Fun, Musical Experience Also Focuses on Social Skills and Independence

Campers celebrate music by participating in a songwriting workshop, recording session, songwriter's night and a live performance on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. Campers are invited to take part in research activities.

The music camp provides persons with Williams syndrome and other developmental disabilities a unique opportunity to focus on what they love and do well — music! Camp goals include:

• Learning and practicing new skills
• Music enrichment and appreciation
• Performing with other musicians
• Socializing with mentors and peers
• Feeling connected and empowered
• Family support and information

Tuition is $1300.

ACM Music Camp Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I sign my child up for the Music Camp?
A: There is an application process for the Camp, which involves a $25 application fee. We have a limited number of slots available. Applying for Camp does not guarantee you a slot.

Q: Can I put my child on the waiting list for the 2012 Camp?
A: All campers have confirmed attendance at this summer's camp. Should one of them drop out, priority would be given to those who submitted their application in the month of January. You are welcome, however, to sign up to be notified when next year's application is available.

Q: Does my child meet the criteria for attending the Camp?
A: Criteria are:

• Diagnosed developmental disability (DD) or intellectual disability
• Minimum age: 16 years--No maximum age
• Verbal and able to respond to directions
• Possesses musical ability
  ° Campers will be expected to participate in the rehearsals and to sing at rehearsal, the recording studio, and on stage, regardless of their singing “talent”. So they need to be comfortable and willing to sing, even if they don’t necessary excel at singing.
  ° Audition tapes or other forms of documentation are NOT necessary.
• Able to stay away from home for a week and able to learn and socialize well with other teens and adults with DD
• Needs to be relatively independent with no aggressive behaviors or wandering away

Q: Who are the celebrities involved with the camp?
A: Music professionals from Music City may share their talents and help guide activities during certain points during the week to help mentor young budding musicians with developmental disabilities. The participating professionals will be a surprise that week, as the primary focus of this music camp is to promote friendship and camaraderie between campers, even after they leave camp. We want the focus to be on the special bond that campers forge during this amazing week of music camp.

Q: My child would only be able to attend some of the dates of camp. Is that ok?
A: No. Your child would need to be at the camp by the afternoon of the first Sunday and stay through the morning of the following Saturday.

Q: When will Summer 2013 applications be available?
A: January 2013.

How much does the Camp cost?
A: For Summer 2012, the tuition is $1,300. That includes room, meals, and all field trips. Please note that families incur the additional cost of transporting their child to Nashville. The Opry performance is on a Friday but the campers don’t leave until Saturday. Campers must remain in the dorm until Saturday and parents cannot stay in the dorm with their child. Therefore if the parents come to town to see the performance, they will incur lodging, meal, and transport expenses. Additionally, families must pay for their ticket to the Opry performance, which costs ~$40-$55/person.

Q: What if we cannot afford the tuition?
A: Need-based scholarships are available to those who qualify. These scholarships are for tuition only. Each family is responsible for the additional expenses mentioned above. Scholarships are based on the following criteria:

Supporting documentation, typically the previous year’s tax return, is required for the scholarship application.

Q: What are the Camp primary activities?
A: Campers write a song with a professional songwriter, record the song in a studio with a recording artist, participate in jam sessions, go on field trips to music-related venues in Nashville, share meals together, participate in research (on a voluntary basis), and perform on the Grand Ole Opry.

Q: Can I visit my child during Camp?
A: One of the goals of the Camp is to promote independent living skills. In order to work towards that goal, we ask that parents let their child enjoy the Camp experience on their own. Parents are welcome at the Grand Ole Opry performance on Friday and are notified when tickets are available for purchase.

Q: What is the camper/counselor ratio?
A: The Camp has 1 counselor for every 3 campers.

Q: Is the staff support sufficient for my child?
A: Camp is an exciting experience. Campers should be independent and need little help with daily activities, such as dressing and self-care. They should be able to participate in group activities with little redirection. Campers who are easily overstimulated, have difficulty being in close contact with others for 10-12 hours a day, and need to be separated from a group to calm down will have a difficult time keeping up with the pace of this residential camp. Campers need to be able to communicate their needs to staff through appropriate verbal means.

Q: What will the campers’ residential experience be like?
A: The campers stay at a dormitory on the Vanderbilt University campus. Only Camp staff, University staff, and campers have access to the dorm. Because the dorms are on an access card system, people have to get special permission in order to get an access card and get into the building. Campers share rooms (2 per room.) There is a kitchen in the dorm where campers prepare breakfast every morning. Counselors are on the same floor as the campers.

Q: What are the expectations of campers/families?
A: Accepted families are asked to sign and follow the below codes of conduct.

Code of Conduct for ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp: Parents

Code of Conduct for ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp: Campers

Join the Mailing List

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Contact

Laura McLeod, laura.mcleod@vanderbilt.edu, (615) 343-5322

Giving

See details on how to give to the ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp