Rock & Music Program

The original rock camp, we've been working with kids and bands for over 30 years. We have great facilities, top-notch staff, and a non-competitive, individual-choice philosophy that meets every young musician at their own level. Our rock campers have space and time to refine their skills, explore new instruments and styles, and learn about new music from friends and share the music they love. Many of our campers write songs or song lyrics, and camper bands are constantly forming to arrange, refine, and record camper-written material.

In our Music program, campers may elect instrumental and vocal lessons, with opportunities to participate in numerous ensembles. Our instrumental program offers piano, brass, string, and woodwind instruction. Campers study classical, popular, and Broadway material. We have a variety of instruments available for campers who wish to try an instrument for the first time. There are many performance opportunities each session.

Campers in all sessions, and of all experience levels, can take lessons in our rock program, work with staff-coached bands, form rock bands with other campers, and perform in weekly camper cabarets and daily “5:00 specials.” Campers from all sessions are invited to be vocalists, keyboard players, and instrumentalists for our band night performances.

Check out our theater and performance spaces.

"Our 14 yr daughter went here for the Rock (Program) to learn more about her instrument (the electric bass). She came home SO enthusiastic about music, the bass, and so much more confident in herself. She was the bassist for 2 bands and practiced 2 hours each day; also she had individual instruction, they had a rock band concert! She could chose other camp activities daily and she chose to go to the art barn and made a beautiful clay, fired, bowl. Her fellow campers and instructors were from all over the world (including Pennsylvania where the camp is located!)... The staff and owners of the camp love what they do and it really is evident! We'll not hesitate to sign our daughter up next year!"

— Parent

Lessons

Rather than individual lessons, most teaching at camp is done in “meetings,” where several campers meet with a staff member to pursue their learning goals. A meeting might consist of a bass player an drummer, both working with an instructor on how to build a solid rhythm section. Or two guitarists trading solos, guided by a staff member who suggests the chord progressions and scales to work with. The emphasis is always on playing together, listening, and discovery. Through the instrumental and vocal music department, rock campers can also study voice, keyboard, woodwind, and brass lessons.

The rest of campers’ time is self-directed: they can dedicate their entire day to rock: forming more bands and projects, participating in impromptu jam sessions, practicing, recording, composing; whatever direction their creative vision takes them! They are also free to get involved with one or several other camp programs: theater, art, music, dance, and film are all available to every camper.

Bands

After informal auditions shortly after campers arrive, staff-coached bands begin playing together on the first full day of camp. Band meetings are not just rehearsals: they are an opportunity to work on many aspects of rock musicianship: listening, collaboration, and improvisation; stage presence and performativity; arrangement, style, and dynamic range. Bands work on both creating an original song and arranging a cover song. Staff-coached bands perform in a spectacular band night at the end of each two-week session. Camper-organized bands perform in nighttime “Camper Cabarets,” and at the “5:00 Specials” which are impromptu performances held each day before dinner.