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Any recommendations for a summer program for music performance (bassoon)? My D is a 10th grader and has attended 1 week music camps at a near bye college and is ready for a different program. She initially did not want to audition for Interlochen and now has some regrets for not preparing for their auditions. I think a shorter program 4 weeks or so would be appealing to her. She does have several pieces that she could tape for auditions depending on the program's requirements. She is starting to research colleges and will eventually need to decide what type of degree (Music or BA or a dual degree) she wants. As a parent I would love to find a summer program that somehow will give her some insight.

By Chinaman (Chinaman) on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 04:06 pm: Edit

Tanglewwod will be a another choice

By Massdad (Massdad) on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 04:49 pm: Edit

Tanglewood is pretty competitive. There are a number of camps in New England with a music focus. Oncore Coda is one. New England Music Camp another. You could probably google your way into some near you.

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 05:02 pm: Edit

I am not sure exactly the type of program she wants. I will share with you a summer program that my 17 year old attended for four summers in the Catskills of NY. It is called French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts. They have a full scale music program there. While my daughter is a musician (two instruments) she actually did not attend the program for the music component but rather participated in the musical theater and dance programs. They have a professional staff and they have orchestras and other music groups. I have attended the music concerts on the parent/performance weekends, though my daughter was in the musicals. But the dance show at the end of summer also is accompanied by the orchestra so I have heard them in that. Also there are additional music opportunities for the music kids to be in the pit orchestras to the 36 productions put on per summer. The setting is a camp like setting but the focus is performing arts and kids elect their focus. You do not audition to attend but there are auditions once you are there to be placed in various performing things. They also give private lessons for instrumentalists as well. Most of the music staff teaches elsewhere during the school year. They have three 3-week sessions. You can attend three, six or nine weeks, so that would work for your daughter. My daughter went for six weeks every summer. The program has ages 7-17 there. There are various levels of musical groups/orchestras, etc. Again, my daughter was not in the music program there cause she felt she gets that all year here and wanted to use the opportunity to do theater. The child individualizes her "majors" and "minors". My daughter happened to focus on musical theater productions, dance, tennis and waterskiing, but your child could fill her entire day just in the music program. Check it out. There were some very talented music kids there.

Susan

By Musicmom (Musicmom) on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 07:01 pm: Edit

Be sure to check out if your state has a Governor's School program for summer after 11th grade. NJ's Gov. School of the Arts is a FREE 4 week residential program at The College of New Jersey. Our son attended last summer and loved it. He has made some enduring friendships with other music kids statewide that he met there. Admission was very competitive but well worth the effort! Parents were invited to weekly concerts each Sunday during the month. It was amazing to see what they could put together in such a short time. Very inspiring stuff. The GS application had to be submitted by Christmas break of Junior year and included essays, recommendation letters, screening tapes and ultimately a live audition. Kind a like a mini conservatory app!
Sounds as though your D might be interested come next year. Best of luck!

By Shennie (Shennie) on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 07:52 pm: Edit

Northwestern has a 4 week program that might be what she is looking for. There is also the Bowdoin Summer Music Festival which is very competitive. I have also heard excellent things about the Sewanee Summer Music Festival at University of the South in Tennesee, although I think it is a 6 week program.

If there is a youth orchestra in your area you might contact them to see if they have info on summer camps. I know our youth orchestra gets all kinds of brochures and may be able to give you the names of people who have attended.

As the parent of a music student I highly recommend summer music programs as they help kids decide if they can live music 24-7 and give them an opportunity to be around other highly talented musicians.

By Parentofteen (Parentofteen) on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 08:04 pm: Edit

North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem has some wonderful summer programs in music. They last five weeks, usually from late June through the end of July.

By Hautbois (Hautbois) on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 08:11 pm: Edit

Gee, I'm in the process of updating my site to include music festivals and music camps. I really don't mean to be tooting my own horn, but you'll find some information there if you are interested. (Look to the left of the page and you'll see the camp and festivals link.)

... and I'm going to continue to check this thread out and add more camps, workshops and festivals ... so those of you who have good recs to make keep posting!

By Hautbois (Hautbois) on Friday, January 23, 2004 - 01:21 am: Edit

Smsmom: One other thing -- since your D is thinking about pursuing music in college, I would definitely recommend going to a workshop or two, even during the school year! A number of colleges have "double reed days" or things like that. Being a bassoonist means that she can check with other double reeders and see what they know about these as well.

I would also suggest a music festival or workshop that is held at a university. The professors and lecturers from the university don't always participate, but they sometimes do, and if the want your D they'll certainly go to bat for her.

Does she know about the International Double Reed Society? It's not expensive for a student member. How serious is she about all of this? Are you looking for a particular location for a workshop or festival (or camp)?

