Music Makers Improvisation Camp

Expand your child's creativity at a music camp where "mistakes" are Opportunities and Exploration is the expectation.

The music we create will be heard only once. The memories will last forever (and so will the skills).

8:30-3:30 (aftercare to 5:30)
July 18-22, 2022
Ages 7-12

Why improv music camp

Creativity: Developing ability beyond repertoire

Identity Strengthening

By learning to create their own musical ideas and express them through their instrument, your child will strengthen their own sense of self.

Community Building

By playing musical games that can be played with any other instruments, your child will be able to make music with anyone, anywhere.

World Expanding

By expanding their musical world beyond practice and into invention, your child will develop a deeper understanding of the artistic process.

approach

Discover how CAMP CREATES SPACE FOR ALL KIDS TO IMPROVISE

Young children are naturally creative and improvisatory in their play. As the grow older, they become more aware of “right” and “wrong” answers, preventing the experimentation exploration necissary for improvisation and creativity.

To help break down these barriers, we teach improvisation with the firm belief that there are no mistakes in creative work. Some children still struggle with making musical choices on their own; to help them break through, we play familiar games involving small choices and add a musical twist.

learn more

approach

Discover how CAMP CREATES SPACE FOR ALL KIDS TO IMPROVISE

learn more

try it out first; come to one of our promotional events

Throughout the spring, we’ll be hosting free, outdoor improvisation to promote the summer camp. To stay up-to-date on these events, sign-up for our mailing list or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Click to play

Alice Kanack‘s students improvise a Musical Theater version of ”The Three Little Pigs”

Main Activities

Soundpainting

Learning the Sign Language of Soundpainting, your child will conduct all the other campgoers (and teachers!) in a an improvised ensemble peice.

Large Group Games

Large Group games will give your child an opportunity to learn large group ensemble skills as well as provide an opportunity to experiment with key concepts.

Breakout Group Games

Breakout Group Games will give your child an opportunity to work on and refine skills learned in the Large Group games with other students at their level.

Instrument Building

Your child will use the traditional Arts & Crafts camp activity to create their own musical instrument. They will then use their instruments in improvisation games!

Rhythm Games

Drums and Rhythm add so much to any improvisation and deserve their own segment.

Music Theater Games

Your child will blend different arts as the group creates improvised Music Theater.

Registration Openings Remaining
20 Registration Spots Available

Click to play

A child talking about Soundpainting and a demonstration of it’s use.

Camp countdown!

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camp schedule

Early Morning: 9:00-10:30

The day starts with Warm-up Games to get students loosened up relaxed. Then, we go through some Large Group Games before transitioning into Breakout Groups so that students can work at developing their skills with students of a similar level.

Late Morning: 10:30-12:00

Students take a break with Snack and Recess at the on-location playground, then reconvene for a Soundpainting session right before lunch.

Lunch and Free Time: 12:00-1:00

Students have lunch and free time.

Afternoon: 1:00-3:00

The afternoon starts with building Instruments and is followed by using those instruments in the Rhythm Improvisation session. The day ends with a session of Improvised Music Theater Games.

Faq

what age and skill levels is this camp best for?

This camp is designed for kids ages 7-12. No improvisation experience is required, but students will need to be able to play a G major scale.

Are there auditions for this camp?

No, there are no auditions.

What times are Drop-off and Pickup?

Drop-off starts at 8:30. Camp starts at 9:00

Pickup runs from 3:00-3:15

Do you offer Aftercare?

Yes. Aftercare is offered from 3:15-4:30 ($10/day). Extended Aftercare is available from 3:15-5:30 ($20/day)

Are lunches and Food Included?

Snacks and bottled water are included. Lunch and any drinks additional drinks are not included.

What is your COVID protocol?

All participants must provide proof of up-to-date vaccinations. This extends to students, teachers, and any guest teachers or assistant teachers that may attend camp. Students will be required to wear masks while indoors and encouraged to wear masks while outdoors.

