Staff Description

Camp Description & Music/Rec Staff Job Summary

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CAMP DATES FOR STAFF:

Junior: August 21 - August 28 (Staff arrival time - 10:30 a.m.)
Senior: August 28 - September 5 (Staff arrival time - 3:00 p.m.)

WHAT IS NMC?

National Music Camp is run by a non-profit, non-sectarian foundation and is located on a 120 acre (50 ha) site on the shores of Lake Couchiching, north of Orillia, 90 minutes north of Toronto.
For more than 45 years, young musicians from 9- 18 years of age have come from across Ontario as well as other parts of Canada, the U.S., Asia and Europe, to enjoy a challenging music experience balanced with a wide range of recreational activities, including rock climbing and ropes, water-skiing, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, baseball, volleyball, basketball, tennis, archery, and arts and crafts.

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NMC PROGRAMS

Junior Camp accepts students completing grades 3-8.
Senior Camp is for students finishing grade 8-12. (except for Int. Jazz- see further along.)
Band, String Orchestra, Music Theatre, Classical/Acoustic Guitar, and Jazz are available at both camps.
Suzuki strings and Beginning Instruments (Band, Strings and Guitar) are offered to students at Junior Camp.
Vocal Jazz is available only at Senior camp.
The Junior Jazz program at Junior camp is for students finishing gr. 3-8 who have at least one year’s playing experience. At Senior camp we accept students finishing gr. 8-12 to the Jazz program.

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THE CAMPERS

Campers coming into the Band/Orchestra stream typically have at least one year of playing at school or
privately. Those in Suzuki strings are Suzuki students at home and continue their studies at camp with as much integration into the orchestra program as possible. Campers entering the Jazz stream will have had some experience playing or singing jazz at their school, except those in grade 7 or 8 who may have had little jazz experience. Those in the Junior Jazz program at Junior camp will have had little experience playing jazz. In Music Theatre campers are welcome with no prior experience and have classes in voice, drama, dance and performance. The Classical/Acoustic Guitar programme is open to players of all levels, from rank beginners to advanced. Of course, the Beginning Instruments and Beginning Strings programmes are for those with no experience on the instrument. Campers typically claim they learn as much in a week at camp as they would in almost a year of school.
Campers come to NMC for a number of reasons: to improve their playing with the high quality faculty and staff, to meet other kids who love music and who are there to learn, to have fun while learning a lot.

THE FACULTY

The music faculty is made up of performing artists, musicians and teachers from symphonies, universities, colleges, high school and elementary school music programmes.
Many of our faculty are also well-known freelance musicians, recording artists and authors. Along with being tremendous musicians, they are great ‘camp’ people.
The faculty conduct the bands, big bands, and orchestras, and teach sectional rehearsals and group lessons. Music Theatre faculty run the drama, singing, dance and performance rehearsals.

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WHAT ABOUT THE MUSIC STAFF?

The Band, String, Music Theatre and Guitar music staff are usually University or College music students. Some are in teacher’s college; others are teacher’s college graduates and are now in the classroom. A few of our staff are not in music, but have maintained their musical practice and a high playing level. A few are in their last year of high school. All Jazz staff are in Jazz programs at University or College or accepted into such programs.
Many staff are interested in music education as a career and use NMC as a valuable learning, teaching and networking experience.
Performance majors also love working at camp as they get the chance to hone teaching skills they will use to supplement their performing careers! There are opportunities to play, to teach, to observe, to hang, to hear concerts, to work with kids all day.
All staff live in cabins with campers and other staff, eat meals with the campers and are ‘cabin counsellors.’

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

Music staff are in the top percentage of their class. They love music and they love kids. They possess excellent playing skills, and above all, outstanding personal skills. They have a keen interest in teaching. Many have previous teaching and coaching experience, but NMC is a also a terrific training ground for those who want to teach and are willing to learn. Staff learn a great deal by watching and interacting with other staff and the faculty conductors and specialists. NMC also provides several evening workshops geared to those who wish to teach. Music staff have a positive attitude and a willingness to serve. They are proactive and confident. Our staff love that they live, eat, work and play with the campers.
The staff numbers also include a large number of core recreation staff, most of whom have been working at the camp all summer as part of the Camp Wahanowin staff. They run recreation programs and evening programs and help with the physical running of the camp.

WHAT DO STAFF DO?

Music staff assist the Band/Orchestra, Suzuki, Guitar and Jazz Faculty by working with the conductors/leaders and specialists. They help in large group rehearsals, sectionals/workshops and group lessons.
The Music Theatre program offers campers a ‘review’ type of show, highlighting songs, dance and dialogue from Broadway shows. Music Theatre staff perform a number of functions from vocal, drama and dance coaching, to stage and props creation and management to assisting faculty with the performance class, depending on their background and the group’s needs.
Jazz staff are also responsible for managing/moving all the rental equipment (amps, drumkits, keyboards, cords, etc) under the direction of the Sr. Staff and Jazz Director.
Staff with the Beginning Instruments programmes will offer one-on-one lessons and assist with small group lessons as well as assisting the faculty program coordinators.

