Week-long Summer Camps, Ages 4-17
Hums, Drums & Strums. Sound Funs?
Click Above To Watch Informational Video
Click Above To Watch Informational Video
Merriam School of Music has been offering summer camps for over 30 years, and we know exactly what makes an awesome camp experience. Select from dozens of different camps which let your children musically ‘make-believe’, explore new instruments, explore new technologies, meet new friends, put on musicals, and above all: have fun.
Non-Member Price: $310
Member Price: $279
After Lesson Credit: $25
Non-Member Price: $360
Member Price: $324
After Lesson Credit: $75
Non-Member Price: $360
Member Price: $324
After Lesson Credit: $75
Non-Member Price: $700
Member Price: $630
After Lesson Credit: $400
*Including Civic Monday
Ages 4-5 – NO Experience Required
OAKVILLE ONLY
These one-week long full day camps are a fun introduction to music for your young ones! Campers will spend their time singing, and playing hand-held percussion instruments, movement activities and musical stories that help children connect with early music learning. Each camper will receive their own set of instruments for the week to reduce contact among shared items. Campers will also participate in a daily arts and crafts period creating crafts that tie in to the theme of the week. Team building activities are encouraged to promote friendship and fun. There will typically be 1/2 hour of outdoor play per day on-site, weather permitting. All musical numbers will be performed at the end of the week in a creative performance for friends and family! Sign up for multiple weeks to participate in different productions!
Ages 4-5 (Must be 4 years old by the start of their camp week)
Campers must be potty trained.
No performance experience required.
Dates
July 10-14 Safari Adventure
July 17-21 Safari Adventure
July 24-28 Colour Me Crazy *5 spots left!*
July 31-August 4 Colour Me Crazy
August 7-11* Around The World
August 14-18 Around The World *2 spots left!*
August 21-25 Superhero Party *FULL*
*Including Civic Monday
Ages 6-8 – NO Experience Required
OAKVILLE ONLY
These one-week long camps are a fun introduction to musical theatre for kids! Campers will work together to put on a musical play by the end of the week! They choose their own roles, memorize songs, spoken lines, dance steps and scenes. Campers will also create props and theme related crafts. Team-building activities are encouraged to promote friendship and fun. There will typically be 1 hour of outdoor play per day, weather permitting. Sign up for multiple weeks to participate in different productions!
Ages 6-8
No performance experience required.
Ages 9-12 – NO Experience Required
OAKVILLE ONLY
Ready to sharpen your skills as a music theatre performer? All set to let your creativity soar? Excited to sing, dance and act on stage? The Sing, Dance & Perform Camp allows campers to explore the music, acting, and dancing required performing a production at the end of the week. Activities include writing and directing your own scenes, learning and choreographing dances, singing as an ensemble and soloist, mime, improvisation and creating props, sets and costumes.
Ages 9-12 years
No performance experience required
Dates July 17-21 *4 spots left* *Including Civic Monday Ages 7-12 – No Prerequisites Always wanted to learn how to play the ukulele? Join us for Beginner Ukulele Camp! Learn all about the ukulele and the basic skills for playing your first few songs. Campers will learn the basic chords used in many ukulele songs and they’ll learn how to play popular melodies. The final show at the end of the week will include a few ensemble songs and campers have the opportunity to perform their own solos or small group pop songs. Already tried our ukulele camp previously? Register anyways and be placed in a group of more experienced campers to learn more challenging songs. Age 7-12 Dates July 24-28 Ages 8-14 – No Prerequisites Want to try out the guitar? Come join us for a week of beginner guitar! Campers will focus on the basics of note reading and guitar technique, as well as playing guitar as an ensemble with their first few songs. Team building activities are encouraged to promote friendship and fun. There will typically be 1 hour of outdoor play per day, weather permitting. Show off your progress at the final performance at the end of the week! Already tried our guitar camp last summer? Register anyways and be placed in a group of more experienced campers to learn more challenging songs. Ages 8-14 Dates July 24-28 *5 spots left!