It’s that time of year and MusiCamp is sorting out the summer schedule. We’re planning to keep our three themes from last year –

• West African Drumming
• The Blues
• Composition and Song

But we’re juggling some other possible weekly themes, like:

• OLD TIME & BLUE GRASS – details are still sketchy but the idea involves fiddles, guitars, and singing that old North American folk music (Blue Grass and Old Time music) featured so brilliantly in O Brother Where Art Thou? Special guest artist (to be announced) will co-direct this week.
• JUST SONGS – this week is for serious singers! With a focus on technique and a blended sound, we’ll learn  2- and 3- and maybe even 4-part songs! Repertoire will be drawn from across the genres, from classical to world music, from madrigals to pop tunes!

Let us know what you think or if you got any other ideas. Anything is still possible!

For reference, below are the descriptions from last years themes…

THE BLUES: From Shouts to 12 Bars  $225

2014 dates to be anounced 9 am – 4 pm

Besides the musical games listed on the “about page”, the week will also include exploring the roots of the blues through the pentatonic scale, African American shouts from which the blues came, and a host musical stories. Campers will also:

• make their own drone instruments (and explore some ideas about acoustics)
• learn and improvise on African American shouts and work songs
• vocalize rhythms and chord progressions of the blues
• compose, improvise and sing over 12-bar blues.

Below are some pictures from Diddley Bo making during the Blues Week 2013.

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WEST AFRICAN DRUMMING $275

2014 dates to be anounced 9 am – 4 pm

…. Special guest artist for the week includes AnnA Melnikoff and her orchestra of drums!

NO DRUM NEEDED! Special guest artist AnnA Melnikoff (along with her orchestra of drums!) will be co-hosting this week. Campers will have a chance to play the polyrhythmic accompaniment on 3 bass drums (known as dunun) and develop riffs and patterns on djembes. Focusing on rhythms that accompany rights of passage, participants will build masks and also explore the meaning of the drums and the rhythms from the very ancient Mande tradition. A drum will be made available to every camper.

Click on the gallery below to view more pictures and some video of West African Drumming camp 2013.

COMPOSITION AND SONG $225

2014 dates to be anounced 9 am – 4 pm

Have a song you want to sing? A story you want to tell? This week will help aspiring songwriters put their ideas to music. The week’s musical activities introduce campers to aspects of songwriting – like hooks, riffs, harmony, and rhythmic accompaniment. Other aspects – like chorus-verse format, basic chord progressions,  intros and outros, rhyming and storytelling – will also be explored. By the end of the week campers will have written and/or collaborated on the creation of an original song. Kids who already have basic guitar chording are encouraged to bring their guitars. The week ends with world premiere performances of our songwriter’s compositions!

Click on the gallery below to view more pictures and some video of Composition and Song camp 2013.

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