What are Circle Songs?

Posted on May 4, 2013 by SinginKuz

Rather then try to explain what are circle songs, have a look at this video “Bobby McFerrin Spontaneous Chorus.”

This performance is like a collection of circle songs. Bobby McFerrin sings a little repeated melody (an ostinato) and hands it over to a group of singers. Then he creates another melody/ostinato and hands it to the next group of singers, and so on, all the while he may also be soloing (making up a melody) on top of the groove the singers are keeping. By the way, all the singers are most likely not a rehearsed chorus but just audience members who just volunteered to go up on stage.

The approach to circle songs at MusiCamp is not that much different than what you saw in the video. Of course, we won’t be on stage and we’ll start off with very simple melodic patterns and some rhythmic ones as well. And depending on the group, the circle songs can develop musically from there. The wonderful thing is you don’t need to be an amazing singer to create this collective, groovy fun music. Also, campers who wish to explore their soloing abilities will be given that opportunity. Whether they want to scat, howl , make rhythmic noises, or invent a language – the groove set up by the rest of the group gives them an opportunity to explore solo expression in a safe and supported environment. I’m really looking forward to this!

The Studio

Posted on April 16, 2013 by SinginKuz

The camp is located in a newly renovated studio in a private home on a quiet cul-de-sac close to Dufferin Mall (Dufferin and Bloor, see the map to your right).

Below are Flickr galleries of the indoors and outdoors from our 2013 summer music camps.

CLICK TO SEE MORE.

CLICK TO SEE MORE

Even More From The Brochure

Posted on April 10, 2013 by SinginKuz

Online Brochure (not meant for print! )

If you would like to print a brochure click here.

Eventually all the info from the brochure (and more) will be accesible through posts on this blog.

MORE ON WEEKLY THEMES

Posted on April 8, 2013 by SinginKuz

THE BLUES: From Shouts to 12 Bars $225

July 15 – July 19 2013 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)
vocalize rhythms and chord progressions of the blues
compose, improvise and sing over 12-bar blues.

WEST AFRICAN DRUMMING $275

July 22 – July 26 2013 9 am – 4 pm & Aug 12 – Aug 16 2013 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.

COMPOSITION AND SONG $225

July 29 – Aug 2 2013 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!

MusiCamp

Posted on April 1, 2013 by SinginKuz

: African Dununs

: Body percussion

MusiCamp is a summer day camp experience that explores music making in a positive environment, filled with activities that build your child’s musical skills in an intuitive and fun way. The activities are designed to supplement traditional formal musical training but also be accessible to the less experienced music enthusiasts. Weekly themes like The Blues, Singer-Songwriter or West African Drumming provide musical direction to the week, which is further supplemented with craft making (instruments and masks) and stories that broaden the child’s cultural and historical understandings of music and society. It all culminates in a end of week performance to which parents and friends are welcomed to attend.

No instrument needed. No formal musical training. All that’s need is a love for music, the willingness to explore the voice in all its beauty and rawness, and the readiness to be a part of an exciting and affirmative team!