Jamaica Music Camp heads into third year
Published:Wednesday | April 20, 2016 | 12:00 AMShereita Grizzle
Jamaica Music Camp is in its third year and, as is customary, 10 days of fun-filled musical activities awaits children who will be participating in the 2016 edition.
Set for The Tryall Club near Montego Bay from July 6-16, this year's summer camp is open to children between the ages of nine and 17 and is already shaping up to be the ultimate summer music camp, according to director Leora O'Carroll.
"The camp is a unique opportunity for young Jamaican musicians to experience 10 amazing days of learning music and having fun," she said, explaining that participants are not required to have any prior experience playing music. "Jamaica Music Camp is carefully structured so that children do not need prior musical training. We provide instruction and classes for kids of all musical levels, and, as it's a small camp, there's a lot of individual attention. The only thing a child needs is a love of music. Campers come away with improved musical skills and knowledge, new friends, greater confidence and a wonderful sense of accomplishment from performing in the final concert."
O'Carroll also told The Gleaner that she takes tremendous pride in organising the camp each year as she loves to afford children the opportunity to change their lives through music.
"I'm delighted to be working now on organising the third season of the camp," she said. "The camp is comprised of paying campers as well as scholarship recipients who are selected from The National Youth Orchestra of Jamaica and Musicians Without Borders Trench Town Project. For our scholarship recipients, music plays a vital role in their lives and it can be their lifeline out of poverty," she said.
Scholarship recipients are selected based on financial need, excellent behaviour and musical talent and dedication.
TYPES OF CLASSES
Music classes at this year's camp will include singing, drumming, performance master classes, music appreciation and practice tutorials.
According to O'Carroll, the classes will be taught by some of the best instructors.
"We have such a terrific team of musicians who have all taught at Jamaica Music Camp before. Our amazing voice teacher comes from Miami - Liana Salinas, where she teaches at the Miami Arts Charter School and conducts the Miami Children's Chorus. Our multitalented drumming instructor is one of Jamaica's finest musicians, Jeremy Ashbourne," she said.
The founder/director of Jamaica Music Camp, Leora O'Carroll, is a graduate of Oberlin College and Conservatory, and is an accomplished musician and teacher of viola, violin and piano.
O'Carroll further noted, "Last year, we had the immense honour of the world's greatest French horn player, Barry Tuckwell, OBE, coming to the camp and giving a master class. It was an extraordinary experience for our campers to learn and interact with one of the greats of the music world. This year, we will be having another special guest instructor, but that will be revealed next month."
In addition to the music lessons, the campers will also enjoy a host of recreational activities, including a visit to Dolphin Cove, playing soccer, swimming, making pizzas, games nights, beach visits, jewellery making, movie nights, talent show, karaoke and dance party, as well as Asian cooking classes.
Jamaica Music Camp already has many campers returning from last year for an encore, so spaces will be very limited. Interested parents can get all details and sign-up information at www.jamaicamusiccamp.com.