SUMMER Music club
ONLINE. See the splash page for all the latest information and registration
We're moving online for the summer! We want it to be GREAT. Nothing like school!!! We are busily lining up an assortment of fun, arts-based classes taught by super talented singers, dancers, actors, and more. You'll see lots of familiar faces and some new ones too. We expect that will expand as the summer unfolds. Don't worry. Your kids will not be locked into 6 hours in front of a screen a day. You will be able to take as many classes as you like, whenever you like. Best of all, we've kept it affordable just $15 per class and for families of essential workers and first responders we're working on an even better deal.
NEWS: typically we focus our classes on children ages 8-14. We are working on a line of classes for the younger members of our society. Stay tuned.
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FREE CLASSES: Are you interested in some free classes? In exchange, you can help us with your feedback. Tell us what you need? Even though it's a little nutty, we want this to be a different but fun version of what you've come to expect from Mr. D's Music Club over the years.
Email us at MrDsMusicClub@gmail.com for more info.
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EMPLOYMENT: Are you a dancer, singer, actor, etc. Want to be part of Mr. D's Music Club? Tell us about yourself. Email us at: MrDsMusicClub@gmail.com
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Registration open very soon.
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FYI We will have lot's more activities on offer as the summer unfolds.
Class size will be 8-10 email us to reserve your spot.
2020 CAMP Themes
Camp 1: June 8-12
"Off to the Movies"
One of our favs. So many songs to choose from
Camp 2: June 22-26
"Cheerios and Goodbyes"
Happy and sad farewells. The fodder of poets and songwriters for millenia and good enough for us.
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Camp 3: July 6-10
"Songs Of The Sea"
Oh Yes we're going to visit The Little Mermaid and pick a gem or two! ( or three:) )
Camp 4: July 20-24
"They Left Us Too Soon"
Preserved and immortalized and usually for good reason. Endless choice of fantastic music.
Camp 5: August 3-7
"Across The Decades"
No idea how we're going to choose but thats part of the fun. Which songs will resonate with the young people?
Camps are for children 8-13 years old with no experience necessary. Some exceptions will be made for younger children entering 2nd grade. Please contact Mr. D's Music Club to learn more.
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Camp 5: August 3-7
"Decades"
Please note: all these themes are subject to change as each class is dependent on the availability of the teaching artists.
Activities may include: Singing, Dancing, Hip-hop, Modern dance, Kids' yoga, Ear training, Vocal Coaching, Talent shows, Songwriting, Art, Acting, Drawing, Picnics in the Park, Activity Games, Quizzes, Mask making, Origami, DJ Workshop, Recording, Mic Technique, Friday Pizza, Belly dancing, Movies, and so much more!
Scholarships: Mr. D's offers a limited number of scholarships per camp. To apply contact MrDsmusicclub@gmail.com
Camp is located in the Rockridge District of Oakland at 6013 Lawton Ave at Broadway downstairs in St. Peters' Church Parish Hall.
about Mr. D's Summer Camps
Summer camp at Mr. D’s Music Club is all about music, art, dance, fun and friends. Not to mention, singing, dancing, laughing, trying new things, performing, confidence building and all around silliness. We pride ourselves in offering your children a stellar camp experience in the performing arts.
Our philosophy embraces pop music across the decades because: 1. Children can relate to it on an emotional level, 2. We celebrate music, singing and dancing as true forms of expression. 3. We gently introduce music from different genres (classical, electronic, jazz, world music, etc) with the hope that this becomes a gateway for your child to explore the vast musical universe.
Each camp has its own unique, fun, and sometimes quirky, theme. The themes are intended to set the tone of the week, but from there anything goes. The music selection is loosely based around those themes and the songs are varied, often unusual and always have soul.
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Art, singing and dance is intermixed each day and no two days are alike:
Music: We don’t always know which songs the kids will really enjoy singing, so we typically start out with more than we need and work our way through to the final cut. It’s fun to explore the songs with the kids, break them down, practice and then really start to feel the emotions the songs evoke as we progress through the week.
