Music Camp in the Hamptons, Unique Approach to Learning • Rock Camp

Students in our summer music program in Bridgehampton, Rock Camp, close to South Hampton, Sag Harbor, and East Hampton, learn music with an approach we have used for years with great success. It boils down to this.

The song comes first, and technique and theory then follow.

This means whether you are a beginner or an advanced student, within the first five minutes of class you are playing a tune with your fellow musicians. By the middle of the lesson after you are playing, we then take the time to learn about technique and theory (scales, chords, harmony, reading, and more).

We find this approach resonates with students because after one is inspired, you have the desire, curiosity, and focus to then dig deep and learn more about your instrument. If we were to use the metaphor of riding a bike, we want you cycling away right away and then we later learn how the gears and the mechanics of it all work.

Once a student is inspired by that initial spark, the rest falls into place!

Summer 2024 Dates

Wherever your passion lies in the arts - music, art, ceramics, dance, theater, culinary - we have an amazing experience waiting for you this summer! Here are our dates down below. See you soon, an d if you have any questions, just give us a ring at (908) 230-6079

Bridgehampton, NY

That's a Wrap, Summer 2023

Yesterday was the last day of our summer camps and classes for students of all ages, including our adult classes, in music, art, ceramics, theater, and dance. So proud of how every single student explored their chosen art form in such a deep, thoughtful, and collaborative way. Everyone worked together as a team to reach a new level and it was a whole lot of fun along the way! On behalf of all of the teachers of Rock Camp, Diving into Art, Explore Ceramics, Dance Intensive, Theater Workshop, and Jazz Workshop in Bridgehampton, New York City, and Lebanon, NJ - thank you!

What a First Week, Bridgehampton Arts Camp

So proud of how all our musicians, dancers, artists did in our first week of camps and classes this summer, both our school age students and adults! We are about to start week 2, and this week we will be offering Rock Camp (9-3), Diving Into Art (9-3) Explore Ceramics (3-5), and Theater Workshop (3-6).

For adult classes, we have guitar class from 3-5 pm, Explore Ceramics from 5-6 pm, and private lessons in piano, voice, guitar, and songwriting.

See you on the bandstand, art room, or on stage!

Music, Art, Dance Summer Camp in the Hamptons, Lessons From a Book About Tennis

All of our arts camps and classes in Bridgehampton, NY - Rock Camp, Diving Into Art, Dance Intensive, Explore Ceramics, and Theater Workshop - are all about exploring each type of and having a whole lot of fun along the way. We want to inspire students and have them internalize how one can rise to new heights with curiosity, practice, and team work.

It’s also worth noting one’s positive attitude and headspace plays an important role when learning something new or improving upon what you already know. There is a book called the Inner Game of Tennis which dives into this. Bill Gates says of the book, “Groundbreaking . . . [ The Inner Game of Tennis is] the best book on tennis that I have ever read, and its profound advice applies to many other parts of life.”

How does this book about tennis apply to our arts camps and classes in the Hamptons? The Inner Game of Tennis basically says that to achieve greatness on the court there is an outer game and an inner game. The outer game would include things like technique, conditioning, strength, agility, etc…. The inner game is about calming any self-doubts, fears of embarrassment, doubt, lapses in focus, or having limiting assumptions.

So how does one go about winning the inner game when it comes to say music performance? At Rock Camp and in all our programs we make sure students understand:

1. Come as You Are. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced artists, we are all learning (literally everyone). So just show up and with a can do attitude, we build from there.

2. We Are All Human. Mistakes are made all the time on stage…all the time. What’s important is you recover from those mistakes in real time.

3. With Knowledge and Practice Comes Confidence. You know those butterflies you feel before a performance? Well, they never really disappear, but something very cool happens when you starting gaining real skill and technique. That nervous energy transforms into a something that helps you and gives you momentum….it’s almost as if catch the wave and now you are riding it.