TYPICAL DAY

Wake up is at 7:00. Staff Curfew is 12:30 (Jr. camp), 1:00 a.m.(Sr. camp)
CAMPERS: The typical day for Junior Camp is four hours of music, including an elective period where they can perform in an ensemble, sing in a chorus, or work on theory and rhythm, assisted by Music Staff. Campers at Senior Camp have 5 hours of music and may also choose from a variety of electives in the evening as well as ensembles.
There are two recreation periods for all campers, an evening programme and an evening concert each night. All Senior B/O/Gtr/MT campers sing in a very popular camp-wide chorus.
STAFF: Music Staff teach or assist for about 3 hours a day and have full cabin responsibilities. All campers and staff eat together at all meals. Campers and music staff attend the evening concerts.
Music Staff are ‘off’ during evening programs and rec periods, but often choose to participate in Staff/Faculty groups, rehearse, or participate with their kids during evening program.
Recreation staff and music staff tend to have opposite schedules. While Music staff are working, Rec staff are off or finishing up jobbies. When the Rec staff are ‘on’, it’s when the music staff are ‘off’. Rec staff also live in the cabins and eat meals with their campers and other staff.

BASIC DAY:

JR Camp

7:15am Wakey Wakey

8:00 Brekkie

9:00-9:50 Period A - Music

10:00-10:00 Period B - Music

11-12:20pm Period C - Recreation

12:30 Lunch

2:00-2:50 Period D - Music

3:00-3:50 Period E - Music

4:00-5:20 Period F - Recreation

5:30 Dins

6:30 Faculty concert, evening program, staff rehearsals

7:10 Evening program, snack, staff rehearsal

9:00 Quiet on camp/Staff Evening programs

12:30 Staff Curfew

SR Camp

7:00am Wakey Wakey

8:00 Brekkie

9-9:50 Period A - Music

10-10:50 Period B - Music

11-11:50 Period C - Recreation

12-12:50pm Period D - Elective

1:00 Lunch

2:00-2:50 Period E - Music

3:00-3:50 Period F - Music

4:00-4:50 Period G - Elective

5:00 Recreation

6:00 Dins

7:30-10:00 Faculty concert, evening program

10:00 Quiet on camp/Staff Evening program

12:30 Staff Curfew

WHERE DO WE LIVE?

Campers and all staff live in cabins that house 10-14 campers and 2-4 staff.
Each cabin has both Recreation and Music staff as counsellors.
All cabins are equipped with indoor plumbing and electricity.
Campers and staff eat together in the dining hall.
Music staff are responsible for bedtime routines since Recreation staff are cleaning up after evening programs.
Appropriate dining hall, cabin and concert decorum is expected from all campers and staff.

WHAT ELSE IS THERE?

There are many extra opportunities for music staff: participation in a wind ensemble or orchestra, performing in the evening or Porch Concert Series, participation in staff/faculty coffee house nights, etc. When they are not on duty, recreational facilities are usually open to them.
Staff will all have a night of “O.D.” per camp, supervising the safety of several cabins in the evening. Otherwise, in the evenings, after camper lights out, there are staff evening programs planned by Senior Music Staff and it’s a time to simply hang out.
Since 1995 the staff have raised funds for the Staff Scholarship Fund. Several on-camp activities take place. Staff also have the opportunity to donate part or all of their honorarium to this fund, which has raised more than $100 000 and helped more than 200 campers get to camp. High School Students who would like to have NMC counted as volunteer hours may do so by donating their honorarium to the fund.
We also have some of the most gorgeous sunsets around!
Check out our photo gallery.

COMING TO CAMP

Please note arrival dates and times for staff. Staff for Junior camp and Both camps have an orientation on Saturday, August 22
Staff for Senior Camp have orientation on Saturday, August 28. Accepted staff are expected to attend these orientations.
A bus is provided from Toronto to camp for Jr. camp on Aug. 15. Staff must provide their own transportation to Senior Camp.
Transportation by bus and train is available. We have an on-site policy for all staff, including the night between camps, August 28.

STAFF MUST BE:

17 YEARS OF AGE AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2010 TO WORK AT JUNIOR CAMP
19 YEARS OF AGE AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2010 TO WORK AT SENIOR CAMP or at both camps.
Preference is given to those who have completed high school or who are over 19 years of age.
Staff at Senior camp must play/perform at an advanced (Gr. 9/10) level. Staff at Junior camp who are still in High School should be playing first chair in their music program and have strong recommendations from their music teacher. Music Theatre dance staff must be strong in at least two dance areas. All Jazz staff must be in Jazz programs.
Guitar staff must have acoustic/classical background and be able to read conventional notation.
An honorarium of $100.00 is paid for each camp.
YOU MAY NOT BE ON STAFF AT JUNIOR CAMP AND BE A CAMPER AT HIGH SCHOOL CAMP. THIS POLICY IS FIRM.
A PHONE INTERVIEW IN MAY WILL BE REQUIRED.

HOW DO I APPLY?

Complete the application form in full and send along with resume and reference forms by e-mail to: staff@nationalmusiccamp.com
Application forms can be mailed to:
Sharon Little, (Staff Coordinator, NMC)
RR#1
Rodney, ON N0L 2C0
Email applications are accepted in .pdf, .doc, .rtf, or .pages format.
Put NMC and your name: a) in subject line b) on all document labels.
Eg. NMC Sharon Little, Application.doc, NMC Sharon Little, Reference.doc, NMC Sharon Little Cover letter and Resume.doc
Any questions? 519.785.0797 (Collect calls accepted; no calls accepted after 9:30 pm)
Email: staff@nationalmusiccamp.com Please!!! Put NMC and your name in the subject line.
Application deadline for first round hiring is May 1. Applications are accepted and staff are hired after that depending on what vacancies remain.
Sending by Expresspost or courier?
23807 McLean Line, RR#1 Rodney, ON N0L 2C0