Summer Camps

FIND YOUR JAM AT A 317 MAIN MUSIC CAMP

317 Main Community Music Center will offer 5 weeks of music camp in 2020; 3 weeks of Discovery Camp (ages 6-10) 1 week of Jam Camp (ages 10-15) 1 week of Little Roots Camp and 1 week of Beatmaking Camp. (Little Roots and Beatmaking Camps occur the same week.)

317 Camps are designed to meet every kid right where they are, combining lots of summer fun with quality music education. Our enthusiastic and experienced team of teaching artists create a welcoming and supportive environment in which meaningful creative and social connections are quickly brought to life. Our goal for every camper is to come away with new skills, new friends, and a deepened connection to their own musical expression. At Camp 317, our ratio of camper/staff is never higher than 5 to 1, so  everyone receives the instruction that’s needed to develop a good foundation in music. Each session culminates in a celebratory and informal performance for family and friends.

DISCOVERY CAMP

Discovery Camp is a great fit for children who already play an instrument and for true beginners, who are eager to try an instrument,  but don’t know where to begin. We introduce campers to some of our most popular acoustic instruments – fiddle, guitar, ukulele, keyboard, harp and penny whistle  to name a few. They’ll begin each day singing together before going into small-group workshops where our exceptional teaching artists help bring each of these instruments to life. Campers play musical games-both indoors and out- that reinforce concepts such as rhythm, pitch, expression and much more. Campers will have the opportunity to play at our Farmers Market on Thursday and for friends and family in a performance on Friday afternoon.  Children attending more than one session will build on the basic skills learned in week one and will have the opportunity to try new instruments during week two. Many campers discover a preference for a particular instrument during their week at camp allowing them to make a more informed decision about where to take their passion for music next.

Watch This Video To See What Discovery Camp Is Like

JAM CAMP

Jam Camp offers a mix of individualized instruction, small-group workshops, and killer jam sessions in a laid-back atmosphere.  At the start of the week, instrumentalists and vocalists are placed in groups according to age and playing ability. Campers lead the way on choosing a repertoire and our team of teaching artists will get them playing together and having fun while sharing the fundamentals of musicianship- rhythm, harmony, melody, teamwork and much more. Campers who are ready can also work on writing original songs and explore more advanced musical skills such and improvisation, composition and arranging. Everyone will have the opportunity to share what they’ve been working on at our Farmers Market on Thursday and for family and friends in a performance at the end of camp on Friday.   Campers should have at least one year’s experience making music prior to Jam Camp. Instrumentalists should bring their instrument(s).

Check out this video to see what Jam Camp is all about

NEW! Beatmaking Camp

Students get to learn about the basics of digital music production and given time to experiment, ask questions and collaborate with other campers. Working together, students and TAs use Ableton Live 10 to delve into how audio synthesis works, experiment with audio sample capture, sample interpolation; and learn basic mixing and performance. At the end of camp students receive final mixes of their songs to take home and share with the world.

NEW! Little Roots Camp

Little Roots Camp revolves around the imaginative world of children’s folk songs. We will use singing, dancing, instruments, and creative art projects to bring beloved songs like “Aiken Drum” and “Down by the Bay” to life. Each day will start with our musical “gardening:” growing our skills by learning songs by ear and keeping a steady rhythm with our bodies. After snack and outdoor play, children will get to know the basics of the ukulele and djembe. The final part of our morning will be creating visuals to accompany our Friday afternoon performance: masks, sock puppets, and a storytelling tool called a “crankie.”

In Search of Summer Activities For Younger Children?

We invite your family to join us for  a 5-week Little Roots Family Class on Thursdays in August.

Little Roots Family is a group class for those who would like to experience a music and movement class as a family. This all-ages class will sing traditional folk tunes, explore percussion instruments and experience the simple joy of making music in a group. Families will also learn how to use music as a tool at home to strengthen the family bond. We recommend that all families experience a Little Roots family music class!! ($100) Choose between the 9am and 10am sessions!