* Ages 8-14 – No Prerequisites This camp is designed for students interested in learning how to play percussion instruments! Campers will have the opportunity to develop their sticking technique and be exposed to percussion playing in an ensemble format. Campers will sample playing on the snare drum, cymbals, a variety of drums, cow bells and more! Hone your technical skills while having fun learning new styles of music with others your age. Team building activities are encouraged to promote friendship and fun. Share the YouTube livestream link with family and friends to see you in action at the end-of-the-week performance! Already tried our percussion camp previously? Register again to learn more challenging rhythms and technique. Ages 8-12 Ages 12-16 – 2 YEARS EXPERIENCE REQUIRED Get ready to perform in your very own Rock Band! Campers learn how to perform songs in the styles of rock, pop, and funk. Team building activities are encouraged to promote friendship and fun. There will typically be 1 hour of outdoor play per day, weather permitting. Campers will work toward a final performance Friday afternoons so be sure to invite family and friends to watch you perform in a band! Ages 11-15 Open to Guitar (electric,) Bass Guitar, Keyboard, Drums and Voice (limited spaces available on each instrument) 2 years minimum of instruction on your chosen instrument Dates July 17-21 Pop Piano *1 spot left* *Including Civic Monday Ages 8-14 – Junior 3+, or 1 year of private instruction Come join our piano camps! Campers will learn how to play piano in an ensemble setting, learning group songs and a solo. In addition, campers will also take part in activities designed to enhance their enjoyment and interaction with one another in a musical setting. Campers will showcase their songs at the end of the week in an exciting final performance on Friday afternoons! Register for multiple weeks to experience different themes. Prerequisites Ages 8-14
Instrumental Camps
July 31-August 4 *FULL*
August 7-11*
August 21-25
OAKVILLE ONLYBeginner Ukulele Camp
No experience required
Campers are required to provide their own ukulele (purchase in advance)
Ukulele picks are highly recommended
July 31-August 4 *2 spots left!*
August 14-18
August 21-25
OAKVILLE ONLYBeginner Guitar Camp
No experience required
Camper must provide their own guitar (rent or purchase)
Guitar picks are also highly recommended.
July 31-August 4
August 21-25
OAKVILLE ONLYBeginner Percussion Camp
No experience required
Drumsticks and ear plugs requiredDates
JULY 10-14 *Guitar FULL* | Vocalists & percussion needed
JULY 17-21 *1 Guitar spot left* | Percussion FULL | Pianists FULL | Vocalists needed
AUGUST 14-18 *Percussion FULL* | Vocalists & Pianists needed
OAKVILLE ONLYRock Band Camp
July 24-28 Beatlemania Piano *1 spot left*
August 7-11* Jazz & Blues Piano *5 spots left*
August 21-25 Movie Magic Piano *FULL*
OAKVILLE ONLYPIANO CAMP
Keyfest Junior 3+ or has completed 1 year of private instruction
(Must know how to read music fluently on the grand staff and play hands together)
Ages 11-18, no experience required Campers in this one week intensive will explore the building blocks of musical theatre, including scene studies, character work, and standard musical theatre choreography. The week will culminate in a showcase at the end of the week, with ensemble and featured roles for all participants. This year’s showcase theme will be “Modern Broadway”, with performances from Dear Evan Hansen, Six: The Musical, Hamilton, and more!
MUSICAL THEATRE
Dates
July 21-28 2023
OAKVILLE ONLY“Broadway Bootcamp”
Ages 12-16 – 1 YEAR INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE REQUIRED Learn the fundamentals of digital music production inside of Merriam’s professional music studio! Discover the endless possibilities of digital music production and learn professional tools to produce your own music in Ableton Live. Harness the power of MIDI to control and sequence virtual instruments, arrange drum beats, chord progressions, bass lines and melodies. Learn beat making techniques for contemporary music genres like pop, hip hop and edm. Explore new ways to use music and sound in a film trailer scoring project. Discover the art of mixing and craft your personal projects into streamable hit songs! Age: 12-16 – Minimum 1 Year Instrument Experience. Participants must bring their own laptop computer (running up to date version of Windows or Mac Operating Systems). Participants will be supplied with headphones, MIDI keyboards, and other essential audio equipment for the duration of the camp.
PRODUCTION / BEAT MAKING CAMP
Dates
JULY 24-28
AUGUST 14-18 *2 spots left*Music Production & Beat Making Camp
We are implementing the following changes for the summer of 2023:
This year’s camps have returned to regular start and finish times. There is no afternoon extended care offered this year.
8:00am to 9:00am |
Morning Extended Care |
9:00am |
Sign In |
Morning |
Camp specific activities (rehearsals, Studio A, Crafts, Outdoor time) |
12:00pm to 1:00pm |
Lunch and Movie |
Afternoon |
Camp specific activities (rehearsals, Studio A, Crafts, Outdoor time) |
4:30pm |
Sign Out |
In General:
Camp Specific Needs:
Guitar camps
– Acoustic guitar and guitar picks
Percussion camps
– Drum sticks and ear plugs
Rock Band Camps
– Electric bass or electric/acoustic guitar
Ukulele camps
– Ukulele and picks
Note: These instruments and materials must be purchased or rented before the start of camp. Our bookstore is currently only open online therefore purchases need to be made in advance.
