Finding Fresh Air Rhythm: How Music Education Thrives at Camp   

Every summer, campers have the opportunity to develop new interests and skills, including how to play new instruments! From guitars to keyboards to drums, music education continues to thrive at each of The Fresh Air Fund’s six sleepaway camps. As October celebrates International Music Day and Kids Music Day, we encourage you to tune in and learn more about music education at camp! 

Strumming Guitar with ASCAP 

Since 1999, The Fresh Air Fund has partnered with The ASCAP Foundation to provide New York City children with engaging guitar lessons. As ASCAP’s mission is to “nurture the music talent of tomorrow,” every camper learns music literacy. 

“My favorite part of camp are the guitar lessons because I get to experiment with new instruments,” shares Chen, 10, a camper at Camp Hidden Valley. 

On most sunny days, campers can be seen practicing guitar on the meadow at Camp ABC with musician and instructor Tom Simmons.  Tom encourages campers to learn at their own pace.  “Music is therapeutic,” shares Tom. “Knowing that they can learn to play the guitar will help them know that they can accomplish other things. I hope they feel empowered.”  

Perfecting Piano 

Beyond gaining guitar skills, some of our campers also experiment with other instruments such as the piano. Our trained music specialists ensure that campers gain an understanding of technique, regardless of their starting level. 

“I really like the piano and look forward to trying out more new things I haven’t already,” shares Aviva, 12, a camper at Camp Mariah.  

For Jack, a 14-year-old camper at Camp Tommy, he enjoys attending piano class because it allows him to continue practicing his music skills such as learning to read sheet music, notes, chords and more. 

Discovering the Art of Drumming 

Through engaging drum lessons, campers master rhythms while learning more about percussion instruments. Every class, they explore new drumming techniques and even create their own beats. 

“I really enjoyed the music class and liked the drumming the instructor taught us. I had never played an instrument before, so it was something new I learned. I found it very fascinating,” shares Egypt, 14, a camper at Camp ABC. 

By participating in these classes, campers learn how to play an instrument and also develop the skills to create their own music.  

Showcasing Fresh Air Talent 

With all this musical talent, each camp hosts talent shows to celebrate the campers’ creativity. Above all, this outlet encourages collaboration and confidence for campers to perform in front of their peers. 

“I sang a song from Moana! When we finished the show, we just played some music and started dancing. It was just really nice,” shares Stanley, 15, a camper at Camp Junior.   

Kayla Paulino, Director of Camp Junior, shares, “I really appreciated our ASCAP instructor, Tore. He was great with the kids and even stayed for our camp talent show.”  

By providing nearly 1,900 campers with music lessons this summer, New York City children are introduced to diverse genres that can spark their passion to pursue music beyond camp.  

Read more about our partnership with ASCAP and the power of music here!