What are Music Camps?

The National Youth Music Camps provide opportunities for young people from across the UK to broaden their musical experience, develop their skills and share their enjoyment with others. The combination of the facilities of a professional venue along with the opportunity to sleep under canvas makes for a magical, musical experience.

They offer a musical and creative environment to all young people interested in music, regardless of playing standard – there is no minimum grade of entry or audition. The most important requirement is that you love music and are keen to develop your talent.

Teenage campers have usually been playing their instruments for a few years, but not everyone has had formal lessons or taken any grades.

Junior camp is for children who love music whether they’ve been learning for years or have only just started. If you haven’t found the instrument you really want to learn yet but know you love making music then you could still be part of Junior camp and have a chance to try different musical activities and instruments during some of the sessions

Founded in 1970 by Avril Dankworth, the sister of Stables founder Sir John Dankworth, the Camps offers a huge variety of musical activities for young people: in addition to developing existing instrumental skills, campers are encouraged to try out new instruments and new genres as well as experimenting with improvisation and composition.

Campers also work together to stage a musical as part of the showcase for parents at the end of the week.

The Camps are staffed by volunteers, including qualified music tutors, as well as dedicated teams of catering and maintenance staff.

Many of the current volunteers are ex-campers themselves, who give their time in order to ensure the same opportunities are made available to new generations of campers.