Songwriting Day Camp

Want to sing something new but don't know how? Songwriting can be a great way to speak your truth, empower yourself and others and get your own unique voice heard!

This 5-day music camp will focus on creating original melodies, chord progressions, lyric-writing basics and arranging. Each camper will leave at week’s end with an original song of their own. Creating original music is powerful!

DATES: June 16-20 with a showcase on Friday, June 20 at 2pm

TIMES: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, M-F (bring a bag lunch)

LOCATION: Blue Tree Music Education Annex

INSTRUCTOR: Jennifer Markey

AGES/EXPERIENCE: Grades 6-12. Must have 2+ years experience on their instrument

COST: $220/camper for Blue Tree Members; $235/camper for non-Blue Tree members

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: May 19, 2025

Beginning Guitar for Kids Camp

Have you ever wanted to learn guitar? In this camp, you’ll learn all the basics you need to kickstart your guitar-playing passion. The camp will focus on learning all the fundamentals needed to play songs on guitar, and at the end of the week we’ll perform songs as a group.

DATES: June 23-27 with a showcase on Friday, June 27 at 2pm

TIMES: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, M-F (bring a bag lunch)

LOCATION: Blue Tree Music Education Annex

INSTRUCTOR: Jackson Catton

AGES/EXPERIENCE: Ages 10-15. No experience required, but prior musical knowledge is encouraged.

COST: $220/camper for Blue Tree Members; $235/camper for non-Blue Tree members

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: May 19, 2025

Summer Choral Camp

Are you HUNGRY to make some music this summer? Come join us for our Summer Choral Camp where our theme this year is all about FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD! Whether you love “On Top of Spaghetti” or “Lasagna” or you like to make phone calls on your “Banana Phone” or love it when “It’s Raining Tacos” - this is the camp for you! Come chow down on some delicious music with us. This camp is perfect for anyone who loves to sing and learn some basic choreography. Come join us! And our stage costumes will be fun!

DATES: July 7-11 with a showcase on Friday, July 11 at 2pm

TIMES: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, M-F (bring a bag lunch)

LOCATION: Blue Tree Music Education Annex

INSTRUCTOR: Kay Jay Olson & Rebecca Smith + Junior Counselors

AGES/EXPERIENCE: Grades K-5. No experience required!

COST: $225/camper for Blue Tree Members; $240/camper for non-Blue Tree members

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: June 16, 2025

Garageband for Kids Camp

Get inside and beat the July summer heat while having fun in the studio! Learn how to record and produce your own music in the Garageband app for iOS! Whether you’re looking to produce beats, craft pop bangers, or record your instrument, you’ll learn all the fundamentals, and leave at the end of the week with your own fully-produced track.

DATES: July 14-18 with a showcase on Friday, July 18th at 2pm

TIMES: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, M-F (bring a bag lunch)

LOCATION: Blue Tree Music Education Annex

INSTRUCTOR: Jackson Catton

AGES/EXPERIENCE: Ages 9-15. No experience required, though some prior musical knowledge is encouraged.

COST: $220/camper for Blue Tree Members; $235/camper for non-Blue Tree members

Create Your Own Musical Camp

Do you love musicals? Ever wondered what goes into writing one? Join other theatre lovers and a local Twin Cities theatre professional and see for yourself! Through exercises and games for vocal projection, storytelling, artistic expression and so much more, participants will write and perform their own musical - all in one week! From cultivating a story to creating characters and music, the work will come to life. The camp closes out with a final performance on stage!

DATES: July 21-25 with a showcase on Friday, June 25 at 2pm

TIMES: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, M-F (bring a bag lunch)

LOCATION: Blue Tree Music Education Annex

INSTRUCTOR: Kay Jay Olson & Chris Carlton (Junior Counselor)

AGES/EXPERIENCE: Ages 8 and up. No experience required!

COST: $225/camper for Blue Tree Members; $240/camper for non-Blue Tree members

Taylor Swift Camp

Back by popular demand!

Are you a “Swiftie?”

Join us this summer (and bring friends!) to learn and perform Taylor Swift hits in a group setting! For all Taylor fans from 3rd grade on up. Camp ends with a final performance at the Blue Tree Annex!

DATES: August 4-8 with a showcase on Friday, August 8th at 2pm

TIMES: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, M-F (bring a bag lunch)

LOCATION: Blue Tree Music Education Annex

INSTRUCTORS: Darren Jackson + Junior Counselors

AGES/EXPERIENCE: 3rd grade and up; no experience required

COST: $250/camper for Blue Tree Members; $265/camper for non-Blue Tree members

Orchestra Camp

Elevate Your Summer with Music!

Calling all young musicians! Join us for an enriching and exciting two-week Middle Level Orchestra Camp. Students will develop their playing skills with a variety of styles of music played in small and large groups. Students participating in this camp will refresh their skills before starting the school year, as well as develop lasting friendships with their peers. We’ll take a field trip on the first Friday exploring our musical community. Students will have a variety of performance opportunities culminating in a group performance on the final Friday.

DATES: August 11th - 22nd, 2025 (2 weeks)

TIMES: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, M-F

LOCATION: Blue Tree Annex

INSTRUCTOR: Ken Schuster

AGES/EXPERIENCE: Middle School-entering or enrolled. Older students may apply and be considered for leadership positions. While at least 1 year of private lessons is recommended, younger students of all levels may apply. Please contact Blue Tree with additional questions.

COST: $310/camper for Blue Tree members; $335/camper for non-Blue Tree Members

SCHEDULE:
Monday - Thursday:
Rehearsals and sectionals led by Blue Tree faculty.
Friday, August 15th: Exciting field trip (details to be announced!).
Friday, August 22st: Showcase your musical journey in the final camp performance!

Open to: Middle school string players (violin, viola, cello, and bass) of all experience levels!