<p>My son will be in 10th grade in September. A violist in Suzuki Bk. 6, he went to a week of chamber music camp last summer for the first time and liked it. Now he would like to do orchestra as well, having recently fallen in love with Brahms. Full orchestra, not just string orchestra. One or two weeks on his own are what he can handle, and what I can afford at this point. One frustration at last year's camp was that the violinists weren't quite up to the demands of the chamber music literature. He needs a program with some recreation and relaxation time. In other words, being in music classes from 9 to 5 with a break for lunch would be too much for him. Sight reading is one of his strong suits. We are in upstate New York and would not like to drive more than 8 hours to deliver him to camp. A partial viola scholarship would certainly be a plus. Thanks very much.</p>
<p>My kids both attended the Crane Youth Music Program at SUNY Potsdam and it can’t possibly take you eight hours to get their from anywhere upstate:</p>
<p>[Crane</a> Youth Music (CYM)](<a href=“http://www.potsdam.edu/academics/Crane/cym/index.cfm]Crane”>http://www.potsdam.edu/academics/Crane/cym/index.cfm)</p>
<p>My DD will be attending this summer for her 2nd time. It’s a pretty well rounded program with what I think is sufficient down time that might suit your son. The price can’t be beat either $940 covers everything but transportation and private lessons ($40/hr).</p>
<p>btw… I’m a firm believer in down time.</p>
<p>Lots of D’s friends have been talking positively about Apple Hill lately, although we have no personal experience with them. I believe they have 2 week sessions.</p>
<p>Try Waterville valley music center’s summer program in New Hampshire. It’s a small, 2-week program with a relaxed, supportive environment. I went there for many years and benefitted from it. It is run by David Segal, the NYC luthier.</p>
<p>Maybe look into Luzerne Music Center - located near Lake George and Saratoga. Good luck.</p>
<p>Are you familiar with NYSSSA? My D did the choral program loved it. The orchestra program is located in Saratoga Springs while the Philadelphia Orchestra is in residence. The 4 week session is a great bargain compared to the cost of most programs. You may have missed the deadline for this summer, but keep it in mind for next year. I have been surprised that so few New Yorkers (residency is a requirement) know about this program.
[NYSSSA</a> - School of Orchestral Studies](<a href=“http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/nysssa/SOS/]NYSSSA”>http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/nysssa/SOS/)</p>
<p>Highly recommend Luzerne Music Center. The spartan accomodations made me want to cry, but D was in hog heaven there for 3 years. You can do just 2 weeks in the junior session.</p>
<p>I’m a big fan of New England Music Camp in Maine. Great blend of music and “camp” stuff too. “Classes” including ensemble rehearsals are held from 8-12:30 Tuesdays throught Saturdays. Concerts are on Saturdays and Sundays (higher level ensembles on Sunday). Recreation on Monday…and in the afternoons (think…yoga, ultimate, swimming sailing, etc). Private lessons twice weekly. Assigned practice time. Not all that expensive for what you get. There is a four week session followed by a three week session. About $1000 a week, I think. The do have scholarships.</p>
<p>My son’s quintet played and did a master class at Luzerne Music Festival last year…and he said it was very similar to New England Music Camp.</p>
<p>Something to work towards is either Tanglewood or Interlochen. These are for the entire summer (or sometimes half depending on what you decide to do) and although they can be super pricey, there ARE scholarship opportunities. I never did Interlochen, but I did Tanglewood and I highly recommend it. If your son is serious about music, look these up (The high school section of tanglewood is called "Boston University Tanglewood Institute, BUTI). You have to audition to get in, but the acceptance rates aren’t TOO terribly low and just about everyone who goes through there ends up getting into the top schools in the country.</p>
<p>OP…are you looking for something for THIS summer…or the future? For the future, you also want to consider Eastern Music Festival in Greensboro NC.</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone who wrote.</p>
<p>Apple Hill and Waterville Valley seem to be for chamber music only. Luzerne looks intimidating. New England looks good – I liked the down time in the afternoon. But it’s too soon for a three-week absence from home. Maybe next year.</p>
<p>Maybe Crane would be best. I wonder if there are some strong violinists who can carry a quartet. Any additional information people can share about Crane would be gratefully accepted.</p>
<p>aprerente…you say it’s “too soon for a three week absence from home”…your kiddo is completing ninth grade, correct? Of course, this is a personal family decision, but my two kiddos went to NE Music Camp for three summers each…after 8th, 9th, and 10th grade. After 11th and 12th grade, my musician went to a 6 week summer music festival (T’Wood).</p>
<p>(a) Slow to mature.
(b) Other irons on the fire for summer.</p>
<p>But it looks very interesting for a future year.</p>
<p>Question: What roles do the Wiggins play once camp starts?</p>
<p>Can anyone tell me anything about the Oneonta (NY) program? From their website it looks promising. It’s called NYSMF.</p>
<p>The two titled threads:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/526163-luzerne-vs-nysmf-trumpet.html?highlight=NYSMF[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/526163-luzerne-vs-nysmf-trumpet.html?highlight=NYSMF</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/577405-new-york-state-music-festival-summer-program.html?highlight=NYSMF[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/577405-new-york-state-music-festival-summer-program.html?highlight=NYSMF</a></p>
<p>And a couple or representative posts.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/5236389-post54.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/5236389-post54.html</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1063236120-post2.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1063236120-post2.html</a></p>
<p>If you search within this forum, advanced, use “NYSMF” as the keyword, select the search entire thread option, and the display post options, you’ll find them all. You can scroll through for comments. There are far too many to link.</p>