It’s never too early to start thinking about where to send your child for summer camp. Although any type can teach a child valuable skills, it’s worthwhile to consider sending them to a summer camp that specializes in something they’re passionate about.
If you have a budding musician in the family, you might be subjected to practice session that go on for hours, and are characterized by several wrong notes. However, learning is a process, and even musicians who are now experts can never truly say that they’ve reached the end of their learning process. A camp known as the School of Rock was formed with these ideas in mind, and sometimes gives students their first opportunity to learn how to play with fellow musicians.
Program Details
Traditional lessons are undoubtedly important for helping students gain foundational skills. However, instructors at the School of Rock believe that learning also occurs when students collaborate with others, and share what they’ve learned with large audiences, too.
This learning style smoothly combines private lessons with group rehearsals. The all-encompassing approach is thought to improve confidence and develop skills more thoroughly, at a quicker rate. Additionally, past attendees of the School of Rock mentioned that they’ve improved their ability to communicate with others outside of music.
Real World Instruction
In the entertainment industry, the ability to network with people is often even more valuable than musical skills. Staff members at the School of Rock are professional musicians who spend their lives continually developing the very same concepts that they teach to students.
As a result, students in these programs not only get insight on the technical side of things, but also learn what’s involved in playing for an audience. Specifically, participants get the chance to take the stage at famous venues around the world, including Austin City Limits and The Knitting Factory.
Country-Wide Outreach
Summer camps at the School of Rock occur in dozens of cities all around the world. Although many of the activities are similar in each location, there is a distinctively local slant, as well. For example, students might interact with local musicians and songwriters. Sometimes, the chance to spend a moment chatting with a respected artist can be enough to stoke the creative fire that helps young artists find the momentum to keep going when things seem tough.
Open to All Skill Levels
Unlike some other types of music camps, the School of Rock is open to people of all skill levels. By taking the approach that everyone has insight to offer, instructors teach students to feel confident about making music with others, and even those who have been playing for a longer period of time.
The Magic of a Shared Experience
If you’ve ever observed a jam session between musicians, you probably noticed an extraordinary amount of nonverbal communication. Through the language of music, people who play together in groups often find that they progress faster than they would if they simply sat in their room and practiced alone.
Musicians who are especially shy may go for several years without ever experiencing that learning can be more fun and beneficial in the company of others. Let someone you know attend a music-oriented camp, and watch what happens as they simultaneously learn and share with their skills with others.
– Stacie Everett writes for education blogs nationwide. If you enjoy music and believe in it as an education tool, you may enjoy a career in music education. Several schools offer degrees in music education including http://musiceducation.arts.ufl.edu/.