The inner game takes place within the mind of the player and is played against such obstacles as fear, self-doubt, lapses in focus, and limiting concepts or assumptions. The inner game is played to overcome the self-imposed obstacles that prevent an individual or team from accessing their full potential.

Teamwork, The Music and Sports Connection

There are definitely many similarities between sports and music. The importance of teamwork is what first comes to mind. Musicians in Rock Camp, our music camp in Bridgehampton, New York, rehearse and learn the music together, and adjust in real time to what everyone is doing on stage.

Basketball legend, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, says it best. 

"The whole idea of teamwork for a basketball team and a jazz group is basically the same.  You have to work within a tight structure of time, space, and rules, and you have to find room for personal expression while supporting each member in time and reacting to what they do in time and space.  Jazz shows how these constrictors can be liberating rather than confining."

 Here is a short clip of the basketball legend, Kareem Abdul Jabbar talking about attending his first music concert, Duke Ellington and the jazz-like quality to his playing.  Here is another clip of him speaking at Lincoln Center.  So good!  

Bridgehampton, NY Summer Music Camp - Rock Camp

This summer, July 10-21, in Bridgehampton Rock Camp provides inspiring musical instruction to students ages 7-19 - ensembles, lessons, concerts, and electives for a variety of interests. There is also an afternoon Jazz Workshop course for interested students, as well as adult lessons offered in the afternoons.

You will be surrounded by aspiring musicians from all over the Hamptons such as Southampton, Sag Harbor, East Hampton in this welcoming and friendly camp. Check out our site for more details or give us a call, (908) 230-6079.

Summer 2023 Dates for Bridgehampton Summer Camp for the Arts, Adult Classes

SESSION I, JULY 10-14

• Rock Camp, 9-3 pm

• Diving Into Art (Acrylic), 9-3 pm

AFTERNOON CLASSES

• Explore Ceramics, 3-5 pm

• Dance Intensive (Hip Hop Masterclass), 3-5 pm

• Jazz Workshop (Middle, High School, Adult Levels), 3-5 pm

• Adult Music 3-5 pm

• Adult Ceramics 5-6 pm

• Adult Dance 5-6 pm

SESSION II, JULY 17-21

• Rock Camp, 9-3 pm

• Diving Into Art (Watercolor), 9-3 pm

AFTERNOON CLASSES

• Explore Ceramics, 3-5 pm

• Adult Music 3-5 pm

• Adult Ceramics 5-6 pm

Music is a Language, Long Island Music Camp, Rock Camp and Jazz Workshop

In our music camp in Bridgehampton, Long Island, we approach learning music in the same way you learn to speak your native language. How is this done?

When we are all kids we lean to speak with words, then phrases, then complete sentences, and as we grow older find ourselves in situations where we need to speak in public to small and large crowds. Along with that we learn in a very intuitive way how to accent certain words and letters to express our ideas and emotions. To deepen our knowledge we learn to read and write and keep refining these skills throughout our life.

Learning music is the same thing. Here is a great video by the bassist, Victor Wooten, diving further into this idea.

Just as a child will have conversations at the dinner table, it’s the same in Rock Camp and Jazz Workshop in Bridgehampton, Long Island. You will play in multiple bands, you will have lessons, you will perform, you will interact with many different musicians (your age and older), and you will have many different teachers. With each teacher and student musician you interact with you will learn and get inspired in a myriad of ways.

So whether you a beginner or advanced musician, come as you are, and get ready to speak music!

3 Things that make our Hamptons Summer Camp in the Arts a Unique Experience

In our summer camp arts programs in the Hamptons, located in the heart of Bridgehampton, Long Island, students of all ages can choose from a variety of art forms and then focus on mastering skills in either music, art, dance, and theater. Here are 3 things that make our summer art programs different.

1. Students choose a specific art form to focus on.

   If a student has an interest in music, art, dance or theater, he or she will study with master musicians, artists, dancers, and actors for several hours a day on that specific art form. Why this approach as opposed to a more general approach where students study a variety of subjects? It’s important to us that students gain concrete skills in addition to an inspiring experience. For this reason students perform in an end of the week concert or have an art exhibit or a dance recital or perform a play.

2. We are not school….This is Summer!

   Our goal is for every student to have an incredibly fun experience AND explore their interests and come out this experience 10 notches higher in terms of technique, approaches, and inspiration in their chosen field of music, art, dance, and theater. We have a very welcoming and friendly atmosphere. We feel that once students are having fun and making friends, the learning falls right into place.

3. Our Staff

So all of our teachers are experts in their field and are also busy pursuing their career in their chosen art form. Why is this important? In my experience, teachers who also performers/working artists generally can take you from point A to Point B very very quickly. They are practical. While they know theory, they are not lost in the clouds….because they know deadlines, and what it means to prepare for a recording, concert, art exhibit, play, or movie where one must learn new skills while also exercising time management.

A second feature the makes are staff special is that they love sharing their knowledge with others. We love seeing that light shine bright in students when they are inspired or understand a concept for the first time or perform in a way that they did not imagine was possible just a few days ago.

It's All About Your Sound, Music Camp in Long Island and New Jersey

In Rock Camp and Jazz Workshop our music summer camp in Long Island, Bridgehampton, and Lebanon, New Jersey, we focus on what makes a great sound on your instrument. Whether you are a pianist, guitarist, drummer, singer, or whatever your instrument is, your sound is your what makes your music unique to you.

Often times many teachers will focus on the “what.” This is the scale that works over this harmony, and that is something we need to know, but there is something more important than that, your sound. Your sound or your voice on your instrument is what draws the listener closer to the music. It is something unique to you and something that should be developed side by side with learning music techniques, harmony, and rhythm.

So how does one work on one’s sound? For wind instruments, saxophone, flute, trumpet, etc…, you will focus on your breath and embouchure paying attention to things like vibrato, and your approach to how you play the note (legato, staccato). For pianists, guitarists, bassists, and drummers we pay attention to playing without tension, your attack (how you strike the note, thinking like a drummer), the position of your body and how that can change your sound.

Working on one’s sound is a process that takes place over time, and just having that awareness will help you create a sound that is personal and unique to you, a voice that expresses all you have to say in music!

Here are a few examples of musicians with distinct voices on their instruments.

The Premier Summer Camp in the Hamptons, Music, Art, Dance, Theater

If you are looking for a different kind of summer camp experience, and curious to explore the worlds of music, art, dance, and theater this summer, then you are in the right spot. In our fine and performing arts camp in the Bridgehampton we have 5 different programs, both day camps and adult afternoon classes, where you can explore and learn new skills while having a lot of fun along the way!

MUSIC - We have Rock Camp during the day, 9-3, where students will learn up to 2 instruments, will be in a morning and afternoon bands, have electives, and perform at an end of the week concert. In the afternoons we have adult lessons from 3-5, and a program called Jazz Workshop for those interested in the world of jazz.

ART - Our art program is called Diving into Art where students learn acrylic paining in our first week and in our second week explore watercolor painting. Like in music there are electives in the afternoon and there is an end of the week student art exhibit for friends, family, and the public. Adult classes are held 3-5 pm.

DANCE - Dance Intensive is structured as a hip hop workshop and meets 3-6 pm. It is led by Carlos Neto one of the leading figures in dance, choreography, and teaching in the world (Alvin Ailey, NYU, Broadway Dance Center). This is designed with students 12-18 in mind, beginners-advanced students welcome.

THEATER - Theater Workshop is a two week program and this summer we will explore the play/musical, Little Shop off Horrors. Theater workshop meets in the afternoons, 3-6 pm.

JAZZ WORKSHOP - Jazz Workshop is an afternoon camp for middle and high school students, college students and adults that meets daily from 3-5 pm. Students play in ensembles and learn the art and craft of playing jazz in terms of rhythm, harmony, and improvisation.

For More Info and Details, Check out our Site.