One of our highlights every summer is Piano Expeditions piano camp! I’ve done piano camps in my studio for years, but four years ago I decided to specifically start offering piano camps for children who weren’t taking private lessons, but still wanted a fun and educational music camp opportunity. Each Piano Expeditions curriculum features a particular composer’s work that is imaginative and well-suited for a holistic musical experience for young children. We started with my all-time favorite, Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals, and have since explored Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, Handel’s Messiah, and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. This year I’m super excited to introduce students to a lesser-known composer, Ferde Grofé, and his delightful five-movement work: Grand Canyon Suite.
It will be fun to focus on an American composer, so I’m also taking the opportunity to look at the rich history of Jazz music and musicians in the United States. The interactive book, Welcome to Jazz, will be used for our daily storytime, which is always a favorite for the kids. And of course we’ll be singing and dancing and playing games and improvising at the piano and eating snacks to fill up the rest of the time! I’m sure you all are starting to think about summer plans as well. Are you planning to offer a piano camp for your students or other children in your area?
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