Our popular themed Music Day Camps for Kids strike the perfect balance between a creative, effective music curriculum and some good, old-fashioned fun.  In our Day Camp Catalog, there's something for each and every young musician-- beginners or more advanced students, instrumentalists and vocalists-- ages 5 and up, and you'll discover enough variety to keep a single student entertained and growing if you enroll for multiple weeks or even for the full summer camp season. All camps include a weekly private lesson on the instrument of choice. Throughout the week there are small group coaching sessions and time for practice with faculty and peers. Music Day Camp is a great way for students either to start their journey learning to play an age appropriate instrument from a warm and encouraging CMC Atlanta teacher, or to advance their skills and try new experiences like playing with others a small group or learning how to improvise.  

All CMC Atlanta programs in the Elementary Division emphasize the development of essential foundational musical skills and concepts for beginners plus more advanced but age appropriate material for more experienced students.  We focus summer and school break Music Day Camps on particular kinds of music and musical experiences, or themes,  because we know that not all kids are the same.  Some want to rock, some want to play Beethoven, some would like to sing folk or country tunes, or in a glee club, some want to learn or create video game music.  Camp themes help parents and students trust that a student's genuine musical interests will be a big part of the CMC Atlanta camp experience.  Because we employ a diverse staff of professional musicians with diverse musical practices, Music Day Camp can also provide the opportunity to learn about an unfamiliar style or to try a new instrument.

The Day Camp experience emphasizes learning through projects and games. The daily schedule is sensitive to the needs of campers, with each day broken down into Curriculum Blocks and Breaks for snacks and lunch, supervised practice and play. All camps include:

• private and small group coaching on the instrument of choice
• group singing
• drum circle and rhythm training
• game and project based music theory lessons
• small ensemble performance 
• song writing/composition
• music based crafts that tie into the camp theme

Parents often ask us if we accept beginners or more experienced students.  The camp experience is curated by directors and faculty with decades of experience in music education.  We cap enrollment at a level that creates an intimate experience for our campers, and we divide students by both age and skill level so that each camper has a positive experience with peers roughly the same age and with similar skills.  Beginners should never feel pressured and more advanced students shouldn't be held back.  

Helpful hint: in response to the challenges created by inflation, we offer very generous discounts for multi-week or sibling enrollment,  or for campers who enroll with friends.  Multi-week enrollment has a deeper pedagogical impact on campers, and coming with a sibling or friends makes the experience richer.  Learn more about Multi-week, Sibling and Buddies & Besties Discounts.         

Please note:  for older students, grades 6-8 and 9-12, we offer performance based Workshops and Workshop intensives.  Our most popular summer event for students in this category is our Summer Student Showcase which for the past few years has been at Variety Playhouse or 7Stages Theatre in Little 5 Points.  Information about CMC Atlanta Performance Workshops is available here.