CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Lori Guess, from Baltimore, reflects on her experiences at a summer music camp in Sidney, Maine, where she first attended as a high school student in the 1970s. Captivated by the serene lakeside setting, she found solace and connection among fellow musicians. Now at 71, she continues to revisit this cherished site, having transitioned to a new instrument, the trumpet, in an adult band program established in 2013. Guess, a retired lawyer for the U.S. Department of Defense, shares her excitement about returning to the New England Adult Music Camp, highlighting its unchanging beauty over the decades.
Today, adult music camps across the United States cater to a diverse range of musical interests and skill levels, encompassing genres such as electronic, folk, rock and roll, jazz, chamber, and opera. For many participants, these camps provide an opportunity not only to enhance their musical abilities but also to forge lasting friendships and reconnect with their youthful passion for music.
According to Carole Lieberman, a forensic psychiatrist from California, playing music offers emotional benefits, boosting creativity and mood. She emphasizes the cognitive advantages as well, noting that learning to play an instrument can lead to improved neurological connections in the brain, which may help stave off conditions like dementia. For Guess, the experience of making music alongside others represents a profound form of spiritual connection and transcendence beyond everyday concerns.
These music camps accommodate all skill levels, with resources available for beginners, intermediates, and advanced players. Notably, the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan offers a weeklong Symphonic Band Camp specifically designed for experienced adult musicians. In Walla Walla, Washington, the Midsummer Musical Retreat caters to various abilities, evolving from its inception in 1983 to include multiple performance groups. Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, hosts a Band Camp for Adult Musicians that features coaching from retired military members and college professors.
Leigh Hurtz, the director of the Susquehanna camp, shares that many campers are retirees who have attended for years, some even bringing their children and grandchildren with them. Many participants are professionals from diverse backgrounds, who, after years away from their instruments, feel moved to return to music. Traditions such as family dinners on the first night, sketch comedy nights, and lobster dinners bring campers together in a unique way, while sharing varied activities like kayaking and yoga enrich the experience.
Linda Haller, a retired obstetrician-gynecologist from New Hampshire, exemplifies the camp's mission of lifelong music engagement. After years away from the clarinet, she rejoined the community band and returned to the camp, progressing from beginner to intermediate level while enjoying the camaraderie it offers. Psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert emphasizes the valuable combination of memory, discipline, and growth involved in resuming an instrument that one learned in childhood, while highlighting the benefits to attention and fine motor coordination along with reduced stress.
The New Horizons International Music Association aids adults in pursuing music, with over 200 bands, orchestras, and choruses globally and an active presence in the adult music community since 1991. Their ethos, “Your best is good enough,” promotes inclusivity among adult musicians. New Horizons also organizes camps, including an “American Music Abroad” trip and seasonal gatherings near Cincinnati, Ohio. Russ Grazier, an artistic director associated with New Horizons, reflects on the growing participation of adults over 60 in ensemble music, underscoring the significance of social connections that these camps provide.
In conclusion, adult music camps serve as vital spaces for personal growth, emotional well-being, and community engagement, reflecting the enduring passion and joy that music brings to people's lives, regardless of their age or past experiences.