By Smsmom (Smsmom) on Friday, January 23, 2004 - 10:11 am: Edit

Hautbois & all other responders - Thank you for your responses. My D appears to be serious about her music, guess I am the one who hasn't been serious. She does play in a regional youth orchestra and for honors band and orchestra at school. The youth orchestra does publish a list of summer programs etc but most of the students who go to music camps attend the 1 week sessions at two LAC's that are within an hour or so drive. Several have attended Interlochen. I believe it is too late to prepare for Interlochen's auditon deadline. We are looking at the Northwestern program. If anybody has had personal experience with it or other programs I would be interested in hearing about it. Location of a program is not that important. I am more familiar with the midwest and the south(GA, FL, NC, VA). I have not heard of Double Reed Days at the schools within driving distance from our home, but haven't been looking until now. Have heard of the International Double Reed Society and will encourage her to investigate. She wants to take lessons at a LAC that is about 45 min to an hour from here. So guess will be looking into that. This site is great. I have enjoyed reading different posts and have learned a lot. Appreciate the link to Hautbois personal site.

By Hautbois (Hautbois) on Friday, January 23, 2004 - 03:31 pm: Edit

Smsmom -- I belong to the IDRS, which also means I can sign up for the email list. I occasionally even join in the conversations there and I've asked about camps and workshops. I also hear about double reed days occasionally. If another comes up I'll be sure to let you know. (I'm assuming you aren't interested in the one that is rapidly approaching at Fresno State University ... the trip would be rather long!) I do know other schools have them, although there aren't a huge number of them ... after all, how many double reed players are there?! There are also double reed workshops (and just bassoon workshops) that sometimes get mentioned. Obviously I focus on oboe, but I'll keep my eyes open for bassoon "stuff" now as well.

I'm glad my site was helpful. I love putting it together and I attempt to keep on top of not only the events we've talked about in this thread but auditions for professional orchestras as well as audition requirements for universities and conservatories. It's been educational for me as well as my students!

Is your D's desire to become a professional musician then? I'm assuming she studies privately already ... hope so! (It's a must for any musician, but even more a must - if that's possible - for a double reed player. Those darn reeds and the art of reed making require a good teacher.)

(And I love this site too!)

By Hautbois (Hautbois) on Sunday, January 25, 2004 - 07:12 pm: Edit

Smsmom: Just realized that the front cover of the latest IDRS issue I have has a picture of a ton of bassoonists ... all at a basson camp! Maybe you want to check out this link and investigate that camp. Sounds like it must be great! I'd put it up at my site, but I am geared toward the oboe world.

... and now I want to find an oboe camp that compares to the Clickman-Popkin Bassoon Camp!

By Shennie (Shennie) on Sunday, January 25, 2004 - 08:19 pm: Edit

About 4 years ago my son spent the summer at Interlochen. We went up part way through the summer to see him and attend a couple of concerts. One of the concerts we attended was a kind of showcase thing and one of the performances was a bassoon choir! They had every bassoonist in the camp (over 40 players) playing some pieces. They had some of the kids on contrabassoons. It was an incredibly cool thing to see and really upped my appreciate for this instrument.

By Hautbois (Hautbois) on Sunday, January 25, 2004 - 08:35 pm: Edit

Correction ... it's GLICKMAN not Clickman!

By Thexpands (Thexpands) on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 07:06 am: Edit

although i'm not a parent, i am a bassoonist myself and am a sophomore like your daughter. this summer i will be attending marrowstone music festival at western washington university in bellingham, washington. the program lasts up to three weeks; you can choose to only go to two, as well. it's a part of seattle youth symphony orchestras and it's a really great program. last year there was a bassoonist who came to marrowstone all the way from ohio; there are many participants who travel across the country or even from canada. she will recieve great instruction from francine peterson and will also be introduced to many, many other bassoonists. in the chamber orchestra she may have the opportunity to play contrabassoon, as well.

By Hautbois (Hautbois) on Friday, February 06, 2004 - 03:28 pm: Edit

The Ball State High School Bassoon Camp is scheduled for July 25-31, 2004. In its sixth year, the BSU Bassoon Camp has grown into a national event, enrolling 68 young bassoonists from 18 states in 2003. The camp is designed for young bassoonists who are entering grade 9 through the first year of college. Instruction is offered on three levels (advanced, intermediate, and beginning), with students assigned a level based on playing ability. Daily activities include private lessons, bassoon classes, masterclasses, ensemble rehearsals, and reed classes. Elective classes may include theory, beginning piano, contrabassoon, conducting, orchestral excerpts, audition techniques, and music history. The final public camp recital will be held on Saturday, July 31st. Special events will include a faculty recital, a trip to the Fox Bassoon Factory, attendance at an Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra concert, a camp cook-out and recreational activities.
If you want more info, just say the word.

By 2dazed (2dazed) on Sunday, February 15, 2004 - 05:16 pm: Edit

Hi! I'm looking for a strong music camp for my 14 y.o. oboe player. Preferably on the West Coast or California. Does Stanford have classical music camps? She already attended Cazadero.
Thanks.