Guitar camps

What do kids learn at guitar camp?

Guitar camps are available as both private instruction programs and band camps. Private lessons provide your child with personalized feedback, while camps teach your child how to perform in an ensemble. Camps instill a love of music, teaching kids and teens about rhythm, the musical scale, sight reading, and both simple and complex guitar chords. Genres most popular in guitar camps include jazz, pop, and rock. With time, kids and teens pick up strumming, fingering, and plucking skills, while playing in these genres. These skills typically require lots of coordination and hand strength, developed with practice.

This description is generalized. Consult camps above for specific details of their curriculum.  

Guitar camps also include other musical activities in the curriculum, such as vocal training or music production. Guitar camp is a great way to gain experience in music, which benefits kids who want to pursue further training in instruments like piano or percussion. 

Trained instructors lead all private and ensemble camps, and often have training in more than one instrument. Prices for guitar lessons begin at $30 per week. Full semester costs can rise to over $700.

Choosing the right guitar camp

The main choice your son or daughter has to make prior to enrollment is between a private or ensemble camp. Lessons are popular, but ensemble programs focus on band play. Playing in a band requires skills like harmonization and synchronization. Campers also learn other music concepts like dynamics, expression, and rhythm. Communication and interpersonal skills are often part and parcel of these camps as well.

Why go to guitar camp?

In addition to guitar skills, here are other benefits kids gain from camp. 

• Improved memorization skills. Kids and teens must remember chords, notes, strum patterns, etc. Musicians must recall each component while playing. Song lyrics might also need to be memorized. This helps improve kids’ memory retention, which helps in school and other settings.  
• Increased musical appreciation. Kids also learn about the history of guitar and its influence on music history. Camp helps kids develop their understanding of the power and complexity of music.
• Performance skills grow. Performances may be held at camp, especially at camp’s end, a great way for young guitarists to showcase their talents. This improves kids’ courage and resilience. Learn more about how camps help kids mature.

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