2025 LFM Camp Program Guide

This page describes the general organization of the week at camp and provides some advice about the program and choosing ensembles and workshops.

Camp starts Sunday afternoon so you can get settled, explore the campus and have dinner followed by an orientation session and faculty introductions. Music classes run on a fixed daily schedule Monday to Friday with concerts in the evening. There are also rehearsals Saturday morning, then concerts in the afternoon and evening. This camp is all about you making music, so all but one of the concerts are performed by the participants. You’ll find others willing to play/sing with you outside of classes, so come prepared with music or join an organized 45 session during lunch break. Only the coached choirs and ensembles perform in the formal concerts on Friday and Saturday; not the workshops, technique and master classes. There are no classes on the final Sunday, just breakfast.

You are welcome to attend a maximum of six classes (one per period, same schedule all week) as long as you have the instrument (keyboards and drums are provided) and sufficient ability to cope with the level of music. Keep in mind that a full schedule could entail intense singing/playing for about six hours a day, all week, and learning new music for each performance – how much do you do the rest of the year? Consider some variation in your program; some classes do not require any previous experience, so you can try something new. Leave a period free to relax, practice or meet with others to prepare for an open-mic concert. Each registration will be reviewed to ensure musical opportunities are shared amongst participants, especially for limited enrolment classes and solo parts in ensembles.

Most ensembles require intermediate/advanced musical ability (RCM grade 6+), which means you should have solid control/tuning of your instrument/voice, good sight-reading skills, and ensemble experience (collaboration skills). Small ensembles such as chamber groups and jazz combos require considerable ensemble experience; otherwise intro chamber or intro jazz improv would be more suitable. Novice level requires basic technical skills with an ability to play/sing in tune and sight-read easy pieces, although some vocal music may be learned by ear. Ensemble experience is a big asset. Novice is not beginner, you should have experience and/or taken lessons, after all, let’s be realistic. Beginner level classes generally do not require prior experience, but any related skills would be an asset. Please refer to the ACMP self-rating guide and the class web pages for specific details, and feel free to contact us for help building a program.

Are you able to take the class? Check the letter codes: (A) intermediate/advanced ability; (N) novice level; (B) suitable for beginners; (L) limited enrolment. Here are some sample schedules for your guidance. The schedules are divided into primary instrument for simplicity, but your schedule can be more varied, such as vocal and instrumental classes. In addition to your special interest, consider ‘Try something different’ at the bottom of the page for more alternatives; it's a fun way to give your chops a rest. Please contact us for more details.

Vocal
1) Choir for All (A, N, B, vocal only)
2) Vocal Basics (N, B, L) or Vocal Technique (A, L) or Vocal Classical Masterclass (A, L)
3) Spirituals Choir (A, N) or Jazz Choir (A, L)
4) Madrigal Singers (A, L) or Vocal Duets (A, L) or Vocal Standards Masterclass (A, L) or Intro Jazz Improvisation (A, L) or Rhythm & Reading (N, B)
5) Chamber Choir (A) or Lead & Backup Singing (A, L) or Blues Band (A, L) or Intro Vocal Harmony (A, N, B)
6) Celtic Song (A, N, B) or Musical Theatre (A, N, B) or L-Pop Band (A, L)

Strings
1) Choir for All (A, N, B, vocal only)
2) Violin Technique (A, N) or Viola Technique (A, N) or Cello Technique (A, N)
3) Chamber Group (A, L) or Intro Chamber Group (A, L) or Intro Playing Baroque Music (A)
4) Orchestra (A, N) or Jazz Combo (A, L) or Intro Jazz Improvisation (A, L) or Rhythm & Reading (N, B)
5) Strings Ensemble (A) or Latin Ensemble (A, L) or Jamming Basics (A, L) or Blues Band (A, L)
6) Intro Celtic Fiddling for Violin (A) or Non-Classical Genres on Viola (A) or Cello Choir (A) or Klezmer Band (A, L) or Accompanist/Soloist Collaboration (A, L)

