EMFexplorers: Camps

“The talent you find in yourself (and the friends you make) at EMFexplorers is sensational. And you get a chance to be taught my some of the best instructors. You'll make amazing memories you'll never forget.” —Samantha (age 10)

Backstage Pass: The Making of Music

Eastern Music Festival and The Music Academy of North Carolina are joining together to produce a day camp for students ages 9-11. With backstage access to professional musicians and exclusive performances, participants will gain hands-on experience in the recording industry and explore a variety of current music genres, including gypsy jazz, musical theater, and classical music.

Each student will tap their own creative potential by composing their own music and visiting MARS, the Music Academy Recording Studio, to create an individual recording and discover the recording industry. EMFexplorers will also experience a dress rehearsal of a classical orchestra and be up-close and personal in a Q & A session with a professional conductor.

Collaboration with The Music Academy of North Carolina

The Eastern Music Festival and The Music Academy of North Carolina partner in offering EMFexplorers. The Music Academy provides an innovative curriculum, experienced instructors, and special discount offers for students desiring to take private music lessons outside of the camp.

Experiential Learning

Day 1: Celebrate Gypsy Jazz! Join members of Swing Triade to learn the basics of this invigorating musical genre, and join in with some tunes of your own. Also known as hot swing or gypsy swing, you can't help but dance to the driving guitar and bass rhythm section.

Day 2: You are the composer. Try your hand at storytelling, and write your own musical accompaniment using drums, pitched percussion instruments, piano, keyboard, voice, and electronic sound effects.

Day 3: Visit MARS, the Music Academy's Recording Studio. Explore the basics of up-to-date recording technology using Mac Pro Tools to record, mix, and edit your own take-home CD.

Day 4: Take center stage! Explore the power of the singing voice expressed in opera and musical theater and discover other aspects of stage productions, including costuming, choreography, props and scenery, stage fighting, and stage presence.

Day 5: A day of classical music – with a real orchestra and professional conductor! Experience a dress rehearsal of a pre-professional classical orchestra and receive backstage access in a Q & A session with a conductor.

Faculty Spotlight

Kevin Dollar, guitar faculty member at The Music Academy of North Carolina and Elon University. On classical, steel string, electric or gypsy guitar, Kevin Dollar represents a multifaceted approach to the instrument. His performances vary from solo classical guitar and chamber ensemble, to early 20th century traditional music, to the gypsy jazz guitar style of pre-WWII France. Kevin regularly performs with the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra and has shared the stage with the likes of Doc Watson, David Holt, Katherine Whalen, Jimbo Matthus and Clay Aiken. Kevin received his MM from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2001 and has several recordings to his credit. Performing with Swing Triade and the recently formed Carolina String Duo (with Carey Harwood) serves as an outlet for the wide variety of guitar music.