Hi, my son is currently in 7th grade. He plays 2 instruments - Piano and Viola. He is part of the local youth orchestra (string), enjoys classical music, plays piano in a chamber music group and is also trying out Jazz piano. I am looking for a summer music festival/camp to challenge and enrich his musical knowledge - in the east coast for a couple of weeks. I looked at some of the existing threads that enlisted a few options; but I think we may have missed the audition timeline for most of them and this will be his first time in any away from home camp. Could anybody please provide suggestions from their kids’ experiences? Has anybody attended Eastern Music Camp in Hamilton, NY? They don’t require an audition, but I am not sure about the level of music there. We are looking for something challenging, intermediate to higher level. Thank you!
You looked into Greenwood and Kinhaven Junior? New England music camp has several sessions and several two week intensives at the end of the summer. If someone wants to stay with him in nyc he could also look into camp msm. That is also a great age to go to French woods where there is a great conductor for the orchestra but the level will be very variable.
Thank you for the suggestions! Greenwood application window is closed; but I have been looking at Kinhaven and New England. Didn’t know about MSM and French woods - will look into that.
If Greenwood is interesting for him (my son went to junior camp and loved it) send them an email. They may be looking for viola specifically.
Walden School in Dublin NH is still taking applications.
New England Music Camp is wonderful. Both of our kids attended for three summers. A great combination of excellent music instruction and ensembles, etc. AND regular camp activities.
Our kids loved it. You would have to check to see if they are still taking applications.
Litchfield Jazz Camp is amazing! My son did a couple weeks there for 2 summers.
My kid loved kinhaven jr.
Thanks! We are submitting the application for Kinhaven Jr. Hopefully there are still spots available.
This will be his first time away from home. He is looking for a balanced (music and fun) environment and I am hoping it will be a safe, secure one.
My S went to greenwood junior and kinhaven senior (will go back again this year for the summer before college). He loved Kinhaven and heard amazing things about the junior session!
Kinhaven is heaven for music kids.
Is the Kinhaven a no-technology camp? Wondering how my son will feel about not being able to communicate with us…
We are just in the process of uploading audition videos…how hard is it to get in?
It’s no technology. They have a phone in the lunch room where kids can call home and you can send emails that get printed out. The kids love the no technology. It is much harder on us adults when we can’t reach them. They keep the kids so busy there is no time for scrolling.
It is no tech, but the kids can call you from the phone by the dining area - but they don’t, they’re having too much fun. And you can call during a meal (the food is fantastic), and they’ll call your kid to the phone, and the conversation will be, “Yes, mom, everything is fantastic here, I’m having the time of my life, sorry I’m too busy to call but there’s just so much going on, gotta go, I’m missing dinner, and then there’s stuff after dinner I don’t want to miss, love you, bye!”
I have no idea how difficult it is. My kid said that there were many good players there at junior level, and all good players for senior level, but that at the junior level there were a few kids who he thought were doing it because of parental pressure, but at the senior level, none like that . My kid was sort of recruited for Kinhaven - they needed his instrument, they put out a call to teachers they knew, his teacher told him, he asked me, and even though we had never considered music camp for him when I asked him, he said he would like to try it. Since we’re in the Northeast, I think we did an in-person audition for someone connected with the camp.
BTW, the connections he made there were valuable. His teacher recommended him to his teacher at Juilliard, and that led to Juilliard precollege with that teacher. He met incredibly talented bright kids there with whom he is still in touch. I realize that there are more prestigious summer music experiences, but we never regretted having chosen Kinhaven. It was a very socially healthy environment, in addition to being a good music environment.
I don’t think students keep their phones at New England Music Camp either…or at least they used to not. Like others, there was a phone that could be used if necessary
They did at the intensives.
They didn’t allow phones with the students…or they did?
They did. For the intensives they allowed them to keep their phones. The service was not great but he was able to call and text
Thank you! That’s wonderful to hear!