Summer is nearly here! Yes, that’s right, it’s time to start thinking about signing the kids up for some kind of summer activity. The options are endless. Princess camps, sports camps, adventure camps, space camps. But this week, we want to talk about a particular sort of summer camp near and dear to our hearts: summer music camp.
Bet you didn’t see that one coming.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into the five kinds of memorable experiences your kids can have at summer music camp.
Summer Music Camp Experiences
Physical & Mental Fun
The three months off over the summer can negatively impact a young student’s scholastic life. Many studies have shown that kids not involved in summer activities are in danger of falling behind. Camp means a chance to run, play, think, and experience away from the couch and all those electronic screens.
Of course, the physical portion of summer camp is basically universal, but music camp has an ace up its sleeve.
Not only do children get the fun of playing outside on a beautiful summer day, but they also get to play fun and interesting music, effectively exercising their brains, too. Early musical training has been shown to help the areas of the brain involved in language and reasoning develop faster and more fully.
In contrast, sport camps offer a lot of physical activity and thinking, but all in relation to the sport they’re playing. Space and science camps also provide their fair share of physical activity, and no one can deny they feed the mind. But this kind of learning and thinking, while important, can’t compare to the brain development and benefits of music.
Of course, the memories won’t be about the brain development–it’ll be about having lots of fun with new friends; whether that fun comes from playing outside, or playing music together.
Creativity
Summer music camps offer children a creative and fun atmosphere to explore and enjoy. Like most summer camps, children will try new things, make friends, and have fun. But, once again, music can take things one step further!
The act of making music is a very creative process, one in which children learn how notes come together to create measures, and measures come together to make songs. Students learn the difference between good and mediocre writing and performance and are encouraged to apply those lessons to themselves. Music helps teach kids to think creatively, encouraging them to solve problems by thinking about every possibility, imagining several solutions, and throwing out old rules and ideas that no longer work. With music, there isn’t necessarily one “correct” way to do something, an important lesson that can be applied to most other areas of life.
Creating music is also a very collaborative act, and kids at camp experience what it’s like to be a part of the whole and create something beautiful together. A powerful memory like that can ripple forward through life.
Making Friends Through Musical Collaboration
As it turns out, that whole collaboration thing is important later in life. Most summer camps offer the opportunity to make new friends, to be part of a team, and to accomplish things together. But making music as a group is truly something special.
Music hones both teamwork skills and mental discipline. If the band is going to sound good, everyone must work together harmoniously towards a single goal: the performance. Everyone must promise to learn the music, practice, and have the best performance they can. They learn to accept constructive criticism from the band leader and each other without taking it personally.
What’s more, music tends to have an unexpected effect on some grander social issues. Specifically, music impacts how children perceive and talk about other cultures. Music gives a unique glimpse into all kinds of ways of life different from our own, and children who study music early are introduced to these cultures in an exciting and engaging way. Children learn to empathize with others, fostering the development of compassion and empathy. Classroom studies suggest music’s introduction to other cultures helps children bridge cultural gaps with ease, leading to respect for all peoples at an early age.
Self-Esteem & Self-Expression
All summer camps advertise that they help children build self-esteem. And they are all telling the truth. There’s no big secret to helping children with their self-esteem over the summer. Simply add children their own age, an activity everyone can excel at, throw in a dash of fun, and shake vigorously.
Building self-esteem through sport comes from both individual skills as well as working with your team towards the same goal. On the other hand, science or academic camps try to build self-esteem through knowledge and discovery. Music, however, is a little different.
Music camp combines all of these aspects into one magical experience. Children work hard to learn their part to be part of the whole while also learning the foundations of creating music and discovering passion within themselves. It does all this through self-expression, something other summer camps don’t always focus on. Music is, of course, a powerful force of expression, often helping us to get our emotions out when words just won’t do.
Exposes Children to Magic
There isn’t any other way to describe the creation of music. It’s truly one of the few forms of magic left in the world. Is there a more memorable experience than that?
—
The Music Studio offers a variety of camps for kids of all ages. At the Musical Beginnings Camp, children 4 to 5 learn basic performance skills as they sing, dance and learn rhythms by ear! Our Musical Theatre Camp is open to children ages 8 to 15 and features singing, dancing, acting, scene study, and a performance on the final day! Got a budding 10 to 16 year old singer/songwriter/performer in the family? Our Singing & Songwriting Camp might be the perfect place for them! Rock Band Camp, for kids 7 and up with at least one year of playing experience, is exactly what it sounds like–a chance for kids to join a rock band and play songs like “Rolling in the Deep” and “Wish You Were Here.” Of course, younger students aren’t left out, and kids 4 to 7 can rock out too, with our Kidzrock Camp! For more information on each of our camps, visit TheMusicStudio.ca. Sign up while there’s still room!