{"id":1101,"date":"2015-04-06T18:58:40","date_gmt":"2015-04-06T22:58:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pentecostalmusicians.com\/PMblog\/?p=1101"},"modified":"2015-04-07T10:55:52","modified_gmt":"2015-04-07T14:55:52","slug":"plan-a-summer-piano-camp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pentecostalmusicians.com\/PMblog\/?p=1101","title":{"rendered":"Plan a SUMMER Piano Camp!"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Ashley Blankenship<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

In talking with some local piano teachers about the \u201csummer slump\u201d I was given the idea of a piano camp. Sometimes it is difficult to keep a regular schedule in summer, especially with vacationing families and busy kids. \u00a0I loved the idea and decided to organize my own piano camp this year.\u00a0 I have worked as a substitute teacher in a public school setting so I was very comfortable with the concept.\u00a0 If you are not used to working with groups of children, getting together with another teacher or assembling a team would be a great way to start a camp.<\/span><\/p>\n

First, I assembled a team of capable people to help me. Jessica is a current student of mine who has many years of piano background by note and by ear with me and another teacher.\u00a0 She beautifully plays classical music and is learning to chord church music by ear. Rachel is currently my longest-running student.\u00a0 She is sixteen years old and has been in lessons with me for nine years.\u00a0 She is extremely talented and can read music as well as she can read the newspaper. Paul is another of my current students who is also exceptional at reading music as well as composing his own compositions.\u00a0 He is an incredibly talented young man with a passion for music. \u00a0Micah is a newer musician with a natural talent.\u00a0 Things come easily to him and he has quickly learned to play by ear.<\/span><\/p>\n

The planning began in April with work on a brochure, choosing a location, assembling the team, advertising to the public (as well as my current students), and of course, lesson plans!<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong> I decided to hold camp at my church in a multi-purpose room with lots of space and of course, a piano!\u00a0 Camps were scheduled for the first Monday of each summer month from 9:00 am to Noon. We had great attendance at each camp.\u00a0 My current students under the age of ten were all in attendance, as well as students who enrolled through the public advertising.<\/span><\/p>\n

Each camp built upon the last but a student could easily join the camp if they missed the month before. Camps were simple enough for those with absolutely no music experience but also challenging to the student with a musical foundation. This is why the team is so important! We did lots of breaking into groups by age and ability level. Here was our general schedule:<\/span><\/p>\n