2008 Summer Camps Program
SF Camps :: Marin Camps :: Prerequisites :: Auditions :: Teacher Bios :: Intern Program
Summer Camps Tuition Grants Available for Girls: Click Here for More Info
 Blue Bear Summer Camps: Truly Cool School
This summer Blue Bear is offering week-long music day camps in Marin as well as in San Francisco. These exciting adventures in rock, jazz, songwriting and more are under the direction of Summer Camp Director and acclaimed music educator Bonnie Hayes. The tuition for camps is $75-$525 sliding scale. Some full scholarships may be available. Sliding scale tuition discounts are subject to availability of funds.
Most camps run from 10am-3pm Monday-Friday (unless noted) and include a concert on Friday evening. Camps during the week of June 30 run Monday-Thursday only. There is no performance for Studio 101 camps and for the Guitar Camp. Some Summer Camps require auditions. More info on prerequisites below. Expect a week of intense learning and intense fun!
June 16-20 . Rock U 1
This workshop offers kids 11-14 an opportunity to play the music they like with their peers. Repertoire is selected by instructors and the group. A typical day includes sectional lessons in the morning, a lunchtime jam with interns or staff, and rehearsals in the afternoon. The week culminates with a show on Friday evening. At least one year of music lessons suggested. More info on prerequisites below.
Tuition: $525 Register Now
June 23-27 . Get Ready to Rock
A low-key camp for beginning musicians 9-14 who want to try different instruments (who doesn't want to play the drums!?), play easy songs, and try their hand at writing a song, lead singing or jamming. Drum circle helps kids get in the groove, singing teaches kids ear-training and performance skills, basic keyboard and guitar classes help them take first steps toward playing in a rock band. More info on prerequisites below.
Tuition: $525 Register Now
June 30-July 3 . Guitar Camp
For guitar players only! Classes and group lessons in the morning on such subjects as guitar care, getting a great tone, playing lead, reading chord charts, and rhythm playing lead to afternoon jam sessions with interns and instructors on bass and drums. At least one year of lessons suggested.
Tuition: $400 Register Now
July 7-11 . Songwriters Camp
Please note that the dates for this camp have changed
from what our printed brochure states.
For kids 11-16 who write songs (or want to) and musicians who want to play original music, get together to finish songs, arrange and perform or record them. Workshops on lyric writing, song forms and arranging will help you get your song ready for the performance on Friday evening. At least one year of music lessons suggested. More info on prerequisites below.
Tuition: $525 Register Now
July 14-18 . Rock U 2/Classic Rock
Please note that the dates for this camp have changed
from what our printed brochure states.
A camp for rockers 11-17 who love the classic rock of Zeppelin, AC/DC, Hendrix, Lynyrd Skynyrd and other groups of the period. Repertoire will be selected by the instructors and students. At least two years of music lessons suggested. Drummers and bass players will need to audition. More info on prerequisites below.
Tuition: $525 Register Now
July 21-25 . Rock U 1
This workshop offers kids 11-14 an opportunity to play the music they like with their peers. Repertoire is selected by instructors and the group. A typical day includes sectional lessons in the morning, a lunchtime jam with interns or staff, and rehearsals in the afternoon. The week culminates with a show on Friday evening. At least one year of music lessons suggested. More info on prerequisites below.
Tuition: $525 Register Now
 July 28-August 1 . Rockergrrrrls!
For girls 11-17 playing at low intermediate to advanced level, the emphasis is on developing musicianship in girls who want to rock! Working together on music builds camaraderie, and workshops in aspects of musicianship build the skills needed to play instruments, sing and perform with authority. Demonstrations by successful female musicians provide role models, and get girls excited about rocking! More info on prerequisites below.
Tuition: $525 Register Now
August 4-8 . Rock U 2
This workshop offers kids 11-17 an opportunity to play the music they like with their peers. Repertoire is selected by the group, which rehearses every day. A typical day includes sectional lessons in the morning, a lunchtime jam with interns or staff, and rehearsals in the afternoon. Drummers and bass players will need to audition. More info on prerequisites below.
Tuition: $525 Register Now
August 11-15 . Studio 101
In this camp, kids 11-16 make a record, using the acclaimed Mac program Garage Band to write, arrange and record instrumental and vocal tracks for their own compositions. The camp culminates with a CD of original music created by the students! Budding engineers and producers are welcome, as well as more traditional songwriters and musicians. All levels welcome.
Tuition: $395 Register Now
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June 16-20 . Rock U 2
This workshop offers kids 11-17 an opportunity to play the music they like with their peers. Repertoire is selected by the group, which rehearses every day. A typical day includes sectional lessons in the morning, a lunchtime jam with interns or staff, and rehearsals in the afternoon. Drummers and bass players will need to audition. More info on prerequisites below.
Tuition: $525 Register Now
June 23-27 . Rock U 1
This workshop offers kids 11-14 an opportunity to play the music they like with their peers. Repertoire is selected by instructors and the group. A typical day includes sectional lessons in the morning, a lunchtime jam with interns or staff, and rehearsals in the afternoon. The week culminates with a show on Friday evening. At least one year of music lessons suggested. More info on prerequisites below.
Tuition: $525 Register Now
June 30-July 3 . Vocal Performance Camp for Girls
This half-day camp provides a fun and supportive environment where young girls 10-14 can learn about the fundamentals of healthy singing technique while performing popular songs chosen by teacher and class together. The class focuses on vocal technique, singing leads and harmonies, and stage presentation. Participants take an active role in the creation of an end-of-class showcase. A CD with harmony parts will be handed out on day one, so students can learn their parts at home. Led by Susie Davis, this camp meets from 10am-1pm.
Tuition: $295 Register Now
July 7-11 . Rock U 3
A camp for high school students who have been playing for a minimum of two years, this offers students a chance to play music they like with their peers. Repertoire is selected by the group, which rehearses every day. Lots of hands-on experience in jamming, soloing, songwriting, remembering and playing complex arrangements. At least two years of music lessons suggested. Drummers, bass players and guitarists will need to audition. More info on prerequisites below.
Tuition: $525 Register Now
July 14-18 . Get Ready to Rock
A low-key camp for beginning musicians 9-14 who want to try different instruments (who doesn't want to play the drums!?), play easy songs, and try their hand at writing a song, lead singing or jamming. Drum circle helps kids get in the groove, singing teaches kids ear-training and performance skills, basic keyboard and guitar classes help them take first steps toward playing in a rock band. More info on prerequisites below.
Tuition: $525 Register Now
 July 21-25 . Studio 101
In this camp, kids 11-16 make a record, using the acclaimed Mac program Garage Band to write, arrange and record instrumental and vocal tracks for their own compositions. The camp culminates with a CD of original music created by the students! Budding engineers and producers are welcome, as well as more traditional songwriters and musicians. All levels welcome.
Tuition: $395 Register Now
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Girls Rock at Blue Bear: Tuition Grants Available Now
Blue Bear student performing
at Blue Bear Live III
[photo by: Julie Bernstein] |
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Thanks to a generous grant from our friends at the Eva Gunther Foundation, girls from families with financial need can receive tuition grants for our Summer Camp program. Summer Camps are currently underway, so now is the time to apply for tuition grants!
The following camp openings are available for girls funded through the Eva Foundation:
San Francisco Summer Camp Openings
July 7 - Songwriters - Guitar, keys, bass
July 14 - Classic Rock/U 2 - Voice, keys
July 21 - Rock U 1 - Guitar, keys, bass, voice
July 28 - Rockrgrrls! - Guitar, keys, bass, voice
August 4 - Rock U 2 - Keys, bass, voice
August 11 - Studio 101 - Open to anyone who wants to learn to use the acclaimed Mac program Garage Band
Marin Summer Camp Openings
July 14 - Studio 101 - Open to anyone who wants to learn to use the acclaimed Mac program Garage Band
For more info on Summer Camps tuition grants for girls, please call Blue Bear at 415.673.3600.
