Where has the time gone? It seems we just took down our Christmas tree and now we’re suddenly in April preparing for Easter weekend.
With the end of the school year fast approaching you may be looking for opportunities for your child to continue learning and exploring this summer. We recently met an organization in Bowie, Maryland that is doing wonderful work for music in the Greater Washington Area.
FAME – Foundation for the Advancement of Music & Education is a non-profit organization dedicated to giving every young musician the best opportunity to succeed in life by providing music training and academic support.
Founded by Arethia Toni Lewis in 2004, FAME believes that children, teens, and young adults, regardless of social and economic need, should have access to quality music and education as part of their journey to adulthood.
In addition to their year-round year-round community-based jazz band program for middle and high school youth (which is currently holding auditions!), FAME’s summer program offers several week-long intensive workshops exploring varied topics in music performance and creation.
Students from across the country will gather together and attend fun music workshops that incorporate STEM learning to create original music compositions with the use of contemporary tools, understand the basics of audio recording and manipulating digital audio, strengthen vocals, and improve their musical performance skills of instructor identified music.
Top-Notch Music Education
FAME’s annual summer music program going back to 2011 was founded in partnership with the University of Maryland School of Music, and offers four different sessions of week-long workshops that provide deep dives into several areas of music:
- Music Technology
- Instrumental Intensive Workshop
- Vocal/Choral Workshop
Students can participate in more than one workshop – say choral one week, instrumental the next, then music technology for week three or four.
Even if you opt for just one week of camp, your child will walk away with a deeper understanding of a music concentration of their choosing. Not only will your camper have increased musical knowledge and skills, their sense of enthusiasm, confidence, work ethic, and team spirit will thrive.
Here’s an overview of FAME’s summer program camp offerings:
Music Technology
The Music Technology workshop is great for any music lover. While it’s helpful to have some background in reading music notation, the program is also beginner-friendly.
During camp, master instructors train students in the nuts and bolts of building a song from start to finish. They cover composing, editing, synthesizing, and the recording process using various technology programs and music aids to create something unique to their imagination. Each week-long workshop will end with a showcase where students present their finished songs to their parents and peers.
A key part of music making in the 21st century is tied to the technology and software used in the world of music production. Students in this workshop use MusicFirst, and will be gifted a free one-year subscription to its notation and mixing software once enrolled.
Instrumental Intensive Workshop
The Instrumental Workshop is designed for students who are proficient in an instrument and are ready to take their musical skills to the next level. Throughout the week, participants are immersed in many the various styles and elements of jazz, including:
- Blues
- Jazz-Rock
- Latin Jazz
- Jazz Standards
- Cool Jazz
- Improv
This workshop offers a great experience working as a band member. Diving into music theory and song structure, students will explore scales, chords, and modes to expand their musical vocabulary and capacity to improvise. Staff will include professional musicians and instructors from Berklee College of Music and UMD.
Vocal/Choral Workshop
The Vocal Workshop is ideal for any student who loves to sing – no prior choral experience necessary! The week will focus on everything from breathing techniques to lyrical interpretation, stage presence to song composition.
Those dreaming of a vocal career will benefit from the lessons and evaluations offered and the individualized coaching to understand how auditions are assessed.
The instruction is unlike anything you’d find in another week-long camp, and the results speak for themselves. You’ll hear it for yourself at the end of camp when students bring home an archival recording of their peer collaborations and/or independent vocal project.
FAME Music Summer Camp Basics
Ready to enroll? Here are the details you’ll need:
Sessions are one-week each, running from July 11 through August 5, 2022 at two separate locations: The University of Maryland’s School of Music in College Park and Dr. Henry A Wise High School in Upper Marlboro.
FAME is offering an early bird discount of $300 per session for people who register before May 1, so you can register here now or contact FAME for additional details.
We can’t wait to hear about your child’s experience with FAME this summer and the beautiful music they will create!
