Orchestra |
Chamber Ensembles |
Aural Skills |
Advanced |
Masterclasses |
Choir |
Private Lessons |
Devotions |
Orchestra
Each track (excluding Twinkle) has individual orchestra rehearsals daily. The students develop skills of listening, following a conductor, playing within a section, and creating a unified musical piece for the audience to enjoy. They will also receive coaching in sectionals.
Chamber Ensembles
The Gamma and Delta students will be involved in a chamber ensemble at camp. These are typically string quartets, but the ensemble may consist of anywhere from 3-6 people. This gives students the opportunity to hold their own part, work with a coach, and create music in a more in-depth setting.
Aural Skills Class
When Aural Skills Classes are offered, Beta, Gamma, and Delta students take an Aural Skills test to place them in the appropriate level. The Aural Skills classes are designed to teach listening and theory skills mostly away from the instrument. This includes different aspects like the study of musical intervals, rhythm counting and dictation, solfege, note names and values, understanding musical phrasing, and much more.
Advanced Tracks
For OCMS 2025, here are the two classes being offered.
Practical Music Theory
Practice putting music theory into action. Work on intervals, rhythm, clef reading, key signatures and more. Learn how these skills apply to performing chamber and orchestral music, composing, and conducting.
Music Analysis: How to Understand Music
Learn the structure of music so you can be a better musician and enjoy listening to music as you understand it better. Students will listen to musical works and see how the composer uses different musical ideas throughout the piece.
Practice Skills
Learn techniques and methods for how to effectively practice and thoroughly prepare for performance, and how to be a strong musician in an ensemble setting.
One of the classes offered at String Camp in past years, conducting is also a fun way to learn a skill that may be used in the future, but that also enhances your ability to follow a conductor as an orchestra member.
Practical Music Theory
Practice putting music theory into action. Work on intervals, rhythm, clef reading, key signatures and more. Learn how these skills apply to performing chamber and orchestral music, composing, and conducting.
Music Analysis: How to Understand Music
Learn the structure of music so you can be a better musician and enjoy listening to music as you understand it better. Students will listen to musical works and see how the composer uses different musical ideas throughout the piece.
Practice Skills
Learn techniques and methods for how to effectively practice and thoroughly prepare for performance, and how to be a strong musician in an ensemble setting.
One of the classes offered at String Camp in past years, conducting is also a fun way to learn a skill that may be used in the future, but that also enhances your ability to follow a conductor as an orchestra member.
Masterclasses
We invite high level classical musicians to come in and give masterclasses to the students.
A masterclass gives the student an opportunity to perform and receive advice in front of an audience.
Students will be able to audition for a slot in the masterclass during their camp audition.
Guest clinicians in the past have been Kimberley Kaloyanides Kennedy, Associate Concertmaster in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and Sonia Lee, a Detroit area professional violinist and teacher.
A masterclass gives the student an opportunity to perform and receive advice in front of an audience.
Students will be able to audition for a slot in the masterclass during their camp audition.
Guest clinicians in the past have been Kimberley Kaloyanides Kennedy, Associate Concertmaster in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and Sonia Lee, a Detroit area professional violinist and teacher.
Choir
Singing and knowing how to sing is key to being a good musician! Beta, Gamma, and Delta students may be involved in choir, which not only provides a break from the intense day of playing their instruments, but also gives the students more body awareness. Singing in the choir together gives the students a view of another facet in music - communicating a message through lyrics. Since God commands us to sing praise to Him, students can grow in their understanding of this important skill.
Private Lessons
The Beta, Gamma and Delta students will have a private lesson during the week. We follow a master class type of form, but in a small setting, such as a teacher and three students in a room. The student may bring their camp music to the lesson, or perhaps solo repertoire they have been recently studying with their year-round private teacher. This is a chance for the staff to more personally invest in the students, giving them specific pointers for musicality.
Devotions
Devotions are a key point of every day at String Camp. We invite camp faculty or outside guests to share God's word and lead the students in singing hymns and memorizing Scripture. Music is created by God, and we want to acknowledge Him as its author, bringing spiritual truth, encouragement, and refreshment to the students.
