Welcome!
PWC ORCHESTRA CAMP REGISTRATION 2023
IS NOW CLOSED. NO APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED AFTER JULY 1, 2023 CAN BE ACCEPTED.
UPDATE: Camp will be 7/10 - 7/14 at GARFIELD HIGH School
An Orchestral Camp for Continuing and Beginning String Students.
PROGRAM MISSION: PWC Orchestra Camp is dedicated to providing a fun and balanced program of musical instruction and activities for string students in rising grades 4-12.
PROGRAM GOALS: Musicians will develop musical skills which support the school orchestra program during the school year. The program emphasizes individual musical growth through the development of stronger technical skills and a more discerning musical aesthetic.
HISTORY: PWC Orchestra Camp was co-founded by Karen von Bernewitz and Tammy Nelson in 2005. It is currently Co-directed by Karen von Bernewitz and Amy Ruhlman, both PWCPS Orchestra Directors. Their vision of a summer program is to help students continue and increase their playing skills in the summer and retain students from year to year in the PWC public school orchestra program. Since 2005, PWC Orchestra Camp has grown from 20 students to over 100 students each summer.
SUMMER 2023 CAMP
Garfield High School, July 10 - July 14
Beginners, Continuing Orchestra Level 1, 2, 3 & Advanced Orchestra.
8:30am - 12:30pm
CLASS LEVELS AND PLACEMENT
Beginning Strings
Students who have never played before. Students will learn all the basic skills necessary to play a string instrument.
ESTIMATED GRADE – but not limited to – 4th, 5th, 6th in Fall 2023.
Continuing Orchestra Level 1
Will place heavy emphasis on reinforcing fundamentals of instrument posture and position, as well as note and rhythm literacy to continue strengthening the student's foundational skills. To give you a better idea, the skills covered will include:
- one-octave scales
- rhythms: whole/half/quarter/eight
- Introduce slurs
- Focus on controlled tone, bow use, learning intonation, and tuning
ESTIMATED GRADE – but not limited to - 6th/7th grade Fall 2023
Continuing Orchestra Level 2
Heavy emphasis on proper instrument playing position, music, and rhythm literacy skills. Students should be overall secure in their note-reading abilities. To give you a better idea, the skills covered will include:
- two-octave scales
- rhythms: whole/half/quarter/sixteenth/dotted-quarter
- Use of slurs in music
- Focus on tone, intro to vibrato, accurate intonation
ESTIMATED GRADE – but not limited to – 7th/8th grade Fall 2023
Continuing Level 3
This course is designed for students who are secure in note and rhythm literacy wanting to continue to strengthen and refine their skills prior to entering high school orchestra in the Fall, as well as those students in high school currently wanting to reinforce these skills. This class is for students who know how to play but would like to have a group experience and build off the skills they already possess. The focus will be on rhythm, vibrato, and 3rd position and higher depending on the skill level registered.
- two/three-octave scales
- rhythms: whole/half/quarter/sixteenth/dotted-quarter/triplets/dotted-eighth
- Use of slurs in music
- Focus on tone, vibrato, accurate intonation, ensemble balance
ESTIMATED GRADE – but not limited to - 9th/10th grade Fall 2023
Advanced Orchestra
This course is designed for students who practice regularly and are familiar with 3rd position and higher. Students in this group have an understanding of vibrato and consistently produce a clear tone with solid intonation. The focus will be on ensemble repertoire
ESTIMATED GRADE – but not limited to - 11/12th grade Fall 2023
Camp Tuition
Pre-Registration (Registered prior to June 10, 2023 - $135
Late Registration (Registered after June 10, 2023) - $155
Bus transportation fee $30
Transportaton
Transportation to and from PWC Orchestra Camp is provided by the parent or by school bus if indicated and paid for on registration.
School Bus Transportation
Depending on the need/interest, school bus transportation will be made available. If school bus transportation is desired, please indicate on the registration. A separate bus transportation form will then be sent out.
School Bus Transportation Update-- Express School Bus Stops are listed below.
Bus Route #1 Bus # B-211
PICKUP DROPOFF EXPRESS STOP
7:14 AM 1:44 PM MOUNTAIN VIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
7:24 AM 1:34 PM TYLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
7:31 AM 1:28 PM GLENKIRK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
7:41 AM 1:17 PM MARSTELLER MIDDLE SCHOOL
8:20 AM 12:35 PM GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL
Bus Route #2 Bus # B-252
PICK UP DROPOFF EXPRESS STOP
7:24 AM 1:39 PM WEST GATE ES@URBANNA RD
7:38 AM 1:26 PM BENNETT ES
7:50 AM 1:06 PM COLES ELEMENTAR PM Y SCHOOL
8:08 AM 12:50 PM LAKE RIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL
8:20 AM 12:35 PM GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL
Bus Route #3 Bus # B-288
PICK UP DROPOFF EXPRESS STOP
7:17 AM 1:13 PM ASHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
7:28 AM 1:40 PM POTOMAC SHORES MIDDLE SCHOOL
7:47 AM 1:31 PM RIVER OAKS ES
7:56 AM 12:47 PM BEL AIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
8:12 AM 12:56 PM BEVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL
8:20 AM 12:35 PM GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL
Obtaining an Instrument
We do NOT provide instruments for camp. We recommend students rent an instrument through a local store (see information under "local music stores" or contact the orchestra teacher they will have at the school they will attend in the Fall of 2023 and request a rental to begin this summer if possible.
