Piano Camp

students playing piano at Piano Camp

Gilmore Piano Camp 2023

We all need camp more than ever! Since its creation 24 years ago, Gilmore Piano Camp has welcomed hundreds of young pianists to its natural outdoor setting at Sherman Lake for fun and study. The camp provides classical piano training, a wide range of music-related electives, and–of course–many traditional camp activities. Treasured as the Midwest’s only piano-specific summer music camp, Gilmore Piano Camp is recommended for students that have had at least 1 year of piano lessons.

This year’s Gilmore Piano Camp will be in-person. As summer gets closer, we will continue to communicate and remain transparent about our adaptations for Summer 2023; following all of our state and local health department guidelines.

Registration

Register early for the best pricing, and be sure to complete all three steps:

  • Register online with Sherman Lake YMCA.
  • Submit a placement audition video. Video submission instructions will be emailed to you after registering with Sherman Lake YMCA.
  • Complete the Gilmore Piano Camp Information Form, which will be emailed to you after registering with Sherman Lake YMCA.

Register For Camp

Read below to learn about scholarships and financial aid.

Registration Dates

Register early to take advantage of discounted prices for Piano Camp 2023:

Starting November 1st, campers can register for a discount of $25 for Overnight Camp or $15 for Day Camp.
Offer ends December 31, 2022

Starting January 1, 2023, Gilmore Piano Camp rates are:
Overnight Piano Camp: $870 (member), $895 (non member)
Day Piano Camp: $489 (member), $499 (non member)

Scholarships

Two scholarship opportunities are available to help make camp more affordable. Families may apply for both scholarships.

The Gilmore’s Piano Camp Scholarships are available to cover up to 50% of the cost of camp, thanks to support from Education for the Arts and the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation. Awards for this scholarship are based on merit. Each applicant will submit a video audition– directions for how to submit your audition are included in the application.

Sherman Lake YMCA Financial Aid is available for campers, and is based on financial need. Learn more about YMCA Financial Aid here.

The deadline to apply for scholarships is May 31, 2023.

Scholarship Form – English

Scholarship Form – Spanish

Camp Information

Please read the highly informative parent information packets prepared by the Sherman Lake YMCA, which contain:

  • Covid-19 safety precautions
  • camper bus schedules and parent pick-up/drop off info
  • medical forms and medication procedures
  • what to pack and LOTS more!

Day Camp Parent Pack
Overnight Camp Parent Pack

Overnight Camp (Ages 8-16)

June 25-June 30, 2023
$870 (Y Member)
$895 (Non-Member)

Gilmore Piano Camp – Overnight

Sherman Lake Early-bird discounts start in October each year. Register now for the best rates!
Immerse yourself in music! Enjoy a piano lesson, a practice period, and up to two electives every day. Electives include Composition, Recording Arts, Jazz & Improvisation, and more!

Evenings feature recitals, campfires, and other classic YMCA camp activities. Perform pieces from elective classes at the Thursday Night Throw-down, and prepared pieces from your lessons in a final celebratory recital hosted by campers for their peers, friends, and family.

Day Piano Camp (Ages 7-12)

June 26 – June 30, 2023
$489 (Y Member)
$499 (non-member)

Gilmore Piano Camp – Day

Sherman Lake Early-bird discounts start in October each year. Register now for the best rates!

Come and play! Enjoy daily small group piano lessons, exploration in technology and music-making with Jazzy Jams, plus hands-on art projects. Participate each afternoon in outdoor YMCA classic camp activities including the climbing tower, swimming, archery, and more. Perform in a final celebratory recital Friday at 1:00 PM.

Music Preparation For All Campers

This year’s Piano Camp Theme is “Boogie and Blues” —we’ll be celebrating the blues, ragtime, boogie woogie, and other early 20th century American popular musical styles. All piano campers are encouraged to prepare two pieces of music that reflect the special Piano Camp theme each year.

Please note that the theme is for fun and is open to broad interpretation! If a student doesn’t have pieces that fit the theme, no worries! We will happily accept what they have prepared.

Students will get the most out of their camp experience if they have learned the notes, rhythms, and fingerings of their music in advance. At camp, their piano teacher will help them to dig deeper into the musicality of performance and other attributes that high-level instruction aims to address.

Questions About Education?

Please direct questions to Adam Schumaker, Director of Education, x125, Leslie Baron, Education and Community Engagement Manager, x130. For Piano Lab questions, please contact Liz Kelly, Piano Lab Coordinator, x103. Gilmore Office Phone: 269.342.1166.

All content © 2023 Irving S. Gilmore International Piano Festival