Why Your Studio Should Offer Summer Music Camps
I live for summer. After the long, LONG winters where I live, when summer comes I finally feel warm for the first time since September. I always look forward to sunshine, color, and a change from the rigid schedule of the school year to something more relaxed.
My studio, (and my pocketbook!) however, don’t always love summer. Students travel or just want to take some time off. Enrollment with my private students and even classes can go way down, and I never know what will happen to my studio numbers.
Enter- summer music camp. I love changing gears and offering music, drama, and creativity camps over the summer!
Here are my top five reasons you should consider offering a summer music camp through your studio.
Meet New Potential Students
There are so many music-loving potential students who probably have no idea you or your studio even exist! I live in a small-ish rural community, and even with being an established teacher and musician in my area, there are so many people I don’t know and who don’t have any idea who I am or what I do.
When I offer summer music camps, it gives potential students a chance to work with me for a short period of time during their time off from school when they (sometimes) are less busy with other activities. We can start to build a relationship, and they get a taste of my teaching style and what a class, lesson, or coaching with me would be like. I often get a number of new clients for the next school year after my summer camps end.
A Chance To Offer Something New and Different
Summer camps will give you a chance to offer something completely different to students. You can do challenges, short productions, ensemble work, and even STEAM projects that you wouldn’t be able to during your regular lesson or studio class time.
In my area, younger students who love to perform don’t often get the chance to be on stage unless they are cast in a high school production. Students who don’t take dance lessons don’t often get a chance to work with a choreographer. Almost none of my students get any acting instruction outside of what we are able to do quickly during a lesson.
Each summer I direct a music camp that is mostly focused on Musical Theatre music. It gives me an opportunity to focus on music that I wouldn’t normally get to work on with students. We work on large group pieces, as well as creating set and costume pieces.
The sky is really the limit! Get creative!
Which also leads me to…
Collaborate With Other Area Teachers
Putting together a summer camp is a lot. It can get overwhelming trying to do everything yourself. It’s completely doable, but it’s a really great opportunity to collaborate with other area teachers!
As you’re starting to put together your initial camp plans, check with other area teachers who you think might be interested in working with you. You can offer multiple new experiences for your campers this way and create stronger relationships with other area teachers. Win-win!
You’ll have help throughout the day, and you probably will learn something from them too! I have learned so much by working with other teachers in my area that I can implement into my own teaching.
New Opportunities For Your Community
Maybe you live in a city where there are lots of opportunities in the performing arts (lucky you!). I don’t. A lot of the performing arts opportunities in my area are geared towards older kids or those who can afford private lessons or out of town/state camps.
Regardless of where you live, offering a music camp is a great way to enrich your community with what only YOU can offer, because you’re you!
Your teaching style may be just what someone needs. Your plans and materials may be the perfect fit for your students. Your smaller-scale pricing may be the only accessible opportunity for someone who would love to get involved, but hasn’t been able to make it work yet. Whatever it is, you have something to offer. Share it with your community!
Last, but CERTAINLY not least…
Boost Your Profits And Maximize Your Time
Like I said before- summer can get SLIM. So many students don’t have time for a lesson between their summer job and sports, or their parents don’t want to run them to lessons during the summer, or they are burned out and just need a break. All valid! But rough on the studio teacher’s budget!
Camps are the answer! Not a long commitment for students. But long enough that parents can actually run out and get something done while you are working with their children. You maximize the number of students you can see at once. Profits go up, and your summer isn’t quite as scary financially as it once was.
Obviously it’s not a get-rich-quick scheme. It does take a few years to build up your reputation and to spread the word. But it’s definitely a great way to kickstart your summer and condense a lot into a short amount of time.
There you have it. Love the idea but overwhelmed? Check out my FREE Summer Camp Planning ebook here:
