Spring has finally arrived – and summer won’t be too far behind it! Yes, that’s right, it’s time to start thinking about signing the kids up for some kind of summer activity – maybe their first in a couple of years. The options are endless. Princess camps, sports camps, adventure camps, space camps. Well, this week we’re going to talk about a particular sort of summer camp that is near and dear to our hearts. That’s right, in case you couldn’t guess, we’re going to talk about the benefits of sending your child to a summer music camp.

Bet you didn’t see that one coming.

So, without further ado, let’s dive into 5 benefits your children can reap from summer music camp.

Summer Music Camp Benefits

Physical & Mental Exercise

The three months off over the summer can have a surprisingly negative impact on a young student’s scholastic life. Many studies have shown that kids who are not involved in summer activities are in  danger of falling behind. Camp means a chance to run, play, think, and experience, all away from the couch and all those electronic screens. Something especially important after years of virtual learning and social distancing.

Of course, the physical portion of summer camp is pretty universal, but music camp has an ace up its sleeve.

Not only do children get the fun of playing outside on a beautiful summer day, but they also get to play fun and interesting music, effectively exercising their brains too. Early musical training has been shown to help the areas of the brain involved in language and reasoning develop faster and more fully.

In contrast, sport camps offer a lot of physical activity and a lot of thinking, but all in relation to the sport they’re playing. Space and science camps also offer their fair share of physical activity, and no one can deny they feed the mind. But this kind of learning and thinking, while important, can’t compare to the brain development and benefits of music.

Builds Creativity

Summer music camps offer a creative and fun atmosphere for children to explore and enjoy. As with most summer camps, children will try new things, make friends, and have fun. But, once again, music can take things one step further!

The act of making music is a very creative process; one in which children learn how notes come together to create measures, and measures come together to make songs. Students learn the difference between good and mediocre writing and performance, and are encouraged to apply those lessons to themselves. Music helps teach kids to think creatively, encouraging them to solve problems by thinking about every possibility, imagining several solutions, and throwing out old rules and ideas that no longer work. With music there isn’t necessarily one “correct” way to do something; an important lesson that can be applied to most other areas life.

Creating music is also a very collaborative act as well, and kids at camp learn to be a part of the whole and to create something beautiful together.

Improves Social Skills

And as it turns out, that whole collaboration thing is pretty important later in life. Most summer camps offer the opportunity to make new friends, to be part of a team, and to accomplish things together. But making music as a group is truly something special.

Music hones both teamwork skills and mental discipline. If the band is going to sound good, everyone must work together harmoniously towards a single goal: the performance. Everyone must promise to learn the music, practice, and have the best performance they can. They learn to accept constructive criticism from the band leader, as well as each other, without taking it personally.

What’s more, music tends to have an unexpected effect on some grander social issues as well. Specifically, music impacts how children perceive and talk about other cultures. Music gives a unique glimpse into all kinds of ways of life different from our own, and children who study music early are introduced to these cultures in an exciting and engaging way. Children learn to empathize with others, fostering the development of compassion and empathy. Classroom studies suggest music’s introduction to other cultures helps children bridge cultural gaps with ease, leading to respect for all peoples at an early age.

Self-Esteem & Self-Expression

All summer camps advertise that they help children build self-esteem. And they are all telling the truth. There’s no big secret to helping children with their self-esteem over the summer: Add children their own age, an activity everyone can excel at, throw in a dash of fun, and shake vigorously.

Building self-esteem through sport comes from both individual skill as well as working with your team towards the same goal (pun intended) – to win the game. On the other hand, science or academic camps try to build self-esteem through knowledge and discovery. Music, however, is a little different.

In fact, music camp combines all of these aspects into one magical activity. Children work hard to learn their part, so they can be part of the whole, while also learning the foundations of creating music and discovering passion within themselves. It does all this through self-expression, something other summer camps don’t always focus on. Music is, of course, a powerful force of expression, often helping us to get our emotions out when words just won’t do.

Exposes Children to Magic

There simply isn’t any other way to describe the creation of music. It’s truly one of the few forms of magic left in the world.

And speaking of music summer camps, The Music Studio offers a variety of camps for kids of all ages. At the Creative Arts Camp children 4-6 will explore their creativity though arts and crafts, dance, outdoor activities, and of course, music! The Musical Theatre Camp is open to children ages 8 to 16, and features singing, dancing, acting, scene study, and a performance on the final day! Lastly, Rock Band Camp is exactly what it sounds like, featuring songs like “Rolling in the Deep” and “Wish You Were Here.” for more information, visit TheMusicStudio.ca