Community Music School hosts workshops, concerts, and summer camps for musicians ages seven and up; maintains a free database of local music teachers; places donated musical instruments with people or organizations who need them; and publishes a free monthly e-newsletter that lists upcoming concerts and music-related events.
Each summer, Community Music School hosts Celtic music camps for musicians of all ages. Our camps are staffed by teachers and teaching assistants (TAs) specializing in traditional folk music from the Celtic diaspora and beyond. Each camp ends with a concert open to family and friends.
Our Teen Camp is a week-long overnight camp that takes place every June at Monte Toyon in Aptos. This unique residential program places teenage musicians (ages 12-18) in a beautiful outdoor setting with great instructors. Teens learn to play Celtic folk music, but more importantly, they spend a week with other teen musicians in a supportive environment, and with a strong sense of community. Students practice and perform in instrument-specific groups, in small bands, and with the entire camp. Other activities include vocal training, Scottish dance, movie night, a barn dance, crafts, a talent show, and lots of jamming!
Our Kid Camp is a two-week day camp that starts in mid-July, and takes place at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Scotts Valley. Children learn to play Celtic folk music in a small and supportive environment. They also learn to make their own bamboo flute, and have plenty of play time! Students practice and perform in instrument-specific groups, and with the entire camp.
All of our camps are for players of fiddle, flute, penny whistle, recorder, clarinet, harp, autoharp, guitar, mandolin, dulcimer, accordion, keyboards, percussion, Irish tenor banjo, and cello. Campers should be proficient on one of these instruments, with a suggested minimum training time of two years.
https://www.communitymusicschool.org/ ~ 831-471-5184 ~ info@communitymusicschool.org ~ P.O. Box 531, Santa Cruz, CA 95061