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Prerequisites
Get Ready to Rock is for kids who have played less than one year. Your child should be comfortable in new situations and should like rock 'n' roll music.
Rock U 1: Guitarists should know the names of the notes on the first five frets of their A and E strings, should be familiar with five open position chords on guitar and E form barre or power chords. Pianists should be able to build a major or minor triad in root position. Bass players should know string names and should be able to find a note on a string when asked. Drummers should be able to play a simple rock beat at 100 bpm for three minutes without stopping.
Rock U 2: Guitarists should know the names of the notes on the first five frets of all strings, should be familiar with at least seven open position chords and the E and A barre or power chords, and be able to move comfortably between them. Pianists should know all major and minor triads in root position and inversions. Bassists should be able to play any note when asked, play a simple rock bass line for three minutes without stopping, and read through a simple chord chart. Drummers should be able to play a simple rock beat at 120 bpm for three minutes without stopping, and play fills every eight measures. Drummers and bass players will need to audition.
Rock U 3: Drummers should be able to play shuffle or swing beat as well as rock beat for three minutes without stopping. Bass players should be able to play a groove alone, in addition to the prerequisites for other camps. Keyboard players should be able to play 7th chords as well as triads and play a simple solo. Guitarists should be able to locate a note on any string, should know all the common open position chords, the E and A form barre or power chords, and should be able to play a solo. Drummers, bass players and guitarists will need to audition.
 Songwriters Camp: Bassists should be able to play any note when asked, play a simple rock bass line for three minutes without stopping, and read through a simple chord chart. Drummers should be able to play a simple rock beat at 120 bpm for three minutes without stopping, and play fills every eight measures. Drummers and bass players will need to audition.
Rockergrrrrls! Camp: Guitarists should know the names of the notes on the first five frets of their A and E strings, should be familiar with five open position chords on guitar and E form barre or power chords. Pianists should be able to build a major or minor triad in root position. Bass players should know string names and should be able to find a note on a string when asked. Drummers should be able to play a simple rock beat at 100 bpm for three minutes without stopping.
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Auditions
Drummers and bass players for all camps except Rock U 1, Get Ready to Rock and Rockergrrrrrls will need to audition. Guitarists also need to audition for Rock U 3. Auditions will be held at Blue Bear at Fort Mason Center on March 16, April 6, April 20 and May 11 from 12-3:30pm. You should sign up for a camp to reserve your spot prior to an audition. The Program Director will schedule the audition after you submit your online application.
Intern Program
Are you a musician in high school or college? Want experience as a teacher, counselor and leader? Interested in non-profit service? Contact us for information about our intern program at either Fort Mason or in Marin!
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Summer Camp Teacher Bios
Camp Director Bonnie Hayes is a platinum-selling songwriter, with songs on records by Bonnie Raitt, Bette Midler, Robert Cray, Huey Lewis, Robben Ford, David Crosby, Cher and Booker T. and the MGs. She plays guitar and keyboards, and has released five CDs of her own music on various record labels. She also has produced seven records, one of which was nominated for a Grammy. In 2003, she designed and implemented the Blue Bear Summer Camp Program and has taught songwriting, music theory, and performance skills at Blue Bear, Cal State LA, and the Stanford Jazz Workshop. More at bonniehayes.com.
Susie Davis is a respected music educator, as well as professional vocalist, keyboardist, songwriter, guitarist and accordionist. She has been a music professional for 22 years, touring and recording with some of the top names in the music world including Van Morrison, Prince, Sheila E., Billy Idol, Melissa Etheridge, Sinead O'Connor, Pat Benatar and Mick Jagger. She has worked extensively as a solo artist in the Bay Area and Los Angeles and currently tours and records with Those Darn Accordions, Rhythmtown Jive, and the Rubinoos. In 2000, Susie opened the Alleycats Music School in Fairfax, California. She currently teaches at her private studio in the Point Richmond area. More at susiedavis.com.
