Staff Description

Camp Description & Music/Rec Staff Job Summary

CAMP DATES FOR STAFF
Junior: August 16-23 (Staff arrival time, 10:30 a.m.)
Senior: August 25-31 (Staff arrival time. 10:30 a.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 40 years, young musicians from 9- 19 years of age have come from across Ontario as well as other parts of Canada, the U.S. 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.

NMC PROGRAMS
Junior Camp accepts students completing grades 3-7.
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. 3-7 who have at least one year’s playing
experience. At Senior camp we accept students finishing gr. 7-12 to the Jazz program.

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 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 book 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.

WHAT ABOUT THE 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! Thre 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 inteacting with other staff and the faculty conductors and specialists. NMC also provides several evening workshops geared to new teachers. Music staff have a positive attitude and a willingness to serve. They are proactive and confident.
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 rec 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. Many staff in the B/O stream also conduct small camper ensembles who may perform at a camper ensemble concert. In the Music Theatre programme staff perform a number of functions from vocal. drama and dance coaching, to stage and props management to assisting faculty with the performance class, depending on their background and the group’s needs.
We also hire someone with light and sound experience. This staff person works around camp with sound gear for all programs, concerts, etc.Jazz staff are also responsible for managing all the rental equipment, 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.
Check out our website to see photos, what former staff have to say, faculty bios, etc.

TYPICAL DAY
Wake up is at 7:00. Staff Curfew is 12:30.

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 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.

TYPICAL DAY of Jr camp

7:00 ish Wakey Wakey

7:45 Brekkie

9-11 Classes

11-12:30 Recreation

12:30 Lunch

2:00-4:00 Classes

4:00-5:00 Recreation

5:30 Dins

6:30-9 Concert, evening program, staff rehearsals

9:30 Quiet on camp/ Staff Evening programs

12:30 Staff Curfew

At Senior camp there are three hours of classes before lunch After dinner, there is an elective program before the concert. Quiet on camp for SR campers is at 10:30.

WHAT ELSE IS THERE?
There are many extra opportunities for music staff:: participation in a wind ensemble or orchestra, coaching a
camper ensemble, 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.
We also have some of the most gorgeous sunsets around!

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.

STAFF MUST BE:

17 YEARS OF AGE AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2008 TO WORK AT JUNIOR CAMP
19 YEARS OF AGE AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2008 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.
Music Theatre Tech Support must be in a college tech program and have sound and light experience.
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, by mail, to
Sharon Little, (Staff Coordinator, NMC)
RR#1
Rodney, ON N0L 2C0
Any questions? 519.785.0797 (Collect calls accepted; no calls accepted after 9:30 pm)
Email: onequalitynote@yahoo.ca Put NMC and your name in the subject line.
Application deadline for first round hiring is May 1. Staff are hired after that depending on what vacancies remain.
Sending by Expresspost or courier?
23807 McLean Line, RR#1 Rodney ON N0L 2C0