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Find guitar camps near you

OurKids.net lists camps and programs in dozens of cities across the country. Find your city in the list below and find a guitar camp near you.

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More than just day camp

For kids who love guitar, there are many different ways you can dive deeper into this passion. Learn more about types of learning opportunites below:

Search ALL GUITAR CAMPS AND PROGRAMS   

What your child learns in guitar camp

Here’s a brief look at what kids learn in guitar camp. Consult with listings above to learn the specifics of each camp’s curriculum. 

Fundamental guitar concepts. Instructors educate beginner guitar players on the fundamentals of music and guitar. Kids learn about rhythm, tempo, melody, harmony, musical notation, and reading music. As they advance, they learn to go beyond strumming to picking, fingering, and  tuning their guitar, etc. 

Performance skills. As they advance, kids will eventually present their skills in front of peers or family members in performances such as recitals. They find a comfort level with performing, developing their own coping mechanisms to reduce nerves and improve their performance. The skills they learn apply to other areas of their life including academic presentations, etc. 

Rhythm and timing. Rhythm consists of musical notes and beats, time signatures and measures, strong and weak beats, and double and triple meter. Guitar camps educate kids on these aspects, giving them the tools to perform well with others in a group. They can also apply these to other musical instruments.

Physical and mental dexterity. Guitarists must multitask as they read and play music. They must develop hand-eye coordination, and train themselves to work each hand differently. This skill is applicable to other areas. Learning music is a great way to train your brain. 

The benefits of guitar camps

Strengthens memory. Kids in guitar camp memorize chords, fingerings, strumming patterns, and more. Through improving their memory, they become better at studying other academic subjects, and this has long-term positive effects on brain health.

Exposure to different genres. Guitar camp allows kids to experiment with different genres such as jazz, rock, blues, etc.  Kids learn the different tempos, styles, and techniques of each genre. They broaden their musical tastes and discover each genre’s appeal—to both themselves and others. 

Mental health benefits. Guitar alleviates anxiety and stress. Playing music releases endorphins. The rhythmic nature of strumming is calming, soothing and pleasurable. 

Gain self discipline, interpersonal skills, and more. Instructors provide students with skills to become successful guitarists, but kids must also put in time and effort to improve. They practice outside of camp, developing personal discipline. That’s just one aspect of character growth kids gain. 

The guitar camp setting also helps build children’s interpersonal skills. They collaborate with others, communicate with fellow campers, give and receive feedback, exchange and set personal goals, and present ideas to each other. Together, kids grow in creativity, courage, and more. 

Questions to ask guitar camps

Here are questions to consider as you browse different guitar camps. 

• How is the camp curriculum divided between theory and practice? How much do kids get to play music together vs. other activities? 
• What are the credentials of instructors? How long have they been playing guitar and teaching it? How much experience do they have with running a kids’ camp? 
• How much practice is required outside of camp?
• Are kids required to bring their own instrument? 

Related camps

Percussion camp is an excellent alternative destination for rock and roll enthusiasts who love guitar.  Drums further enhance kids’ musical timing and coordination with others. 

Music lessons for kids come in a wide variety. You can also find piano lessons on our site as well as music camps and more. 

Songwriting camp is another pertinent kind of music camp that encourages kids to expand into creating their own songs. The guitar is a perfect accompaniment to this, of course, and kids who love the idea of becoming a singer-songwriter will love the learning opportunities they find here. 

Music recording camp is the next step for kids aspiring to produce their own music. Kids can integrate the musical techniques and guitar playing they learn in guitar camp into these camps.

Sources and further reading

"Keep your brain young with music." hopkinsmedicine.org

"10 Health Benefits of Playing Guitar."   Chasing Sound.

"What Is Rhythm & Why Is It So Important." MusicGateway.com

"Assess Your Music Performance Skills." MusiciansWay.com

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Guitar camps and programs are there?
There are 8 programs specializing in Guitar. In addition, there are 19 programs offering guitar as an activity. Use the filters to narrow by age and program type, then click on matched programs to see daily activities, dates, rates and registration information.

What are the fees to attend Guitar camps and programs?
Fees for Guitar camps and programs range from $30 to $1,501 per program (program types and lengths vary). Use the filters here to narrow programs by age and type.

What age do Guitar camps and programs start at?
There are programs available for children aged 3 through 19.

Where can parents meet with Guitar camps and programs?
Meet with program directors and staff at the Our Kids Camp & Program Expo. The Expo is held annually in February, and is a fun and informative day for parents, kids, and teens. Find event details and free tickets here.