Sleepaway camp focusing on piano and music composition (but not intense)?
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Anonymous
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Our 6th grader is an upper intermediate level pianist but has a strong interest in theory, and an interest in composition (she has never had formal instruction though). Is there an overnight music camp that would be a good fit? I don't want her to be around kids who practice hours a day or already playing very high-level music. She's quite good, and she is interested in playing more seriously, but she will be intimidated if everyone is super-intense prodigies. She is playing a Mozart Sonata and does theory books that are technically for Advanced Grade 9 (at least what the cover says).
She lacks motivation to practice, and so I think maybe seeing how piano can be "fun" or perhaps integrated with other activities such as theory or composition could make it more interesting. |
Anonymous
| Don’t laugh, but my kid attends Interlochen, and I’ve seen the piano recitals. Especially in middle school, the levels of kids actually vary widely… these are not all prodigies by any means. Now, they do practice several hours a day, but it’s also a hugely fun camp, surrounded by peers in a beautiful setting. You might want to check it out. You can even find video links online to past recitals. |
Anonymous
| French Woods might be a good fit. Its an easy drive from here too. |
Anonymous
Idk if it’s still an option but I went to Blue Lake, a sort of less intense two week camp held at Interlochen, when I was a teen. It sounds like just the ticket. |
Anonymous
| Interlochen is the place for this. My Dd went for four years starting at 12 (lost 5th year due to COVID). It changed her life. There are all levels and abilities. She’s 17 now and going to be a counselor at Creative Summer to help teach the next generation her love for music. |
Anonymous
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First Interlochen poster here. Since there seems to be at least one other person who doesn't think it's a crazy suggestion, here's a link to the (public) webcast of last summer's middle school piano recital. For some reason, there were tons of threads on Interlochen three years ago, and it was really helpful for us. It hasn't really been a big topic the last few years, but it's a pretty special place. Let me know if you have any questions.
https://www.interlochen.org/media/archived-webcast-intermediate-piano-recital-8-06-2022 |
Anonymous
| This sounds amazing! Is it too late to apply for this summer? |
Anonymous
This! Interlochen is great and so it Blue Lake. I would agree that Blue Lake is a bit easier to get into and less intense. |
Anonymous
| Not the OP, but thanks to the PP for posting about Interlochen. My son may apply to go there for his brass instrument. It sounds great. |
Anonymous
pP here. Not at all. They run rolling admission until full. Here are two downsides 1) It’s pricey 2) the biggest prestige (but flip side - pressure) is the high school programs. So the middle school ones don’t fill as fast and have a wider range of skill. |
Anonymous
| $$$$$ |
Anonymous
| There are multiple levels even in high school. There is truly a place for everyone there. Yes, it’s expensive. But I believe my daughter would not be the same person she is today without having spent her summers there. She came back so excited about her instrument. it was great to be with other kids who were at camp to work hard rather than take a break. My kid likes to work. The days are very full and the kids don’t get much sleep but they grow so much. |
Anonymous
| Blue Lake |