Summer Music Academy
A Summer Music Camp for Tomorrow’s Innovators
The Program
The Collective Sound Summer Music Academy is a two, three, or five-week summer music camp opportunity for young musicians, ages 12-18, to hone their musicianship skills in a creative environment.
With a focus on collaboration, students are divided into bands that work together to write and rehearse original material daily in preparation for recording studio time and live performances. TCS youth music camps also include industry related field trips, workshops, and time for extra-curricular activities like volleyball, swimming, soccer, movies, and games.
The Tour
TCS’s three-week summer music camps include a unique tour component that allows students to perform their original music across the state with local headlining bands.
For 2010, in addition to offering its three-week summer music camp in Costa Mesa with the tour component, TCS will also be offering a two-week summer music camp in Portland, Oregon without the tour.
**Participants are also welcome to register for the full five weeks of camp, traveling with TCS staffers from Costa Mesa, CA to Portland, OR for an additional cost. (We ask that if you are interested in this option, please contact us at info@thecollectivesound.com before making travel arrangements, as we would like all traveling campers be on the same flight. We will provide additional details upon request.)
Week 1
The first week will allow students to work through the creative process by teaching the component parts of how to write an original song.
Week One consists of:
- -formation of bands based on student interest, instrument, and level of experience
- -band practice in which two songs are written with the help of a band coach (as needed)
- -workshops and electives; (electives in the past have included: do-it-yourself promotion, at-home recording, electronic music, ins-and-outs of the music industry, and composition)
- -lessons taught by professional instructors
- -guest lectures
- -open mic concerts
Week 1 emphasis: Creative Collaboration, Team Building, Problem Solving, Musicianship, and Songwriting
Week 2
Week two will allow students to work through the component parts of recording a professional demo as each band will track, mix, and master one of their songs with the help of their band coach in a professional studio. Week Two consists of:
- -recording one original song in a professional recording studio
- -use of music computer labs and other music technologies
- -classes on creating a myspace and other online promotional tools
- -taking photos for an electronic press kit (EPK)
- -creating a treatment, filming, and editing a music video
Week 2 emphasis: Recording Techniques, Band Promotion, Press Kits, and Music Videos
Week 3* (Southern California only)
In week three, students take their act on the road!
Week Three consists of:
- -going on tour to perform original songs for a live audience
- -traveling around CA on a tour bus
- -students will perform roughly one show a day, sometimes two
- -show will generally be held at an outdoor venues such as farmers markets and fairs
- -past tour stops have included: Boys and Girls Clubs, the Orange County Fair, Warped Tour, Union Square in San Francisco,
Week 3 emphasis: Playing in front of an audience
During their time at The Collective Sound, students will participate in a wide number of fun and relevant activities. There is never a dull moment at camp!