AUDITION PLACEMENT INFORMATION
All students with the exception of beginners MUST submit a playing sample. Please choose one of the 5 excerpts for the instrument you will be playing at camp and submit a recording of you playing it. The excerpts are found in the attachments below along with the links to the appropriate flipgrid recording page.
If you are between excerpts (deciding difficulty) play both and I will place you accordingly.
Playing excerpts/samples are DUE FRIDAY, JUNE 30TH on the appropriate flipgrid link.
Violin Recording Page: https://flip.com/8c225ac4
Viola Recording Page: https://flip.com/af561f56
Cello Recording Page: https://flip.com/fc28e099
Bass Recording Page: https://flip.com/309614d9
SAMPLE SCHEDULE
Camp Schedule
8:30 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
July 10 - July 14, 2023
- 8:15 - 8:30 – Sign in and Tune
- 8:30 – 9:15 (45 min.) – Rehearsal/class
- 9:15 – 9:20 –(5 min.) QUICK Stretch and bathroom break
- 9:20 – 10:05 – (45 min.) Rehearsal/class
- 10:05– 10:15– (10 min.) Stretch and bathroom break
- 10:15 – 11:30 – (45 min.) Rehearsal/class
- 11:30 - 11:50 - (20 min. ) Break
- 11:50 - 12:30 - (40 min.) Rehearsal
- 12:30 - Dismissal
PWC ORCHESTRA CAMP REGISTRATION 2023
is now closed. No applications submitted after July 1, 2023 can be accepted.
Fill out the registration form below. All questions with * must be completed in order to submit registration form. Don't forget to hit the submit button on the form. Registration payment can be sent to Amy Ruhlman at Potomac Shores Middle Schol 17851 Woods View Dr. Dumfries Va. 22026. Check should be made out to Potomac Shores Middle School.
These are the most commonly asked questions. If you can't find the answer to your question here, please contact us (link in menu).
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.
PWC ORCHESTRA CAMP PHOTO GALLERY
Having fun while learning to play a string instrument!
PARENT COMMENTS...
from past years.
"This is a great program. We were so impressed with the music my our child was learning. She had a lot of fun and made new friends. The concert on the last day was far beyond what I would have expected the kids to learn to play in two weeks. I really appreciated what one of the teachers said..."just because they're 6th graders doesn't mean they have to sound like it." We're really looking forward to next year!"
"It was a blast--she loved it."
"This is a great opportunity for my daughter to keep her skills up during the summer. The camp had great teachers that my child enjoyed learning from and playing with. She completed the camp a better musician with more confidence."
-Thank you for you time and effort to produce a high quality summer camp.
"This was my daughter's second year doing PWC Orchestra Camp and she absolutely loves it. Seeing this type of excitement in a 13 year old is a beautiful thing! She was inspired daily and the camp not only improves her skills but she had a lot of fun and made new friends."
"The camp was well organized and the concert was great. The instructors and students did a great job. My son loved it!"
"Our daughter loved the camp. She had fun, learned new things, and most importantly got to practice more before starting her middle school strings class/group. We thought it was a great opportunity at a great price."
"Great job by everybody involved, very impressed and a great value for a two-week camp. Thank you!"
"Outstanding camp. The performances were incredible"
"The camp left our "beginner" excited about his decision to take orchestra as his elective at middle school. His enthusiasm throughout the camp's duration only grew, which is a reflection of the instructors and the program."
"This was a wonderful experience and my child found the music challenging, the instructors helpful and encouraging and the entire camp great fun."
"You all did a great job..my son enjoyed & liked it very much to be in the orchestra camp. He attended last year as well and he told me that it helped him a lot. Salute to you all!"
"Very pleased with instruction and fun activities for the kids. The information about practicing was great. The concert was nicely organized. Great program. Thanks for doing it."
"My daughter loved this camp! She learned a lot from her instructors and I feel she is ready for 6th-grade orchestra."
INSTRUMENT RENTAL & PURCHASE
Although PWC Orchestra Camp does not provide instruments for students, there are many places to rent or purchase and instrument. You can always do a search under "violin shops" or "music stores". Please be careful--if purchasing an instrument please go to a reputable shop. The internet is loaded with low cost, low quality instruments. Many times to the untrained eye, an internet instrument may "look" like a beautiful violin for a very good price ($50-$150) but in fact it turns out to be a VSO--Violin Shaped Object. These turn out to be virtually unplayable because of innumerable structural and set-up problems. Many times parents who have purchased this type of instrument find out that repairs needed to make their instrument playable far exceed the original price.
Music Stores
These are just a few local ones of many you can find.
Foxes Music Company
www.foxesmusic.com
Address: 416 S Washington St, Falls Church, VA 22046
Phone: (703) 533-7393
Brobst Violin Shop
www.brobstviolins.com
Address: 5584 General Washington Dr, Alexandria, VA 22312
Phone:(703) 256-0566
Potter Violin Company
www.pottersviolins.com
Address: 7711 Eastern Ave. NW., Takoma Park, MD 20912
Phone: (301) 652.7070, 1(800) 317.9452
Music & Arts
www.stores.musicarts.com
Retail Chain Music Store-(this is just one location listed below.
Address: 14577 Potomac Mills Rd, Woodbridge, VA 22192
Phone:(703) 491-4196
CONTACT FORM
Please provide your first ad last name when emailing.
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