2008 Summer Music and Arts Day Camp at Levine School

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Registration is now open to all for the 2008 Summer Music and Arts Day Camp at the Levine School of Music.

The Levine School’s Music and Arts Day Camp is entering its 21st year. It has a dedicated and loyal following and a very high return rate. The quality of teaching, breadth and depth of experience and sheer wealth of learning keep this camp at the top for many area families. Some locations are almost full so don't delay getting your application to us.

CAMP SESSIONS
Session I: June 23 - July 11
Session II: July 14 - August 1

We run two three-week sessions, Monday-Friday, 9:30 am -3:30 pm (Full Day) and 9:30 am - 1:00 pm (Half Day) with extended hours 8 am-5 pm. We employ 100 teachers and 160 teen apprentices serving 950 campers age 3 ½-12!

LOCATIONS
This year, we’re in five area locations. Three at our Levine Campuses in:

Upton St, NW DC
The Music Center at Strathmore in MD and
Arlington, VA

Two at area schools in:

Gesher Jewish Day School, Fairfax, VA (NEW!)and
St Bartholomew School, Bethesda, MD.

You can learn more about camp at our website at www.levineschool.org. Applications for camp and the Teen Apprentice Program are all online. If you're not sure, please take a moment to read five brief highlights that make this camp unique.

1. Quality of Teaching
We only employ professional, experienced teachers to instruct our campers, not college students. Many are Levine faculty and/or area teachers in public and private schools who go through a rigorous review process. We offer competitive salaries and thus attract and retain each year some of the area’s most accomplished teachers of early childhood music, art, instrumental music, movement and dance and music theater.

2. Repeat Campers
Just as families have family doctors, schools, dentists, they also have the Levine School. Campers stay with us year after year. When they reach 7th grade, many apply to become Teen Apprentices who support the teachers each session.

3. Teen Apprentices
Camp offers Teen Apprentices (aged 13 – 18) the opportunity to share their musical talents and work with and learn from talented teachers. Apprentices learn leadership and collaboration techniques and enjoy the camaraderie of like-minded colleagues. Camp fulfills many of the areas Community Service requirements.

4. Depth and breadth of experience
Beyond the usual fun and games of summer, including our All Camp Sing, art classes, dance and yoga, campers take home tangible skills and experiences. Campers in grade 3 and above can choose to study an instrument (violin, cello, piano, clarinet, guitar or flute). They receive instruction in small groups every day (average camper/teacher ratio is 3.5:1) and play their instruments at a final camp performance. If they want to continue instruction on their instrument, parents can decide to invest the time and money into this commitment knowing their child has made a well-informed decision. Campers in grades 1 and 2 have introductory lessons on each of these instruments for several days to experience the beginning stage of instrument study and appreciation. They experience playing five instruments and again, parents are assured that a request to have lessons on these instruments is based on personal experience.

5. Curriculum and philosophy
Camp is developed through intentional programming around a theme. This year our theme will be “Around the World in 80 Days.” Each year the theme is identified through consultation with teachers, parents and staff. The curriculum, which is centrally developed by Levine faculty and staff, is taught at each of the campus locations with supplementation by the teachers. At the end of each session, campers perform songs, dances and play their instruments for friends and family. Campers who stay for the afternoon program (from 1 to 3:30 pm) also present a musical theater performance.

The theme is enhanced by special guests who share their talents with the campers. Campers have enjoyed Elvis, swing dancers, a bagpipe player, a Native American hoop dancer, a Zidaco band, flamenco dancers and guitarists, Irish dancers, a banjo player, story tellers, recorder ensemble, a Caribbean dancer, Reggae singer, juggler, puppeteer, Steel Pan players, Hesperus, African drummers plus Levine teachers, teens, parents and even campers. Probably our most famous guest was Charlie Byrd and several members of his quartet (his grandson was a camper that summer).

If you have any questions, please contact us at the Levine School at Camp or call us on 202 686 8000, Sally Mennel, Director x1040 or Susanna Kemp x1014, Assistant Director.

Please feel free to forward this message to area listservs.