Summer Camp at Crab Shack for 2026 is live! We had a great time last summer. The Shack always strives to be an immersive, fun, and supportive environment where musicians can explore a variety of styles and instruments. Each session focuses on developing foundational skills- whether it's mastering drum rudiments, understanding pop harmony, or refining ensemble playing in genres like rock, jazz, or pop. For young brass players and aspiring women in pop, our specialized programs provide a more concentrated discussion on the topic and sense of community.
Enrollment in each ensemble session of the camp is capped at 5 or 6 students and will require a minimum of 3 students to cement its place in the summer program. The Audio Engineering & Production camp is capped at 3 participants due to the nature of the work and no engineering experience is required. Please note: none of the performance ensemble camps are suitable for beginners - two years of band experience at the middle school level is preferred, but the question is ultimately “can they play?” Depending on everyone’s schedule and ability, I may adjust the programming as needed to accommodate everyone who wants to join! To enroll, please fill out the Google Form at this link.
Tuition cost depends on the week most are $450/week but Leading Lady and Jazz Combo are $500 to accommodate paying instructors. A 50% non-refundable deposit will be required to secure their place in a session of the camp by JUNE 1. If you know someone with a committed student who would benefit from any of these camps but lacks the financial resources to apply, please have them contact me at lessons@crabshackmusic.com.
June 22 - 26 + July 6 - 10 + July 13-17, 9a - 12p Audio Engineering & Production (ages 13+)
June 22 - 26 + July 6-10, 1p - 4p Drumming Fundamentals: Rudiments & Reading (ages 13+)
July 20 - 24, 9a - 12p Leading Lady Masterclass w/ Gracie Jay ( 12+)
July 14 - 18, 1p - 4p Jazz Combo & Improv w/ Langston Hughes II (13+)
July 27 -31, 1p - 4p Songwriting Workshop (12+)
Audio Engineering & Production
This class introduces eager musicians and aspiring producers to the fundamentals of audio recording, covering everything from cable management to miking techniques. Students will learn how to properly set up (and troubleshoot!) audio equipment with a focus on real-world skills like cable and connection types, proximity effect, mitigating bleed, and more. We will learn how to make original, organic samples using ordinary, household objects. Participants will also get hands-on experience with ProTools, learning to record, edit, and mix tracks using this industry-standard software. Given that the Shack is outfitted with 16 channels of analog recording equipment, students will literally have hands-on experience recording through preamps, EQ’s and compressors, deepening their understanding of modern digital applications. By the end of the week, students will have an understanding of the recording process and be able to record and produce themselves, and even other people!
Songwriting Workshop
Want to write songs but you’re unsure where to start? We will break down popular songs and techniques to get you started writing on your own. By the end of the week, students will be knowledgeable of the themes in popular music, different ways to start a song, and have recorded demos of their work!
Leading Lady Masterclass with Gracie Jay
READY FOR THE SPOTLIGHT? Learn the skills of leading a band, stage presence, and commanding an audience in addition to vocal exercises, interpretation & style, and mic technique. Students will work with locally based professional vocalist Gracie Jay. “Because every band needs a leading lady.”
Jazz Combo & Improv with Langston Hughes II
Instrumentation: Drums, Bass, Piano, Guitar, Trumpet, Trombone, Saxophone, Flute
This camp offers kids the opportunity to be in a small jazz group where they’ll dive into the fundamentals of jazz, focusing on improvisation, the blues, and the dynamics of playing in an ensemble. Throughout the week students will learn the basics of jazz theory, how to improvise over chord progressions, and the structure of the 12-bar blues. They’ll also explore the history of jazz, including seminal figures involved in the progression of the artform including Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and more. We will listen to different group instrumentations to observe their interactions and how they create cohesive performances. With plenty of hands-on playing, we will emphasize creativity, overcoming fear, collaboration, and developing “a sound” within the context of a jazz ensemble. By Friday, students will have gained confidence in improvisation and have a deeper understanding and perhaps even appreciation for jazz and its role in American culture.
Drumming Fundamentals: Rudiments and Reading
This week of camp will delight the parents of ambitious young drummers - an opportunity for them to play together and make noise in someone else’s house! Together we will introduce an effective and concise practice routine that covers technique, rudiments (scales for drummers), reading solos, and playing together as a group. We will explore different rhythmic patterns commonly found in different genres of music such as clave and swung eighth notes. By the end of the camp, participants improve their drumming foundation, gain confidence in reading music, and develop a love for rhythm in a fun and interactive setting.