In the case that Philadelphia Health Department declares that gatherings such as our camp are not allowed, camp will be canceled and parents will be refunded.

What music will my child need to prepare for the camp?

Students should work with their teacher to play the notes of the G major scale. 10 weeks prior to camp, we will post online video course with some basic musical games and activities that your child can use to be a little more prepared for camp. This course is entirely optional and simply presented for your child’s enjoyment.

What is your student-teacher ratio?

At an absolute maximum, 10 to 1. Preferably closer to 6 or 7 to one. In the event that registration goes above 10 students, violinist June Bender and film score composer Ilan Isakov will come on board to help with camp.

About the Camp Director

I’ve been teaching guitar to students ages 3-76 since 2006. I double-majored in Classical Guitar Performance and Music Theory at Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance. While at Temple, I performed in a masterclass for world-renowned guitarist David Leiser and presented my research paper on Franz Liszt at the Music Theory Society of the Mid-Atlantic’s annual conference.

After graduation, I continued my guitar studies with world-renowned lute and classical guitar teacher Patrick O’Brien and Rowan University Professor Kathleen Mayes. I’ve trained in the Suzuki Teaching Philosophy and Guitar Pedagogy under the guidance of Wan-Tsai Chen, David Madsen, Andrea Cannon, and Bill Kossler. I’ve also performed with the Philadelphia Classical Guitar Concert Ensemble.

My main hobbies are chess and gardening, although those have recently taken a backseat to raising my child.

Kale is quite simply one of the best you will ever find. His lessons are amazing.

Our daughter (7 years old) has been taking lessons with Kale for 3 years and we just started our younger daughter (4 years old) with lessons as well.

My wife and I both have music degrees and fondly remember our early musical educations. So our expectations were quite high when selecting a teacher. And Kale is quite simply one of the best you will ever find. His lessons are amazing - patient, informative, engaging, and they seem to fly by. He does a a great job connecting with each kids on their terms, and using games and other creative ways to teach skills, music making, and other things that really elevate his student's playing.

Kale recently started teaching our older daughter some flamenco pieces and she just can't get enough! We just took her guitar with us on vacation with us and she was playing it for hours every day. She has developed a sense of pride in her playing and an eagerness to show off all she has learned.

Chris Collier

Kale has 1001 tricks up his sleeve for helping kids

Kale Good is an excellent guitar teacher. My child has made enormous progress in technique and musicality with his guidance. We like the combination of the structured Suzuki method with improv and games, and my child also benefits from listening to and playing with others in his group classes. Kale takes pedagogy very seriously, has 1001 tricks up his sleeve for helping kids progress, and pays close attention to what each student needs. I can't recommend him highly enough!!

Virginia Herrmann

Our son loves Kale and playing music

Kale has been teaching our son Suzuki guitar for a year now, he began shortly after his third birthday. He is an excellent, patient and skilled teacher who really knows how to redirect an easily-distracted young learner. Our son loves Kale and playing music has had a great impact on him, we hope that this is the beginning of his life-long love for music.

Shannon C. ... Mother and Therapist

Most importantly, my son is having fun

Neither my wife nor I are very musically inclined, but when my son showed interest in playing the guitar we wanted to find a good local option that could provide a worthwhile experience. Teaching my 5-year son was a challenge from the start. While he insisted on trying to learn the guitar, he would often shut down at Kale's lessons.

Kale remained persistent, patient, and supportive throughout as we all tried many different games and strategies to engage my son. After a break through and a year later my son is engaged and making good progress. My son looks forward to lessons, practices at home, and enjoys listening and playing music. Most importantly, my son is having fun, while learning good fundamentals from a strong musician and committed teacher.

Wolf A. ... Father and Architect

Click to play

A simple, silly, and fun warm-up game that teaches that develops attention, eye contact, and musical communication skills. From a promotional event.