Rockin' Out at Summer Camp – No Canoes, Lots of Jamming
Music camps that feature classical instruments and voice training have been around for a long time. But in the last few years, rock camps have made a splash. The rising popularity of rock camps among parents is due partly to the nostalgic link to classic rock, and partly to their recognition that it's easier to get kids excited about bass guitars than harpsichords. They want their kids to learn music, and they know that you are most likely to learn what you are passionate about. Summer camp puts your child in a safe place over a short period of time, and your child experiences a completely new environment, new people and new processes. The discovery that they can get with the program and make new friends is a confidence-builder that lays the groundwork for exploring their options as a young adult.
The Blue Lake take on it:
If your kid thinks being a rock star sounds like fun, we think rock camp is a great idea. One of the most established operations, The Paul Green School of Rock Music says that "the combination of private lessons and group band practice with their peers is the best way to motivate kids to practice hard, overcome stage fright, and become amazing musicians." Others say that it's not just about learning to play electric guitar or drums – their curricula also include basic music industry business skills. In addition to honing their musical and performance skills, Camp Jam teaches aspiring rockers about "polishing their image and understanding how to capture an audience." The Power Chord Academy, a sleep-away camp, has week-long sessions in which they promise to "show kids how to go from the garage to an internationally renowned professional touring band." Some rock camps, including our hometown favorite Ethos Music Center, offer scholarships.
"With any change that we experience in our lives, natural emotions such as anxiety can emerge. For children, this becomes more pronounced when starting at a new school," says Michelle Kees, Ph.D., a specialist in children's anxiety issues at The University of Michigan Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic. Most kids can overcome their fears with the help of a parent, she says. Experts agree that in addition to helping your child learn basic skills such as the ABC's and counting, a key responsibility is to help your child visualize what will happen at kindergarten. The important thing is to build your child's expectations in ways that enable him or her to feel confident that they can handle the new experiences that kindergarten will bring.