Your child is in a caring and safe environment. We guarantee the safe supervision of your child by having a 1:8 ratio between staff to camper. Our high school volunteers are not included in our ratios and offer extra supervision. Campers will use a ‘buddy system’ for washroom breaks with a staff or volunteer. Campers are supervised at all times during camp hours.
For this summer, we will return to our full capacity limits.
Our camp staff are carefully selected based on their experience, skills, enthusiasm and ability to work with children. All camp staff participate in a mandatory, pre-camp training program covering topics such as leadership, motivation, teamwork, feedback, policies and procedures as well as specifics about camp programs and management expectations.
All of our camp staff are certified in Standard First Aid and CPR C and have a clear Criminal and Vulnerable Sector Check. Our high school volunteers must complete an interview with the camp director and attend the mandatory pre-camp training.
All our camps will be eating their snacks and lunch outdoors this summer, weather permitting.
Our camps take an outdoor break mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Mini Music campers play in the grass area behind the school while the older children walk with the camp staff to Thorn Lodge Public School to play in their park. In the case of extreme hot weather, precautions will be taken to keep campers hydrated and in cool or air-conditions areas where possible. On rainy or smog alert days, we will minimize outdoor time as necessary.
Sign-in Procedures
Monday morning sign-in: All campers will be signed in in their camp homerooms. The room schedule will be posted at the front doors. Parents/guardians must accompany their child inside the building.
For safety reasons all campers must be signed in and signed out by a parent/guardian or authorized pick-up person only. The parent/guardian may provide written consent for their child to sign themselves in and out. Please note that the parent/guardian or authorized pick-up person will be asked for ID upon pick up each day.
Late Arrivals
It is important that campers arrive each day by their designated times as programming begins right away. Should you arrive later than your designated start time, you must report to the front desk.
Early Departures
Should you need to pick up your child early please inform your child’s camp leader during morning drop-off. Otherwise, you can contact the front desk at 905-829-2020 after 10:00am daily and they can inform the camp leader on your behalf.
Sign-out Procedures
All campers must be signed out from their camp homeroom by their parent/guardian/authorized pick-up person. Please be on time as late fees will be enforced. As always, photo ID must be presented by those authorized to pick up campers each day.
8:00am |
Morning Extended Care *prepaid |
9:00am to 9:15am |
Sign In |
Morning |
Camp specific activities (rehearsals, Studio A, Crafts, Outdoor time) |
12:00pm to 1:00pm |
Lunch and Movie |
Afternoon |
Camp specific activities (rehearsals, Studio A, Crafts, Outdoor time) |
4:30pm |
Sign Out |
All camps culminate in a final performance every Friday afternoon between 1:00pm to 5:00pm. Your child’s specific camp performance time will be indicated in your confirmation email.
All camp performances this year will be live streamed via YouTube. You will receive the live stream link in the camp reminder email. Limited capacity seating will be available in Studio A.
Purchase a professional quality video of your child’s camp performance for an additional fee of $50.00. Merriam School of Music students will have their camp performances included in the following year’s video log (must be an active student at the time of distribution).
NOTE: The 2-week musical theatre camp will have their performance on the final Friday night at 7:00pm offsite. It will not be live streamed and campers must purchase tickets for their guests ahead of time.
If your child is going to be absent, please inform us by emailing the camp director at summer@merriammusic.com or by calling the school at 905-829-2020. No refunds will be given for days when a camper is absent and missed days cannot be made up. For last minute absences from the camp due to medical reasons before the camp starts may be considered with a doctor’s note. Once the camp starts there are no refunds.
A refund for the days missed will be considered for any campers with proof of a COVID test with the date indicated.
A full refund will be granted before May 31st, 2023 with no penalty. Starting June 1st, 2023 a percentage of your registration fee will be refunded if you wish to withdraw from camp:
For last-minute absences from the camp due to medical reasons before the camp starts can be considered with a doctor’s note. Once the camp starts there are no refunds.
A refund for the days missed will be considered for any campers with proof of a COVID test with the date indicated.
All withdrawal and refund requests must be received in writing.
Merriam Music reserves the right to un-register a camper if he or she is deemed to be incompatible with the program. Please see the ‘Discipline’ section for further details.
Merriam Music reserves the right to cancel or combine individual camps if minimum registration is not achieved. A full refund will be issued in the event of a cancellation due to low enrollment.
To make any changes with your original registration, please email us at summer@merriammusic.com and inform us of the changes you require. All changes are subject to availability. If you wish to add additional weeks to your registration, please go to members.merriammusic.com to register for the additional camp(s).
