As mentioned previously, this week is the week: it’s composition camp for my students and me!
So, You Want To Be A Composer?
June 13-16, M-Th from 10am-noon
Throughout this camp, students will experience the joy of creation while composing their own music: from the energy of the initial creative urge, following the path of their personal inspiration, then settling it all into a captured vision. By the end of the week, each student will take home an illustrated copy of their composition, printed using professional music notation software. In addition to individual work, students will get to take part in group-based improvisation and composition throughout the week. For students ages 5-14. No previous musical background necessary.
As it turned out, ten students — all current piano students of mine — registered for this camp.
On the first day of camp, our goal was for each student to (1) chose a subject for their musical composition and (2) draw an illustration.
It is so fun to see what each student chooses and how they choose depict the subject matter through their drawing.
Later in the day, each student took a turn improvising at the piano inspired by his/her drawing. This allowed us explore and experience the process of expressing through sound.
The rest of the group provided feedback about how the improvisation made them feel or what the music reminded them of.
This is good preparation for Day 2, when we will start formulating the structure of our compositions and writing them down on staff paper.
That evening, I scanned each student’s illustration so that it would be ready to digitally insert into Finale software later in the week.
Stay turned for more photos of our camp week! [Click here for Day 2.]
I am very excited to read about your composition summer camp. Such a wonderful idea! I will look forward to following your posts and to hearing all about it.
Yay! Thrilled to see this. I purchased your Composition Camp for use later this summer – excited to see the week unfold in your studio as I prepare to use it in mine! Thank you, Joy!