New kids’ music camp offers range of upbeat activities

Youth who want to learn to play guitar, write a song, record their own music, or beat a snappy drum rhythm can learn these and other skills at a two-week camp this summer.

La Sierra University is offering its first Summer Music Festival Camp for youth in grades 3-12. The camp will provide a variety of musical experiences for the budding musician through performances, lessons and master classes. The camp will be held June 18-29 with a two-week session offered for youth in grades 3-6, and a simultaneous two-week session offered for youth in grades 7-12.

The camp, organized by the university's music department, was initiated in response to inquiries made by parents in the community about whether such a program exists for younger students. “So, in part, are meeting a perceived need,” said music department Chair Elvin Rodriguez. “However, we also are interested in offering programs for all age groups that will enable cultural growth in our community. We believe that any time we can contribute to the cultural health of a community we are investing in our future.”The two-week camp for children in grades 3-6 includes choir, recorder, guitar, percussion and keyboard classes, songwriting classes, GarageBand recording studio software instruction, and ensemble and faculty performances. The two-week camp for youth in grades 7-12 includes participation in chamber groups, keyboard skills, private lessons, music theory and history, master classes and performance forums.

While the festival is categorized by grades, the focus is more on musical skill level, Rodriguez said. “Our goal is to offer festivals that will target most of the developmental levels of students. The experience is one where students can engage with musical learning in a group setting with some targeted one-on-one instruction as well. It's the kind of experience that refreshes the desire of students to continue learning an instrument and starts creating a database of memories that serve to mature and project a student forward in their musical journey.”

PR Contact: Larry Becker

Executive Director of University Relations

La Sierra University

Riverside, California

951.785.2460 (voice)