2010 Handbook Update- sent June 21, 2010

Monday, June 21, 2010- Happy Father’s Day!

Dear MusicMakers! Parents:

Hello & welcome to camp! I met quite a few campers this past Thursday, & I’m looking forward to seeing everyone else soon. We have a great group of people this year!

Orientation. Orientation day is always a bit crazy. The intent was for everyone to meet the instructors & counselors, tour the rooms, receive a Handbook, update emergency contact information, & pay fees. This year we had a little difficulty with our printer, which caused our signs letting new parents know what to do, & our age group lists, not to print… we are sorry about the confusion! It was frustrating for us too, believe me!  Several parents expressed concern over the warmth in the strings room… a part is on order for one of the A/C units in that room. If it gets too warm during camp, we plan to hold strings class in the office until it is fixed.

If you missed orientation, we’ll catch up with you on Day 1 of your session. You may view our Handbook and pre-camp letters online at www.musicmakerscamp.com if you missed them.

Guitar Update: I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of interest in guitar. In session 1 we have filled 2 sections of guitar classes, & in session 2 we have filled 1 section, with a waiting list now forming. If you were on the session 1 waiting list, please bring your $25 cash & your child’s guitar on Monday. If we reach 6 children on the session 2 waiting list, we will accept payment for the second section in session 2. 

Guitar is offered during Movement & Games time at an additional $25 for 4 to 5 group lessons per session. Our minimum goal is to teach campers to play a melody & strum at least 3 chords, possibly as an accompaniment to another ensemble. Our classes are for beginners or nearly-beginners. Advanced players are encouraged to audition for spotlight solos &/or to accompany one of our groups. Depending on progress, guitar may or may not be featured in the recitals & finale shows.

Precorder & Recorders. We learned on 6/16/2010 that we are unable to get the precorder outfits in time for camp to start. Therefore, all age groups will use recorders, priced at $16 for the book, CD, recorder, case, necklace, cleaning rod, grease, & fingering chart. Due to better value, we have switched to the Angel brand recorder & the Just Do It! Recorder Study Book, which comes with a practice CD.  Books may be purchased for $8 if you already have a recorder. We apologize for any inconvenience. We know times are tough; we’ll gladly loan your child a recorder for camp use at no charge if you choose not to purchase. Books may be borrowed with an $8 deposit, which will be returned to you when you return the book at session’s end.

What to Expect on Day 1.

Check-in for campers who missed orientation will begin at 7:45am in the MusicMakers! Office, Portable #34.  Please remember to bring your registration & your optional fees (cash only). Day 1 Check-in Instructions: 1st- see Mrs. Harmon to update your folder. 2nd- pay your fees to Kristen. (Have your form filled out already with exact change if possible, cash only- it’s on our website if you didn’t get our pre-camp letter.) 3rd- take a tour of the camp rooms (please save Woodwinds Lab for last). Return to Woodwinds Lab to find a seat. 4th- Have a great day!

Sign-In. For those who came to orientation & have paid all fees, sign-in will occur with Ms. Rufus & Mr. Henschel, in our Woodwinds Lab, portable #37, beginning at 7:45am (if you need to pay fees, please first go to the Office, Portable #34). Parents, please remember to walk your child into the room & sign them in. For Sign-In/Sign-Out, parents are asked to ENTER the Woodwinds Lab via the steps, then travel THROUGH the room & OUT THE BACK DOOR. At all other times, including recitals, we ask everyone to ENTER rooms by going UP THE RAMP & EXIT rooms by going DOWN THE STEPS for optimum traffic flow.

Age group lists & nametags will be posted outside the Woodwinds Lab. Campers, please grab your nametag & put it on your shoulder area, then sit at a desk inside the Woodwinds Lab. If you find your child in the wrong age group, give an Age Group Change Request form to Mrs. Harmon or Kristen, & we will correct the problem ASAP. For ease of movement around camp, each Age Group is assigned to a bank of desks (for example, tables 1-4 is our oldest age group; tables 5-7 our next age group, & so forth). If you want to sit with a friend, it’s a good idea to arrive together & EARLY. Signs will be posted in the Woodwinds Lab to show age group seating areas. Since kids keep the same seats for an entire session, staff will make sure everyone is seated happily within their age group by the end of the day.

