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Summer Piano Camp #1: So You Want to Be a Composer?

This week I hosted the first of two Piano Camps this summer. Unlike last year, when I wrote the The Great Music Race and MSA: Musical Secret Agent camp curriculum myself, I chose to put on two fantastic camps written by Joy Morin.
 
So You Want to Be a Composer? was this week's camp and it is chock-full of music to listen to and analyze, composition activities, and musical instrument crafts. We had more than enough to fill our time, and each camper walked away with 6-7 compositions of their very own creation! 
 
I had six students ages 6-12 attend, some of whom take piano lessons from me, and others (piano and violin students from different teachers) who attended my camps last year and wanted to come back for more!
 
We had such a fun time together with the wide variety of activities and composition techniques presented each day.
 
Here are a few of our student compositions:

Inspired by nature

To be played on a Watercolor Xylophone

Body percussion - a hit with the kids!

Hard work on one main composition all week

I inputted each student's week-long composition into music software (MuseScore is free online!) and printed it out so they could take home their very own “published” composition!

We put on a brief Composer's Showcase at the end of the last day, where each student chose to perform one of their pieces for their parents and siblings. We also viewed a slideshow of all the fun activities and hard work everyone engaged in this week.

Thanks, Joy, for putting together such a fun and rewarding camp!

For more on Piano Camps, check out these blog posts:

So You Want to Be a Composer? (Joy's camp)

What Does a Piano Camp Look Like? (free webinar)

The Great Music Race Piano Camp for Beginners

The Musical Secret Agent Camp for Beginners

Are you running a camp this summer? Let me know in the comments!

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