Experience w Interlochen? Blue Lake Camp?
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Anonymous
| We have a summer cottage up in Traverse and send our kids to Interlochen. It is an extraordinary world-class arts program. Blue Lake is a very good summer camp. They are not in the same league, but close enough in geography that Michiganders who are looking at Interlochen also look at Blue Lake. |
Anonymous
| ^ this |
Anonymous
|
Went to both ! First Blue Lake. Had a blast and really progressed on my instrument ( clarinet) as a result. Two years there then teachers and parents said just give Interlochen a try. Fine. I did. Went right back to Blue Lake the next two years.
Interlochen wasn't awful. But as a two-weeker I definitely felt we were low priority compared to the 8-weekers. We were even housed differently, different part of the camp, not as nice as the main part. Yes, tons of kids from Asia and other faraway places come all the way to Interlochen so yes it has that reputation but if you love music but just don't want your income to depend on that line of work, absolutely go to Blue Lake. More individual attention, more friendly, and it always makes a music lover out of the student if they weren't already. That is my family's approach to music and the young. Music can be a personally rewarding thing but hitting the top is like expecting your son to get into the NFL draft. Long shot. Blue Lake is for music appreciation, and for proficiency that makes high school and college ensemble playing more enriching. It's just not.... vocational, for making music your source of income. |
Anonymous
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The price difference between the two is also astronomical.
My child has done both, and I'd never claim that BLFAC is the same caliber as Interlochen, but I'd also never claim that $6,000 is a reasonable amount of money for most families to spend on three weeks of camp. If that kind of money is pocket change to you, and you have a kid with real drive/talen, then Interlochen all the way. But if that's a strain, or your child just wants to be in the woods for two weeks with likeminded peers studying and performing in their chosen art form, then I'd choose Blue Lake. |
Anonymous
| Also: I went to Duke University on a Music scholarship much like an Athletic Scholarship and I did have a few professional orchestra gigs in my student years. So I hope nobody concludes Blue Lake is rinky dink. It's not. At Duke I discovered that pre - law was easier and better assured of leading to something, stead and I also got involved in my fraternity and I still am in touch with that group regularly, some several times a week and nearly half of my revenue in billings as a lawyer, comes from those longtime fraternity ties. Had I gone to a Music Conservatory instead of a full-offering university, none of that might never have happened. And I think that Blue Lake steered me to the University track instead of the Music Conservatory track. |
Anonymous
| "something steady", meant to say ! |
Anonymous
|
Very interesting feedback. I actually attended 3 of the camps and one tour mentioned here: Camp Bernstein (called “Camp Emory” at the time), Blue Lake, Blue Lake International Youth Symphony, and Interlochen. I’m a trumpeter (not professional, though I considered it - became a lawyer instead!). Camp Emory/Bernstein was great for youngsters. And, side note, I had my first “real” kiss at that Camp. I think I was 11 or 12. I should remember the girl’s name, something like Shelley, or Christine, or whatever. I had no idea what a French kiss was. She explained it as tongue wrestling (sorry if that’s too graphic or obnoxious!)
I went to Blue Lake the next 2 summers. While it’s true that there are no auditions to attend the camp, there is a quasi-tryout/ranking immediately upon getting to camp. That determines which group you are in for the 2 weeks of camp. As a trumpeter, the ranking from best on was: the symphonic orchestra, the symphonic band, the blue band and white band. In my second summer at BLFAC, I had a great audition and was appointed to the 1st chair in the symphonic orchestra. It was honor, but the director was about as close to the bad/evil director character in the movie Whiplash that I’ve ever experienced. The guys in my cabin said I would talk in my sleep which sounded to them like I was having an argument with the director. Anyway, the next year I was invited/accepted (this involved an application process and possibly a tryout) into the BLFAC International Youth Symphony. We spent a ton of time prepping for our tour, including a day a month in the year before tour, a long weekend at blue lake for more focused practice, and then 8 days of super intense prep at blue lake prior to our trip. Our program consisted of some very significant orchestral pieces, and some fun - but challenging - works, as well. Rhapsody in Blue comes to mind. Our piano player - who was, no doubt, a prodigy at 14 years old - just killed the piano part in that piece. We also had a wonderful violin performer, who came from Chicago, was part of the Chicago Youth Symphony, and was featured on a challenging violin concerto. Oh, she was 12 years old. She currently is a member of the Minneapolis Symphony. We were good. We were very good (if it still works, I have the tape to prove it!). The tour was one of the best experiences of my young life. Even to this day, 40+ years later, it’s solidly in my top 10 life experiences. We went all over Europe with time in Paris, Berlin (before the wall came down!) and quaint villages that all seemed to have “bier fests” when we came to town. I made some life-long friends. None of them are Josh Groban or any of the amazing performers that came out of Interlochen, but that orchestra- from 1981- was pretty special. So, lastly, I went to Interlochen. Aside from the same uniforms as blue lake - there was a different vibe. It wasn’t just “let’s have fun and enjoy playing music together,” there was definitely a sense of preparing you for your career in music, including getting into the right music schools or conservatories. No question that it was a fantastic place. I had the opportunity to study with the late Armando Ghitthala (sp?), who was the former 1st chair for the Boston Symphony. He had serious cred and taught at Interlochen that summer. I enjoyed Interlochen very much. I can’t say anything negative about it. Just recognize it’s purpose is to produce top people in entertainment. The campers are amazing at what they do. Oh, I should mention that, yes, I did have to tryout, which was fine. Anyway, my bottom line, I don’t think you can make a bad decision. Both camps are great. Interlochen has produced more “stars,” than Blue Lake. But, that means it’s going to be a little more intense. Blue Lake can be intense too, as mentioned above about my one-time sadistic director. All in all, band camp was a life altering experience for the better. Absolutely for the better. Good luck! |
Anonymous
| I went to Blue Lake way back in the late 90s. Interlochen is definitely the higher prestige camp, but I did have fun at Blue Lake. |
Anonymous
Hmmm. You sound like you’re from Ohio. Not a compliment. |
). Interlochen draws kids from all 50 states and something like 30 countries; it's like experiencing a wonderful small liberal arts college but as a child or teen. It really is unparalleled. I think what's nice about the junior program (the littler kids) is that there may be one or two true "standout" prodigies at that point but most of the kids attending are really normal and just show a fondness and aptitude for their art/music and they do a good job making sure the kids get normal summer camp recreation (swimming, canoeing, arts & crafts, nature, etc.)