We provide morning snack, but don’t forget your recorder, lunch & an extra water bottle for during the day. We also have a snack box; all items are $.75. 

Guitars & string instruments may be stored in the strings room until the end of the day (or office if too warm). Keyboard music travels with you during morning sessions & remains in your desk later. Lunches are stored under your desk. Recorders are played only during instructional times, not snack, lunch, etc.

On day 1, Ms. Nicole will introduce the staff & go over camp rules & procedures at 8am. After introductions, we will begin our daily schedule. Counselors will get to know the children in their assigned age groups by traveling with them to each of their morning breakout sessions. (Each counselor is assigned to an instrumental lab & to supervise the children in their first group of the day during all non-instructional times.)  Beginning on day 2, counselors remain in their labs during morning breakout sessions but with their assigned groups at all other times.

Sign-Out at 3pm. Parents, please sign campers out in the Woodwinds Lab beginning at 3:00pm. Photo ID is required at checkout time. Please also be sure that you have listed the name of whoever is picking up your child (if it’s not you) on your Transportation Designee Form in your emergency folder. See Kristen or Mrs. Harmon, or send in a note or new form from the website www.musicmakerscamp.com if you are not sure or have changes.

Singing Show Songsheets & Practice CDs. Every child will have a part in the singing show, whether it be a singing solo, announcer part, actor, dancer, or other (such as girl in car, ball thrower or letter carrier). Each child gets the chance to sign up for 4 roles they would like to do. Then, we hold auditions for Singing Solos & announcer parts on Tues./Wed. of week 1. Once auditions end, Ms. Nicole posts parts.

I have attached the Destination Rock’n’Roll! Songsheet so you can print a copy for at-home use (camp copies remain at camp, We Be Jammin’… & All That Jazz Sheets will be sent closer to session 2). We recommend each family borrow a practice CD to listen to the show & learn the lyrics, vocal solos & speaking parts. For our older children, we also have musical scores of the show. Campers may borrow CDs & scores for a $5 deposit per item; when you return the items we return your deposit. Parts for the show will be posted before the recital so you have the weekend to gather costumes, which are due Mon. 6/28.

MusicMakers! T-shirts will be distributed on Tues. 6/29. & Thurs. 7/9 (camp photo days). In celebration of becoming non-profit, this year, we have a new logo on a black shirt.  We are also in the process of redesigning www.musicmakerscamp.com with a more professional, updated look!

Calendar Changes.  HOT OFF THE PRESS:  BROWARD SCHOOLS & MUSICMAKERS! WILL BE OPEN FRI. JULY 9 INSTEAD OF MON. JULY 5!!! Therefore, session 2 will have 8 days, & we have moved our recital from Thurs. July 8 to Fri. July 9 at 2pm. The finale date & camp hours are the same. If your child can not be at camp on 7/9 due to previous plans, please let us know ASAP.  Thanks!  As a result of this change, we have also adjusted Spirit Days for both sessions as follows:

Session 2  Enrollment. We have lots of space in our second session, WE BE JAMMIN’… & ALL THAT JAZZ!   which runs July 6 through July 15. We need campers! Won’t you please join us?  Campers enrolled in session 1 who re-register for session 2 receive a $15 discount. Please see Ms. Nicole for more information, or simply go to the Coral Springs Gym to register.

T-shirts will be distributed on Tues. 6/29 & Thurs. 7/9 (camp photo days). In celebration of becoming non-profit, this year we have a new logo on a black shirt.  We are also in the process of redesigning www.musicmakerscamp.com with a more professional, updated look!

I realize there is a lot to absorb because our sessions are short. Please contact our administrative team (Kristen, Ashlei, Mrs. Hagan, or Mrs. Harmon), or any instructor with questions. I am also available via email at musicmakerscamp@aol.com.

We hope your child has a GREAT time at MusicMakers!, makes new friends, and learns a lot about music!

Sincerely,

Ms. Nicole
Ms. Nicole, MusicMakers! Camp Director

We are the Music Makers. We are the dreamers of dreams.