5 Star Camps Music Program

(Fun Music Games - No Instrumental Experience Needed)

When children participate in the music program here at 5 Star Summer Day Camps they will learn to use their voice properly without formal vocal lessons.  They will learn this through a process known as the "song experience game".  Children will learn music through the natural process of "play".  The famous Hungarian music educator, Zoltan Kodaly, believed that the best way to teach children music was through the folk songs that they heard through their early childhood development.  Songs like: "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and "Are you sleeping?" are examples of these types of folk songs.  As found on the website OAKE.org – Organization of American Kodaly Educators, "Folk music has all the basic characteristics needed to teach the foundations of music and to develop a love of music; a love that will last a lifetime."  

The voice is the primary instrument that I will work on with your child as that it is the most natural instrument that each and every one of us possesses.  In my 20 years experience with educating young children I have come to believe that the best way to learn music is through the use of the voice.  When music is put inside of a child through song they are then ready to move on to any instrument they wish to play.

The use of the Curwen hand signs, sometimes known as the Kodaly hand signs, will be used as well.  This technique is known as "solfege".  Your child will be taught this as an aid to later learning to read music.  The hand signs move from low to high (do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti and do) as music notation not only moves from left to right but also moves up and down.

Campers will learn to read patterns which facilitate the beginnings of reading musical notes and rhythms.  If your child already knows how to read music all the better; this will be a different way to look at musical notation.

Your child will also learn music through the use of Orff instruments.  These instruments are glockenspiels, xylophones, metallophones, drums and others percussion instruments.  The famous German music educator, Carl Orff, developed a method that, …was based on his belief that the easiest method of teaching music is to draw out the student's inherent affinities for rhythm and melody and allow these to develop in natural ways, leading the child by his or her intuition from primitive to more sophisticated expression through stages parallel to western music's evolution. Orff accomplishes this by means of a carefully planned program, beginning with speech patterns, rhythmic movement, and two-note tunes, then moving logically into pentatonic melody.  (Orff Approach)

The goal of this program is to give your child a positive musical experience through the use of the voice and simple musical instruments.  The plan is for your child to have fun and to learn at the same time.   This is what happens through the process of the "song experience game".

Our Music Teacher

Mary Reilly "Mimi" found her calling in life in September 1989 when she started teaching Music for Young Children, Frances Balodis Limited (MYC). This program is a Canadian, keyboard-based music course that teaches children between the ages of 3-10 music theory and how to play the piano. For the past 8 years, Mary has been a classroom music teacher for both the OCCSB (grade 7 & 8) and a private school. In the middle of that 8 year period she had the unique experience of teaching music to students from Grade 1 to 10 at Venta Preparatory School. There she taught voice, theory and concert band instruments.

Mary is blessed with a special gift that allows her to relate well with children and youth of all ages. She relays one experience that happened recently in one of her grade 8 classes. The guest speaker asked the students who their role model was and one young lady said, "Ms Reilly!" When asked why, she responded by saying, "Because we always laugh in class. We have fun and I hope to have the sense of humour when I'm a teacher!" Then, a 14 year old boy said, "I feel safe in Ms Reilly's classroom. She makes me and everyone else feel comfortable." When Mary heard him say this, she realized that "hanging with kids is the job for me!"

Outside of teaching, Mary enjoys running long distances and cycling. She has recently learned to swim and has started training for a triathlon. One of her favourite things to do is to play guitar and compose songs. Mary has a Bachelor of Music and a Bachelor of Education.

Typical Day For a 7-8 Year Old

7:30-9:00        Pre-Camp Activities

9:00-9:30       Attendance at flagpole, morning greeting,announcements, games/jokes/groups
                     initatives to start off the day  

9:30-10:30      Music Programs  

10:30-10:45    Snack    

10:45-11:45    Music Program

11:45-12:30    Lunch

12:30-1:30      Arts & Crafts

1:30-2:30        Archery  

2:30-3:30        Low Ropes Course  

3:30-3:45        Snack  

3:45-4:30        Group Game or Swimming (Campers Choice)  

4:30-5:30        Post-Camp Activities 

The "Survival Game"  

A real camp favourite! Campers get to learn what it is like to survive as a carnivore, herbivore, or omnivore, by searching for food and water and avoiding predators as they hunt through the forest.  This game develops children's appreciation for nature and wildlife, through fun and exciting wilderness adventure.  Without question your children will talk about this game as one of the highlights of the week.

August 2010 Music Camp   

Note: *Indicates short week due to civic holiday (Aug 2nd)  

Please Note: Our Music Camp is only offered during our last three weeks of our summer camp program.
                     (Weeks 5, & 6 only). A maximum 15 and a minimum of 8 campers per week.   

Please Note: After May 1st  2010 the cost for our Music Camp is $275.00 plus tax, which includes lunch program and two fruit snacks and a full afternnoon of activities!  

What to Bring: 

Please note we travel all day with the children's bug spray and sunscreen in our Counsellors backpack so please label these items well and we will do our best to return them at the end of the week. We recommend that you have 2 bottles of bug spray and sunscreen; one to keep at home to apply before your child comes for the day and the others to give to us to keep with our counsellors. This program works extremely well as we have an outstaning record of no sunburns!  

Click here to go to our Registration Forms

5 Star Camps is a leader among Ottawa day camps. 

Our summer camp is a model for a kids' camp and a young teens' camp.  Our camp sports program will easily entice your child to participate.  Our camp provides swimming, soccer, adventure, wilderness and leadership opportunities for kids and young teens.

 Summer Day Camp Programs include-Sports Adventure Camp-Fine Arts Camp-Dance Camp-Music Camp