Woodwinds
1) Choir for All (A, N, B, vocal only)
2) Flute Technique (A, N) or Double Reed Technique (A, N) or Clarinet Technique (A, N) or Saxophone Technique (A, N)
3) Chamber Group (A, L) or Intro Chamber Group (A, L) or Intro Playing Baroque Music (A) or The Melting Pot (A, L)
4) Orchestra (A, N, L) or Woodwind Ensemble (A) or Jazz Combo (A, L) or Intro Jazz Improvisation (A, L) or Rhythm & Reading (N, B)
5) Concert Band (A, N) or Latin Ensemble (A, L) or Jamming Basics (A, L)
6) Jazz Band (A, N) or Klezmer Band (A, L) or Accompanist/Soloist Collaboration (A, L)

Brass
1) Choir for All (A, N, B, vocal only)
2) Brass Technique (A, N)
3) The Melting Pot (A, L) or Brass Chamber Group (A, L) or Intro Playing Baroque Music (A, trumpet)
4) Orchestra (A, N, L) or Jazz Combo (A, L) or Intro Jazz Improvisation (A, L) or Woodwind Ensemble (A, L, saxophone) or Rhythm & Reading (N, B)
5) Concert Band (A, N) or Blues Band (A, L) or Jamming Basics (A, L)
6) Jazz Band Band (A, N) or Accompanist/Soloist Collaboration (A, L)

Piano
1) Choir for All (A, N, B, vocal only)
2) Piano Technique (A, L) or Intro Piano Chording (A, L)
3) Chamber Group (A, L) or Intro Chamber Group (A, L) or The Melting Pot (A, L) or Intro Playing Baroque Music (A, L) or Rhythm Section Skills (A, L)
4) Piano Explorations (A, L) or Jazz Combo (A, L) or Intro Jazz Improvisation (A, L) or Rhythm & Reading (N, B)
5) Intro Jazz Piano (A. L) or Blues Band (A, L) or L&B Singing Band (A, L) or Latin Ensemble (A, L) or Jamming Basics (A, L)
6) Accompanist/Soloist Collaboration (A, L) or Jazz Band (A, L) or L-Pop Band (A, L) or Klezmer Band (A, L)

Guitar and Bass
1) Choir for All (A, N, B, vocal only)
2) Guitar Technique (A, N) or Bass Technique (A, N)
3) Guitar Ensemble (A, N) or Rhythm Section Skills (A, L) or The Melting Pot (A, L) 
4) Jazz Combo (A, L) or Intro Jazz Improvisation (A, L) or Rhythm & Reading (N, B)
5) Blues Band (A, L) or L&B Singing Band (A, L) or Concert Band (A, L, bass) or Latin Ensemble (A, L) or Jamming Basics (A, L, guitar)  
6) Jazz Band (A, L) or L-Pop Band (A, L) or Klezmer Band (A, L)

Percussion
1) Choir for All (A, N, B, vocal only)
2) Drum Kit Technique (A, N, L)
3) Rhythm Section Skills (A, L) or The Melting Pot (A, L)
4) Jazz Combo (A, L) or Intro Jazz Improvisation (A, L) or Orchestra (A, L) or Rhythm & Reading (N, B)
5) Blues Band (A, L) or L&B Singing Band (A, L) or Concert Band (A, L) or Latin Ensemble (A, L) or West African Drumming Ensemble (N, B, L) 
6) Jazz Band (A, L) or L-Pop Band (A, L) or Klezmer Band (A, L) or Percussion Exploration Ensemble (A, N, B, L)

Try something different - no experience required, except when noted *
1) Choir for All (A, N, B, vocal only)
2) Vocal Basics (B, N) or Ukulele Sing-Along (N, B) 
3) 
4) Rhythm & Reading (N, B)
5) West African Drumming Ensemble (N, B, L) or Intro Vocal Harmony (A, N, B)
6) Celtic Song (A, N, B) or Musical Theatre (A, N, B) or Percussion Exploration Ensemble (A, N, B, L) or Handbells (N, B, L)

The 45-series offers a variety of drop-in activities during the afternoon break, 1:45 to 2:30pm. Registration not required.