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Music camps near you

Among the kids’ music programs near you, you'll find many different experiences and styles. This variety is fun for kids to explore, and allows them to experience different music types. The more popular styles of music camps range from rock band camp to classical music training, but you can also experience everything from salsa and merengue to guitar jams and many other styles. Find your city in the list below, and explore the music camp opportunities near you.

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Various ways to immerse yourself in music

You can also use our site to find a variety of camps and programs such as the following:

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More camp types with benefits for music lovers

Kids and teens who really love music can explore this world further and branch out into other interests at camps and after school programs in related fields, or in categories or music. Expand your repertoire and consider these ideas:

Performing arts camps (or musical theatre camps) encourage you to step forth on the stage. Combining singing with acting and dancing can deepen your musical talent, broaden your world, and help you develop into a "triple threat."

Dance camps and dance lessons are wonderful if you love dancing, of course, but these can also deepen a love of music. Kids or teens who aspire to a career in the performing arts benefit from challenging themselves to develop dance skills or learn some moves.

Music lessons are another way to improve your music abilities, after school. You can advance yourself through musical grade levels (in piano, for example) or take up new instruments that interest you.

Songwriting camps offer instruction in musical theory, software notation, lyrics, composition, and more.

Benefits of and skills developed in music camps

There are many benefits to exploring and developing a musical talent, including cognitive, social and personal development. Here's a look at what you can gain from music camp. The more time spent the more the benefits.

Improves social skills. Playing in a band or orchestra is a social experience, of course, and you discover a circle of people who share the same passion. Kids and teens in this setting learn to coordinate with others and cooperate, and may take turns following others and leading. Music camp is a great way to expand your social circle beyond others you're used to performing with.

Relief from stress, anxiety and depression. Playing a musical instrument takes your mind off other things. Listening to music made by others at camp can be calming, entertaining, and joyful.

Develops memory and brainpower. Scientific evidence indicates musical training can improve memory (especially verbal memory). Specifically, there's a bona fide connection "between music experience and language development." Study has also found a connection between music training and improved performance in mathematics. ¹

Develop confidence and a sense of achievement. You achieve new levels of proficiency at camp, reaching definable, higher stages. Learning all the basic guitar chords gives you a skill you can show off. Piano and string instruments like the violin or cello are challenging and take a lot of time. Progressing further in these at music camps gives kids a sense of accomplishment.

Enhance your love of music in a fresh setting. Camp lets you explore your interest in musical training, progress in your expertise, in a loose, fun environment. The added fun can rejuvenate or enhance your love of your instrument of choice. Camps feature other, varied activities, as well as free play, creating a diverse experience that breaks from the approach some teachers take.

Encourages discipline. Of course, musical training also develops personal discipline and time management. You know you need to put in the hours if you want to excel. Time at summer music camp can "keep the fire burning" at a time of year when it's tempting to lose focus.

Incremental improvement of your musical talent (of course). A number of camps listed above feature professional musicians, where you can learn from the best. Time at any camp where you explore your love of music is productive. 

For parents who have any doubts about letting kids go, we encourage you to read about the many benefits of sending children to camp. At least one famous musician believes that overnight camp was critical to his maturation.

Finding the right camp

There are many great camps listed above. It’s tempting for parents to set their minds on one program but we encourage families to explore a variety, to broaden your experience and expose yourself to different settings as well as approaches to teaching. One place to meet a variety of musical camps is at the annual camp expo. You can explore camps very broadly in fact, meeting camps from all over Ontario, Quebec and elsewhere, all in one day.

Explore more help in our guide materials:

Sources and further reading

¹Yang, H., Ma, W., Gong, D. et al. A Longitudinal Study on Children's Music Training Experience and Academic Development. Sci Rep 4, 5854 (2015) doi:10.1038/srep05854