Summer Camp Details

DUSS campers rehearsing.

Summer Camp activities include:

Ensembles

Intermediate and Advanced Players:

  • Summer String Orchestra 
  • Small Chamber Ensembles 

Young Players:

  • Violin/Cello Choirs 
    Cello Choir
  • Introduction to Orchestra

Classes and Activities

  • Repertoire and Technique class
  • Theory class
  • Masterclasses
  • Sight Reading
  • Outdoor activities

Optional

  • "Viola for Violinists"
  • Individual Set Up Seminar
  • After-camp care 

(Descriptions below)


Ensembles

Summer String Orchestra:  Intermediate and Advanced students are organized into ensembles of 15-25 students in which they study several pieces to perform during the final concert for camp.  In these groups, students will work on: listening to their own section while also balancing with the other sections, articulation, phrasing, dynamics, posture, and performance practice. 

Small Chamber Ensembles:  Each student will be placed in a small chamber group of 3 to 5 players in which each student plays a different solo part within a group.  Chamber music is an excellent opportunity to shine on your own part while also performing with others, and can be one of the most rewarding experiences of classical music playing.  These groups will range from young students with only 1 year of experience, to advanced students with 10+ years of experience.

Violin/Cello Choirs: These students will be working on unison and duet pieces in Violin and Cello Choirs as they continue to develop their individual and ensemble skills. Violinists must be able to play a G major scale and have played their instrument for 2 full years, and have completed 1 year of Violin Choir 1, or the equivalent.

Classes

Repertoire and Technique: Young musicians are placed in violin and cello choirs with students of a similar ability level where they will learn pieces to play in unison and in two-part harmony.  Emphasis is placed on correct posture and finding their most beautiful sound. Students will also have the opportunity to perform solo pieces for their peers in class, so bring your most polished piece to play!

Theory: Students at camp will spend time fine tuning their theory skills from finding the key of a piece to learning about building blocks of composition.  Students will also learn about composers and different styles of music, and they'll show off all they learned in Theory class at the Theory Bee on the last day of camp.

Master Classes:  In Master Classes, intermediate and advanced students play a solo piece in a practice performance setting and receive comments on their work.   Performance classes like these are incredibly helpful for students to gain experience and confidence performing solo works in a supportive environment.  Students are encouraged to memorize their pieces for Master Classes.

Sight Reading:  Ever looked at a new piece of music and felt overwhelmed?  Techniques to help you tackle that new piece of music will help you quickly find the most important information to tell you how to play that new piece of music you've never played before beautifully.  Sight reading music is just like reading any language, it takes practice!

Optional

Viola for Violinists: Are you a violinist who has always wanted to give the viola a try?  Whether you are curious, want to add viola to your wheelhouse, or want to make a switch, take this class!  It's a great opportunity for students to give viola a try and see how they like the beautiful resonance of the viola.  (See Summer Camp Registration and Fees page for details on easy viola rentals for camp).

Set Up Seminar:  Do you feel uncomfortable when you play your instrument?  Do you feel pain the more you practice?  You probably need a different set up!  The "set up" is a combination of chin rest and shoulder pad to help play your instrument comfortably.  Every person is built differently, and so each person needs a different set up to make their playing as efficient and ergonomic as possible.  Sign up for an individual seminar with the Director to find a set up that's right for you.  Accessories not included in the seminar, but available for purchase at a discount. For violinists and violists.
 
After-Camp Care: We provide After Camp Care from 3:00 - 5:00 PM.   Please indicate on your registration form if you would like to take advantage of this option for one or more of your children.
 

Activities

Outdoor Activities:  Not only will students learn a lot about their instrument and music during camp, each day after lunch, students will spend time outside playing outdoor games to have a break from being on their instruments.

The DUSS playground.