FREQUENTY ASKED QUESTIONS CAMP MUSICTECH 2011 • General Information • Q - How is Camp Musictech different from other nationally operated rock music camp programs? A - In 2005-2007, Gand Music and Sound was a sponsor for two nationally run music camp programs. We applaud their strengths and do our best to improve on their areas of weakness. The programs that are run on a national level tend to be somewhat limited by a specific curriculum that is not adapted from location to location to cater to the appropriate talent level of the students. We have discovered the talent of students in the North Shore of Chicago to be extremely higher than the national average and continue to reinvent our program and curriculum to challenge those enrolled. We hope students will find our program to be more entertaining and more musically challenging. We also want to take advantage of some of the premium facilities that are available on the north shore. We want to expose students to music technology by offering classes in the computer music lab and giving them opportunity for hands-on classes and workshops. Since we are not bound to a specific nation wide curriculum, we can offer advanced training not found in these other programs. We reinvent our schedule daily to address the needs of our students. Some of the following questions also answer how Camp Musictech is different from these other national programs. Q - Who can attend? A - Camp Musictech is designed for beginning to advanced musicians ages 9-16. Participants are welcome to attend individually, with friends, or even as a complete band. Camp Musictech is currently open to musicians on Guitar, Bass, Drums, Keyboards, and Vocals. Q - Where is the camp held? A - Camp Musictech 2011 will be held at Niles North High School, 9800 Lawler Avenue, Skokie, Illinois. We take pride in our relationship with District 219 who were the recent award winner by The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for best fine arts program in the nation. Camp Musictech occupies the entire air-conditioned fine arts wing of the school for our rehearsal rooms, computer music lab, and luxurious auditorium for our Friday night rock concert. Below is an interactive map to direct you to our location. Q - Who are the instructors and supervisors for the camp? A - We have had an incredible number of professional music instructors and local professional musicians inquire about participating in Camp Musictech. We will employ the most qualified individuals for each position that needs to be filled. At this time, we have faculty from Niles North High School as well as professional private music instructors committed to participate. We will also be employing junior counselors that will be assigned to each band. The junior counselors will be recent high school graduates who will be enrolled in a college music program, and college music students who are home for the summer. So each band will have a junior counselor and an adult professional music instructor to assist their band. Q - How is security handled at the camp and how will the participants be supervised? A - The campus at Niles North High School will be a closed campus for the students. They will not be allowed to come and go. The school district's security guard will be posted at the entrance to the camp. Students will be issued an identification name tag that they will be required to wear around their neck on a lanyard that will be provided. The back of the students identification tag will have their individual schedule so they know where they are supposed to be for each period. Camp Musictech is structured with daily activities from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Students are supervised and accounted for at each activity. In addition to the teaching staff, Camp Musictech will employ camp counselors whose sole purpose is to insure the safety of our students. Please understand that as a professional organization, the safety and well- being of our students is our top priority! Q - Are parents or visitors allowed during the day? A - Only parents or guardians for an enrolled student will be allowed a visitors pass that will be available at Gand Music & Sound in Northfield. Since our store doesn't open until noon on weekdays, you will need to get the visitors pass the day before you would like to visit. Your drivers license photo ID will be required to obtain a visitors pass. The public is invited to our concert performance on Friday evening. Q - How can I get a brochure? A - Call Gand Music and Sound at 847-446-4263 or email bobtjarks@mac.com to request a full color brochure and registration form or go to our brochure link at the top of this page. Q - Do I need to send an audition tape? A - No. Auditions will take place when you arrive for camp on the first day. These auditions are informal and are strictly for placement. Campers should be prepared with a short performance that appropriately demonstrates the musician's ability level. • Registration • Q - When can I register and what is the registration deadline? A - Registration has already begun for 2011. The registration deadline is June 1. However, we encourage you to apply as early as possible (especially if you play a popular instrument such as guitar or drums) as space is limited by instrument. Check with us after June 1 to see if we have any openings. Q - What is the cost of registration and what does that include? A - The registration fee for Camp Musictech is $595.00 for the first week and $495.00 for additional weeks. A $50.00 sibling discount is also available for families with more than one student attending. There are no additional material fees or lab fees for those that attend. Q - What will the students receive for attending Camp Musictech? A - In addition to a fabulous experience playing in a rock band, expanding their individual techniques, and gaining hands-on experience with new music technology, students will receive a participation trophy from Camp Musictech. We provide a FREE copy of the Camp Musictech Concert DVD for each student attending. We are also including a FREE Camp Musictech T-shirts for each student. Q - When are payments due? A - When you register for Camp Musictech 2011, a $200.00 deposit for each week of enrollment is required to reserve space for each student. Payment in full is required by June 1, 2011. We will automatically bill your credit card on June 1 for your balance due for those who enroll by mail or online. Q - How can I make a payment? A - Payment can be made by cash, check, credit card or PayPal. Checks can be mailed to Gand Music and Sound, 780 Frontage Road, Northfield, IL 