An Overview of the Experience:

The Elizabethtown Summer Music Camp is an annually held experience at Elizabethtown College for students seven through twelve who play an instrument. The camp’s goal is to provide a nurturing environment that can help foster the development of students’ musical skills regardless of their instrument. This summer, it was held during the week of July 14th to 20th, and there were over one hundred students at the camp, ranging from violin and piano to trumpet and tuba players, with even some Hempfield students present.

The camp is staffed by various musical professors from the college and volunteer ‘counselors’ from across the country, most of which are currently studying or employed in a music-oriented career. Housing and meals are provided by the camp for the week, with students living in the university dormitories and eating at the Marketplace, a dining hall at Elizabethtown.

During the week, the students are provided and adhere to a schedule dependent on their instrument. For some instruments, students will have classes as an ensemble, while for others (like piano), they will receive personal 1-1 lessons with a university professor. Students will have their technique improved in lessons, take a masterclass where they learn/improve on various skills (such as sight-reading), and deepen their understanding of musical genres (such as the impressionist era of music) dependent on their instrument.

When applying, you are asked about your experience with composing music and your background understanding of musical theory. While neither is required or even expected of you, the information is used to help sort you into an adequate level music theory class during the week. The only prerequisite for application is that you can play your instrument, and the camp staff there will help you with the rest. You’re there to learn and improve, after all!

Concerts at the Camp:

Throughout the camp, not only will you be learning new skills each day in classes, but you also will be learning new pieces and refining them throughout the week. After only a week or less of having surveyed, decided and practiced a new piece, each student will perform at least one time at the end of the camp.

There are two days of concerts where you are allowed to audience the professors and counselors playing their pieces, two days of club and solo pieces, and the final camp concert where all the ensemble groups play.

In addition to learning songs during your scheduled class time, you have an allocated time segment during the day for recreational time, which you can spend making new friends, practicing your pieces, or participating in a club. Clubs, such as Jazz Band, run throughout the week and perform an additional assortment of pieces in the concerts as well.

In all, the Elizabethtown Music Camp is a unique experience that gives students a greater opportunity to develop their ability to not only play their instrument or expand their knowledge of musical techniques and theory but also to connect with old and new friends throughout the week. The concerts serve as a grandiose finalé and demonstration of every student’s growth from the time spent at camp.