Nils Erickson graduated from the Berklee College of Music in 1994 with a major in Arranging. Since then he has played guitar in many bands, including 20 Minute Loop, the New Morty Show, Brad Brooks, The Mad CattleEnsemble, and many others. He has also composed and arranged music for various products and advertisements, and a short film. Nils has taught guitar privately for 12 years; this is his third summer teaching Summer Camps at Blue Bear School
of Music.
Amber Morris grew up in the thriving Bay Area music scene of the early '70s, her mother a singer with Ace of Cups and then Big Brother & the Holding
Co. At 15 Amber cut her teeth singing backgrounds in her uncle's band Smoke, Inc., then moved on to the Bay Area club scene in search of that elusive record deal. Original projects included Psychefunkapus and Burning TV. As a vocalist, she has performed with Zairean superstar Shaka Ra Mutela, Y & T, The Eric Martin Band, Tal Morris, Jimmy Dillon, Atma Anur, Bill Champlin and the Sons of Champlin, and Drums on Fire with Leslie Smith. A popular and inspiring teacher, Amber has been on faculty with Temba Elementary School, Blue Star Music Camps and Marin Academy as well as at Blue Bear. More at myspace.com/ambermorrismusic.
Dawn Richardson lives in her own world that revolves around drums and Diet Coke with Lime. She likes to play the drums (currently in TaB, Perps
and 2Toggle), write about the drums (she's got a couple of drum books out there, and has written some stuff in those magazines that only drum geeks read) and teach drums and program drums (and occasionally other instruments). She has also performed and/or recorded with 4 Non Blondes, Kindness, The Martinis, Penelope Houston and Erika Luckett. More at dawnrichardson.com.
Jake Wood, originally diagnosed with a terminal case of the White Man's Disease, overcame his condition and became a competent musician with years of disciplined wood-shedding and a potent medication of diverse music. Some now even go so far as to call him funky! A patient and entertaining drum instructor, Jake has a Bachelor's degree from U.C. Santa Cruz and studied with George Marsh, William Winant and Rich Fongheiser. He has played and recorded with The Cooltones Big Band, Black Market Jazz Orchestra, Nya Jade, The Pine Needles and Pedalsped, and currently can be seen with surf-pirates Diego's Umbrella and local favorites The Trouble with Monkeys (they make bad pets). He is also a contributor to EQ Magazine. More at jakewood.net.
Studio 101 teacher Nick Chen is both dedicated and passionate in the field of music education. He inaugurated the Studio 101 camps in Blue Bear's 2006 Summer Camp season and continued to teach it during the school year in local public and private schools. A full time manager/instructor at Blue Bear, Nick also plays drums in hip hop group N.Y.A.S., led by Blue Bear Scholarship student Matt Cabuloy. You can hear Nick's electronica at myspace.com/ixian.
Erik Schramm is a Bay Area guitarist who for the last several years has been touring the U.S. with the band Super Diamond. He performs often in San Francisco with artists Brandi Shearer, Clay Bell, Matt Verba and Strip Club. He also does sessions for songwriters, commercials and independent films. His playing is a mix of pop, blues, funk, rock and a taste of country for good measure.
Bill Spooner, Bammy-Award-winning singer and guitarist, was founder and principal songwriter of the legendary Tubes and actively performs in the Bay Area's best dives and bars. His current group, The Folk-Ups, is a must-see. More at billspooner.com.
Mark Anthony Calderon plays bass, drums, guitar, percussion and vocals. He's toured the country with the Dave Matthews Band and Leo Nocentelli of The Meters, and currently plays with Hyim and The Fat Foakland Orchestra, fusing hip-hop, Brazilian, Latin and retro disco. More at myspace.com/a1bassman.
Rock U 2 Summer Camp Performance
[photo by: Allison Boswell] |
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