Summer Jam - Music Camp

A full-day camp for rising 1st-3rd graders

Summer Jam is a full-day, music-focused camp designed for kids who love to explore, create, and play through music. This year, we’re going all in on music, giving campers the time and space to dive deeper into instruments, rhythm, and collaborative music-making.

Each day includes themed musical learning in the morning, outdoor lunch and playtime, and afternoon music intensives, where campers explore piano and violin with greater focus and hands-on guidance.

Summer Jam is a playful, social, and structured program designed to help kids build real musical skills in a supportive environment specifically for big kids.

Summer 2026

Weeks of Musical Discovery:

  • 🎹 Week 1: Meet the Instruments (June 8-12)

  • 🌍 Week 2: Around the World (June 15-19)

  • 🎷 Week 3: The World of Jazz (July 13-17)

  • 🔬 Week 4: The Science of Sound (July 27-31)

  • 🥁 Week 5: Percussion and Drumming (Aug 10-14)

Save $35 when you register before February 28th!

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“We weren’t sure how our shy child would do in a group camp, but Summer Jam exceeded our expectations. The teachers created a welcoming, low-pressure environment where our child felt safe to participate. By the end of camp, they were more confident and proud of what they had learned musically.”

— Rachel F.

What Happened to Summer Jam & Swim?

Summer Jam has evolved! While we loved being part of the Summer Jam & Swim program at the Edgewater Athletic Club, Merry Music Makers and LYRIQ Music School saw a growing desire from families for a full-day, music-focused camp with more time for hands-on instrument learning.

By bringing Summer Jam to our Byron space, we’re able to offer a more immersive musical experience, one that allows campers to explore instruments like piano and violin in greater depth, engage in themed musical learning, and enjoy a truly music-intensive day. This shift allows us to better serve children who are curious about music and ready for a more exploratory, creative, and focused camp experience.

We’re excited to offer a program that reflects what our community has been asking for and supports young musicians as they grow in confidence and skill.

Learn more about each week

  • Campers will learn about instrument families through hands-on activities. Our skilled teachers will guide campers through these explorations while weaving together basic music theory and ear training skills. Here are just a few of the goals campers will work towards:

    1) Distinguish between different instruments by categorize them by family based on how they are played

    2) Read and play a simple rhythm accurately in common time

    3) Listen to a piece of music and determine if it’s in a major or non-major tonality

  • Pack your bags and get ready to explore the music of Ireland, Australia, Japan, Ghana, and Brazil! Campers will explore the instruments and music from these countries through engaging activities including crafts, live performances, and dance. Here are a few goals campers will work towards:

    1) Describe instruments from each country

    2) Independently maintain a steady beat

    3) Identify each country on a map

  • Campers will explore various types of jazz from big band to scat and improvisation through engaging activities. Capping off their jazz-filled week, campers will work together on an Escape Room challenge to apply all that that they have learned throughout the week. Here are some goal campers will work towards:

    1) Recognize and name commonly used instruments in jazz when listening to a recording

    2) Accurately name types of notes and rests and how many beats each receives

    3) Play a rhythm in an uncommon time signature

  • Campers become scientists, immersing themselves in daily hands-on experiments that explore the secrets of sound waves, vibration, frequency, pitch, and the power of amplification. Here are a few goals campers will work towards:

    1) Describe how people hear sound

    2) Draw a sound wave to represent the volume and pitch of a sound

    3) Demonstrate how a pitch can change using various hand made instruments

  • Campers will explore percussion and drumming through hands-on activities such as making a drum, exploring rhythm through body percussion and working on basics of music notation by composing their musical composition. Here are few goals campers will will work towards:

    1) Distinguish different instruments in the percussion family

    2) Discuss music using various musical terms

    3) Demonstrate basic rhythmic independence by playing a percussion instrument with other campers

Camp Logistics

  • Beginning at 8:45am, you may drop your child off at our 1909 W Byron LYRIQ Music School location.

    You MUST sign your child in and out each day.

  • This schedule balances choice, structure, movement, and focused learning to support growing independence, creativity, and musical confidence.

    8:45–9:00 | Morning Centers
     Campers choose a quiet morning activity such as Magnatiles, drawing, or building with LEGOs.

    9:00–9:30 | Morning Meeting
     Group games to build community, introduce the day’s theme, and get ready for learning and play.

    9:30–9:50 | Mini Lesson
     Campers dive into the weekly theme through listening, discussion, and hands-on musical exploration.

    9:50–10:20 | Snack & Break Time
     Bathroom breaks and snack time.

    10:20–11:20 | Themed Stations
     Campers rotate through small-group stations connected to the weekly theme, including instruments, movement, rhythm, and creative activities.

    11:20–11:50 | Whole Group Music Activity
     Large-group games and experiences that may include movement, music games, experimentation, and collaborative play.

    11:50–12:00 | Get Ready for Lunch

    12:00–1:00 | Outdoor Lunch & Recess
     Lunch outdoors at picnic tables, followed by a supervised walk and playtime at nearby Filbert Park (1822 W Larchmont Ave).

    1:00–2:15 | Instrument Exploration & Music Intensives
     Focused time on piano and violin, with opportunities to practice, experiment, and grow at each camper’s level.

    2:15–3:00 | Music Games & Jam Time
     Creative challenges, group music-making, and end-of-day sharing.

  • Forms must be completed one week before the start of camp. These will be sent to guardians and must be completed at least one week before camp begins.

    1) Camp Release Form

    2) Emergency Contact Form

  • Lunchtime includes outdoor activities such as lunch outside at the picnic tables on Byron and a walk to nearby Filbert Park at 1822 W Larchmont, weather permitting.

    We will be outdoors at lunchtime, so feel free to apply sunscreen before camp.

  • Pack a water bottle, peanut-free snack, and lunch.

  • Limited aftercare is available upon request at a rate of $25 for one child, $35 for 2 children from 3-4pm only per day.

  • Cost:
    $475 per week, 5 full days, 9am-3pm.

    Are there any discounts?
    Campers receive a $35 discount when registering by February 28th (use booking link)

    Siblings?
    Enrolled siblings save $25 automatically

  • Who This Camp Is For

    ✔ Kids entering 1st–3rd grade
    ✔ Children who love music, movement, and hands-on learning
    ✔ Curious learners ready for longer focus and deeper exploration
    ✔ Beginners and early musicians—no prior experience required

    There are spaces for 16 campers per week.

  • Camp Transfers: All camp transfers will be subject to a $25 administrative fee. If transferring less than two weeks before the camp start date, the fee is $50.

    Camp Cancellations: All cancellations will be subject to a $100 administrative fee. No refunds will be issued within two weeks of a camp start date. In lieu of a refund, a credit may be applied to the Opus account.

    Feeling sick? Please stay home to help keep everyone healthy! If any child falls ill during the camp day, a guardian will be required to pick them up immediately.

    Due to the nature of the group class, no refunds or make-ups will be given for absences.