If your child requires any prescription medications (including Asthma Inhalers) or carries an Epi-Pen, please fill out the Medical Information section on the registration form. All prescription medications must be presented to the camp staff at morning sign in. Prescription medications must be in the original pharmacy bottle, labelled with the patient’s name and the physicians ordered dose on the bottle (e.g. pills in Ziploc bags are not accepted). Non prescription/over-the-counter medication, including vitamins and herbal supplements, will not be permitted.
Asthma Inhalers and Epi-Pens will be carried by your child. If you wish to discuss your child’s medications or medical conditions in advance, please contact the Summer Camp Coordinator. Camp staff are not permitted to administer any medication except for Epi-Pen and/or inhalers with permission from the parent.
Merriam Music Inc. reserves the right to decide whether the camper should continue in the program or not when he/she is under any medical condition or special care needs. The decision will be made based on the available staff resources. You will be notified for any further arrangement.
If your child is injured, you will be contacted following notification of the appropriate emergency personnel. Camp staff will administer first aid and complete an incident report. In the event that neither the parents nor the emergency contact can be reached, the camp staff and supervisors will make decisions regarding further medical care, including admission to the hospital and necessary treatment. A waiver form was included in your confirmation email to allow the Camp Director or Camp Staff to authorize all procedures (including admission to the hospital and necessary treatment) in the event of an emergency. All of our camp staff are CPR and First Aid trained.
If your child should become ill while at camp, you will be notified. We will ask you to pick up your child if they show one or more symptoms compatible with COVD-19 (e.g. fever, cough, difficulty breathing, etc.). For the well-being of everyone, we ask that campers stay home if they are not well.
At Merriam Music, we are very concerned about food and other allergies that affect our campers and staff, particularly where exposure to certain foods can be life threatening. Please inform the camp staff of your child’s allergies and/or dietary restrictions upon registration.
Please note that the school has a ‘NO NUTS’ policy in effect.
Please remember to pack lunches and snacks that will not spoil and a refillable water bottle as campers will be outdoors and active throughout the day. Please remind your child that they are not to share any food with other campers. Adult supervision is provided for all campers over the lunch period and during breaks.
All campers may enjoy their snacks and lunches outdoors, weather permitting.
During the 2nd half of their lunch break the campers have the opportunity to enjoy a movie on our large screen in Studio A. It’s just like being in the theatre!
NEW: Pizza Lunch
This option is available Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays only.
Options: 2 slices of either cheese or pepperoni pizza for $5.50/day.
OR
Subway sandwich lunch option is also available Tuesdays or Thursdays only.
Options: 6 inch sub = $7.50, 12 inch sub = $10.50
*Gluten-free options available. All lunch options must be pre-paid upon registration.
Our camp is NUT-FREE.
There are children attending our programs with nut allergies so please do not pack nut products. If nut products are brought they will be discarded immediately!
Campers are asked to leave all valuables at home as Merriam Music will not be responsible for any lost or stolen items while at camp . Please label all clothing and belongings. Any items unclaimed by the end of the summer will be donated to charity.
Campers MUST leave the following items at home for safekeeping: Video games/electronics, money, toys from home, and anything you value and do not want others to use or get lost.
For the safety of all our campers, the camp offers a low camper to staff ratio. All camp staff are required to wear their camp ID badges for easy identification. All of our camp staff are trained in First Aid and CPR C. All camp rooms are locked when not in use.
Behaviour Guidelines
It is the goal of Merriam Music to provide a healthy, safe, secure and respectful environment for all campers and staff. All campers are expected to follow the behaviour guidelines and interact appropriately in a group setting. Please review the following Behaviour Guidelines and Program Rules with your child(ren). Your co-operation is greatly appreciated and will help provide a safe, fun, and respectful environment for all campers and staff.
Camp Behaviour Guidelines and Program Rules
● Campers are expected to participate in all camp activities, follow the directions of the camp staff and stay with their camp group at all times.
● Campers must be respectful, honest and considerate of other campers, staff, volunteers and guests.
● Campers must be respectful of Merriam School of Music property, property of other campers, staff or guests.If a child does not follow the behaviour guidelines, the camp staff will take the following steps:
The following are zero tolerance behaviour and will result in the immediate suspension from the camp program with no refund:
➔ Using profanity, vulgarity, obscenity or acting in a lewd manner.
➔ Use of alcohol or drugs.
➔ Verbal or physical abuse of other participants or staff.
➔ Stealing or damaging Merriam Music property or personal property of other campers or staff.
If you have any questions or concerns and would like to email the camp coordinator, feel free to do so at: summer@merriammusic.com
If you have an emergency and need to contact your child during the camp, call the front desk at:
(905) 829-2020 DIAL 0