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Description:

National Music Camp is run by a non-profit, non-sectarian foundation and is located on a 120 acre site on the shores of Lake Couchiching, north of Orillia. For over 40 years, young musicians have come from across Ontario and Canada to enjoy a challenging music experience balanced with a wide range of recreational activities, including water-skiing, swimming, windsurfing, sailing, canoeing, kayaking, baseball, volleyball, basketball, tennis, archery, golf and arts and crafts.

Campers and staff live in cabins that house 10-14 campers and 2-4 staff. Each cabin usually has both Recreation and Music staff as counsellors. All cabins are equipped with indoor plumbing and electricity.

We run several programmes.  The Band/Orchestra, Beginning Band, Beginning Strings (both camps), Music Theatre, and Classical Guitar (both camps) programmes are available to all campers, from grade 4 - OAC.  Suzuki strings is offered to students in grade 4 - 8.  The Jazz Programme, vocal and instrumental, is offered to students in grades 7 - OAC.

Campers coming into the Band/Orchestra stream typically have at least one year of playing at school or privately. Those in Suzuki strings are Suzuki students at home and continue their studies at camp.  Campers entering the Jazz stream will have had some experience playing or singing jazz at their school, except those in grade 7 or 8 who may have had little jazz experience.

In Music Theatre campers are welcome with no experience and have classes in voice, drama, dance and performance.  The Classical Guitar programme is open to players of all levels.

The music faculty is made up of performing artists, musicians and teachers from symphonies, universities, colleges, high school and elementary school music programmes across Canada.  Many of our faculty are also well-known freelance musicians.   They are available to the staff for coaching and lessons.

The music staff are usually University or College music students.  Some are in teacher's college; a few are teacher's college graduates and young teachers.  A few of our staff are not in music, but have maintained their musical practice and a high playing level.  A few are in their last year of high school.  Most staff are interested in music education as a career and use NMC as a valuable experience.

Music staff assist the Band/Orchestra, Suzuki, Guitar and Jazz Faculty by working with the conductors/leaders and specialists.  They help in large group rehearsals, sectionals and group lessons.  Many staff also conduct small camper ensembles who perform at a camper ensemble concert.  In the Music Theatre programme staff perform a number of functions for vocal and drama and dance coaching, to stage and props management to assisting faculty with the performance class, depending on their background and the group's needs.

The typical day for students in grade 4-6 is four hours of music, including an elective period where they can perform in an ensemble, sing in a chorus, or work on their theory and rhythm.  The older campers will have 5 hours of music and may also choose from a variety of electives in the evening.  There are two recreation periods for all campers, an evening programme and an evening concert each night.

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