things need to be tried over and over again before they get them right. This is especially true when it comes to music or theatre camps, where putting themselves in another person’s place takes time, patience, and critical thinking; they need to understand how and why the character they are portraying does and thinks the things they do. Theatre inspires kids to look at the world from a perspective they didn’t have before, and motivates them to think outside the box.
6. Discipline
The structure inherent to every theatre camp helps kids develop a sense of discipline that is multi-fold. To start with, camps tend to follow a structures schedule throughout the day and week. In addition to the predictable, daily schedule, kids must learn to listen to their director/instructor when it comes to following stage blocking as well as their performance. Additionally, rehearsals demand preparation, and a successful performance requires every student to learn to rely on one another and realize how others rely on them.
7. Physical Activity
The performing arts, especially musical theatre, are, of course, very active! In fact, you might even compare the level of physical activity to a sports’ camp. Both acting and dancing (and throw in singing for good measure!) keeps kids moving all day long, providing great physical activities for kids of all ages, and keeps them from turning into lumps on the couch over the summer months.
8. Professional Instruction
The teachers at theatre camps, like the one offered here at The Music Studio, are usually professionals with years of education, training, and experience. Kids get the incredible opportunity to learn staging, blocking, technique, and the core values of theatre, music and dance from someone so well versed in them that they’ve had it their career! Passion is contagious, and there is no substitute for the opportunity to learn from a professional.
9. Fun!
When it comes right down to it, participating in a group activity they enjoy is fun for kids of all ages! What’s more, camps are designed with a variety of activities like theatre games and creative challenges, all designed with fun in mind. And to top it all off, theatre camps usually culminate in a final live stage performance that all the students get to participate in. What could be more fun than showing all all they’ve learned, side-by-side with their new friends?
10. A Strong Foundation
Many kids arrive at theatre camp with very little or no experience. But many discover a passion that sparks a lifelong journey. Kids come back for another session in the same year, or even year after year. Some may go on to enroll in a year-round program. No matter what course they take after their first experience at summer theatre camp, they learn new skills that can be used both within the world of theatre, in school, and beyond. These skills form a foundation they can build upon later in life.
Musical Theatre Camp at The Music Studio
Campers at The Music Studio’s Musical Theatre Camp gain valuable experience at our West Toronto studio that strengthens both their technique and stage presence. Our camp features:
- Instruction in singing, acting, and scene study
- Learn how to interpret the dramatic needs of the music
- Develop performance skills that will reduce performance anxiety
- Sing with confidence, poise, and purpose
- Final day performance
Learn more, and sign up while there is still room and time!