Camp Cryptogram:

Composing Piano Music With Hidden Codes

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June 6 - 10, 2022

9:00am - 11:00am

Fountain Hills Piano

11873 N. Saguaro Blvd.

Suite A2

9 - 14

6 students

$200

Camp Cryptogram is a one-week music composition camp for piano players ages 9-14. Students will learn to code their names and other secret messages in music and write a melody based on those messages. They’ll learn basic composing techniques to develop their work into a polished composition, culminating in a “world premier” performance of their pieces for a live audience and a professional, published copy of their work to take home. Leveraging composition games, teamwork, and experimentation with sound and style, this camp is ideal for students who want to explore and create their own music.

PREREQUISITE

Participants should be playing piano at a level between 1B - 5, and should be able to read most notes on the treble and bass staffs.

FINAL PERFORMANCE

A final performance of all student compositions will be held on Friday, June 10 at 10:30am. At this time, students will be presented with a framed, published copy of their compositions.

​CAMP TAKEAWAYS

Students who participate in this camp will . . . 

• ​Learn the 18th century system for coding messages into music
• Learn to to create melodies with coded messages
• Write and decode messages to each other, developing facility with note-writing on the staff
• Explore chords and common bass patterns and apply them to their melodies
• Work in groups to compose short pieces that tell stories and perform them for each other, developing increased confidence in performing for their peers
• Learn about different musical styles and re-write short pieces in these styles
• Experiment with keyboard sounds to find the right instrumentation for their composition exercises
• Learn to take a composition through the development/editing/refinement process, culminating in a complete printed manuscript
  

INSTRUCTORS

Heather Baldwin, owner and piano teacher at Fountain Hills Piano.

Jeffrey Anthony, woodwind teacher at Fountain Hills Piano, director of traditional music at Desert Hills Presbyterian Church and composer of “Cryptogram for Trombone and Orchestra”.