Piano Camp

Camp Description
Piano students will enjoy the experience of using the state-of-the-art keyboard lab at the Frost School of Music. At all levels, the Young Musicians’ Music Camp piano program seeks to enrich piano students’ musical experiences with activities that they typically do not participate in during the school year.

In the Piano Ensemble class, students are grouped according to their level. With only 2 to 3 weeks to prepare for their performance, pianists learn how to read music quickly and how to rehearse with a group. The ensemble experience also helps greatly in improving sightreading skills.

In addition to Piano Ensemble, campers in the Intermediate/Pre-College programs study Keyboard Harmony. This course is actually a hands-on theory class – learning about chord structures and applying this knowledge to classical as well as jazz and rock styles. (no experience required!) At the Pre-College level, transposition and harmonic analysis is also studied. Both levels also learn sightreading techniques, an important skill for pianists to master.

Performance Styles and investigating the large world of Piano Literature is also part of the curriculum. Campers will be exposed to piano camp music and styles that may be new to them and can open up an unexplored area of interest. How to prepare for an audition will also be discussed in this class. Pre-College/Honors students will have the opportunity to perform a solo in a master-class setting.

Music Theory
Music Theory is part of the curriculum for all levels and a pre-test is given at the beginning of camp for placement purposes. Not a lecture class with worksheets, the Young Musicians’ Camp theory classes incorporate playing experiences for a hands on music theory class. Older students who are inexperienced music readers will be enrolled in our Boot Camp Music Theory ( THIS is the summer to learn how to read!!!) and advanced students will be placed in Form & Analysis – a college level course. Younger students will have fun learning music theory by playing games. Elementary students will improve their music skills in the enrichment class where they can choose from Stomp – (a creative rhythm class), Musical Theatre (singing/dancing Broadway show tunes), Movement, or Improvisation (using their instrument in a creative way). Intermediate level campers will enjoy our classical music reading/jam sessions They can also opt to take a 5th class and learn how they can play in a Jazz/Rock Combo (no experience required!), how to Compose music, or play in a chamber music group. The Pre-College daily schedule ends at 5:00 pm and incorporates the 5th class where students can study Composition, Conducting or Music History. The Honors Chamber Music students will be coached by our faculty in small group settings. They also will have sessions in analysis of their pieces, performance styles, and performing and audition techniques. In Session B they will have the opportunity to study harpsichord and Baroque style.

Piano Camp Faculty
(Partial List): Hugh Gonglewski, Paul Posnak, Ana Rodriguez, Rosalina Sackstein (guest artist), Brian Murphy, Felix Gomez.

For a complete listing of the classes, please go to the program at your level: Elementary, Intermediate, Pre-College, Honors.