Dance: Professional choreographers design and teach interactive dance routines to the kids centered around the week’s theme. Dance styles include hip hop, modern, jazz, salsa, tribal, etc.
Art: Throughout the week the kids work on several art projects that relate to the camp’s theme. As the projects come to completion they are displayed around the room to showcase during our final performance. Set design is also a component of our art curriculum.
Performance: At the end of each camp we celebrate with a final performance designed, produced and performed by the kids. Family and friends are encouraged to attend so they can see all the hard work of the kids.
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The kids are SUPER busy throughout the day and will come home tired, but very happy. They are building something – together – for you. We hope you will join us and see what all the fuss is about.
CAMP STAFF
Singing with Stephen:
Stephen Duffy (aka Mr. D) has two passions. Music and Futbol. It’s been this way for as far back as he can remember. At age 12 he realized that it was unlikely he’d make it as a pro player so he joined a Beatles cover band. Oddly, they made him the drummer even though he didn’t have any drums, but cardboard boxes seemed to do the trick. After 3 months they had only ½ a song down (Let it be) so he quit, but... he was hooked! Since then music has been his whole life.
Flash forward 100 years; Stephen is a singer, songwriter, performer, composer, producer, audio engineer, vocal coach and music teacher. Phew! He has won multiple awards for his songwriting and has received commissions to write original compositions for both Theater and Dance. Many of his compositions have been used in short films.
His musical loves are wide-ranging and eclectic. Stephen’s preferred medium is electronic acoustic music and he sincerely believes that nothing beats a great Pop song. Stephen has 3 kids all of whom will be showing up at camp this summer.
Recently, his innovative Music program “Mr. D’s Music Club" was voted “Best of the Best” Music Class by Bay Area Parent Magazine.
Art with Julie:
Julie received a BFA (Bachelors of Fine Arts) from the University of Michigan in Photography and Graphic design. After finishing her degree she moved to Paris, France to continue her studies in photography, painting, textiles, styling and design. Later she established a home decor boutique, which doubled as an art galley, in the heart of Paris (St. Germain des Pres area). After 13 and 1/2 years she returned to the USA.
This is Julie’s third summer with Mr. D’s Music Club as Art Director. She loves teaching art to children and is always inspired by their ideas. Julie currently works as a freelance Designer/Artist, Stylist and consultant for home, events and print. Julie has two daughters, both of whom attend Mr. D’s Camps, and she works as a substitute art teacher at their school. Julie is awesome and the work she does with the kids is superlative!
Drama with Risa:
Risa Lenore Anderson Dye is a creative and enthusiastic instructor of creative drama. She believes in the profound effects of story, imagination and movement for any learner. Risa has worked in theater and dance throughout the bay area in various roles; improvisational actress, dancer, costume designer, puppeteer and storyteller. Risa attended Jacques LeCoq’s International school of Theatre in Paris, France where she studied physical theatre, experimental set design and movement.
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In the past seven years, Risa has created a unique physical theatre and story-based educational program for young children.
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She values play, creativity, beauty and kindness. You can find more about her at www.jellyjamtime.com.
Business with Hailey:
Although Hailey longs to bring a creative element to Mr. D’s Music Camp this summer, her creative juices are limited, therefore she has volunteered her stellar business background to help with the camp and business operations to keep everyone organized, especially Mr. D. Her efforts are two fold in that the camp will run smoothly and Mr. D will keep his sanity!! Hailey has experience working with kids and looks forward to being immersed in their fun, crazy, never-ending energy this summer, even if it is just on the sidelines crunching numbers. Hailey also plays clarinet and piano but she hopes you’ll never have to hear her sing.
Dance with Momo:
Dance is my soul, my life, my dream. I’ve been dancing and teaching both kids and adults for 15 years. My big break out was season 8 ”So You Think You Can Dance” Las Vegas week. I danced with Chris brown as a back up dancer 2013. I also teach at 10 locations around the Bay Area and with my dance company BODYWERK Dance and more. Check out my YouTube.com/Momo Lebeau. Facebook..com/themomolebeau and Facebook.Com/bodywerkdance.