60093. You can call 847-446-4263 to make a credit card payment over the phone. PayPal payments can be sent to paypal@gand.com. Cash is always accepted in person at Gand Music and Sound in Northfield. Q - What happens if I cancel? A - If an emergency arises and you are no longer able to attend Camp Musictech, please let us know as early as possible. We will be happy to refund your deposit (minus a $50 processing fee) up until May 30. After that date, no refund will be available. • Program & Schedule • Q - What kind of musical background do I need? A - Camp Musictech has programs for all levels of ability, whether the musician is a beginner or advanced. But for maximum enjoyment and for band placement, we ask that all students have at least 3-4 months experience on their primary instrument prior to attending camp. At the very minimum, young musicians should have basic instrument knowledge and experience playing or singing in a semi-structured environment. Q - Who else will play in my band? A - The very first activity at the camp will be a short private audition for each student. We ask that the students prepare a short (30-60 second) musical piece that best demonstrates their abilities. Students will be placed in bands based on their ability, age group and musical style preference. Q - How many musicians will be in each band? A - Depending on enrollment, each band will have a maximum of 8 members (3 guitars, bass guitar, keyboards, 2 drummers, and a lead vocalist). Our staff will ensure that each band member plays a significant role musically in each song the band will perform and not simply duplicating parts. Q - Will the bands be writing original music or performing cover songs? A - We anticipate doing both. Where other camps have had student bands perform only one or two songs, we want to hear more music from each of the bands during the Friday night rock concert. Hopefully each band will be ready to perform three or four songs. The bands will work with their instructors to determine the material they want to perform. Q - Can I play in a band with my friend(s)? A - At the parents request, we will place student either with their friends or with other bands. Some bands may want to work as a unit to improve their skills, and others may want to be placed in separate bands so that they each have a unique experience that they can bring back to their own band. Q - Will the students have any recreation time or other activities scheduled? A - In our second year of Camp Musictech, we created a recreation period each day where the students participated in "Rock Olympics". Bands worked in teams competing for prizes in various musical trivia games and contests. This gave everyone a great break from playing their instrument. Q - What will I do each day? A - The student's day will be full of musical activities to keep them entertained and enlightened. Each day, the student will have 2 full 90-minute rehearsals with their band, a 45-minute group lesson on their instrument and a "Rock Olympic" event. In addition, the students will have two 45-minute periods each day in the computer music lab at Niles North High School. The first period will be for computer music software instruction where the students will be introduced to different software for music composition and notation. The second period in the computer lab will be for bands to learn how to design their own web page. We will continue to reinvent our schedule and curriculum each day for students attending multiple weeks or those who have attended in previous years so they have new and challenging activities. In 2010, we added music video to our curriculum as students recorded and edited a music video which was debuted on the big screen before each band’s Friday evening performance. Q - When can students be dropped off and picked up each day? A - Students can arrive as early as 8:15 a.m. each day and be picked up as late as 4:45 p.m. Unlike other programs, there are no fees for late pickup. Q - When is the final concert? A - The Camp Musictech concert will be on Friday evening starting at 5:00. We will keep the students at the school for a dress rehearsal prior to the Friday evening concert and then enjoy with pizza with the entire camp. We will be prompt and efficient in rotating bands on and off the stage to ensure a full program of music from the students. We ask that parents and friends stay for the entire concert and not leave once their student’s band has completed their performance. This ensures a great audience for all bands participating. • What to Bring • Q - What should I bring to Camp Musictech? A - We provide all of the equipment with the exception of the student's instrument. Guitar and bass guitar players should bring their instrument (in a case or gig bag) and a working instrument cable. They should also bring any accessories they need to use (i.e. tuner, effects pedals, picks, strap, capo). We will provide the amplifiers for guitar and bass players. Keyboard players will be provided with keyboards and amplification. Vocalist will be provided with microphones and sound system. Drummers will be provided with a full drum set. They should bring their own sticks, mallets, and brushes that they prefer to use in a stick bag. Students will also need to bring their own sack lunch with non-perishable items. No refrigeration will be provided. A camp store will be on site to provide sales of soft drinks and snacks. The canteen will also have music accessories including picks, strings, drumsticks, cables, and other items the students may have forgotten or break during the day. Q - Are instrument rentals available? A - Guitar, bass guitar, and drum sets are available for monthly rental at Gand Music and Sound in Northfield. Call 847-446-4263 for more details. Q - Is there anything I shouldn't bring? A - You should avoid bringing the following items: weapons of any kind, portable TV's, stereos (personal music players with headphones are acceptable. Skateboards, skates, alcohol, tobacco products, illegal drugs, and valuables other than your music equipment. Cell phones are allowed but only to be used in an emergency. Texting and cellphone calls will be allowed during the lunch period only. Camp staff may confiscate any of the above items for the duration of camp if they prove to be unsafe or to be a constant distraction from Camp Musictech activities. Use of these items may also result in the expulsion of the student. Please direct any additional questions to: Gand Music and Sound 780 Frontage Road Northfield, IL 60093 847-446-4263 ext. 113.

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