SUMMER CAMPS 2026

Our Summer Songwriting Camp is an immersive, creative experience for youth who are interested in writing original music, collaborating with peers, and exploring their musical voice. Participants will engage in lyric writing, melody creation, group songwriting, recording and producing, and opportunities to share their work in a supportive environment guided by Elsbeth O'Toole and Amanda Maestro-Scherer, board-certified music therapists at Maestro Music Therapy, and supported by our wonderful music therapy interns. 

COST: $375 per week

The Creative Process

Each day, campers will dive into the art of songwriting through a variety of lenses. We will explore different methods of composition—from lyrical storytelling and melodic structure to rhythmic foundations.

• Collaborative Sessions: Students will work in teams to experience the synergy of co-writing, learning how to blend ideas and support their peers.

• Independent Projects: There will be dedicated time for campers to focus on their own individual songs, allowing them to explore their unique voice and style.

• Production & Recording: Using GarageBand or Logic, students will learn the fundamentals of digital music production. They will record their own tracks, experiment with arrangements, and learn the essential art of "shaping" a song to reach its full potential.

Industry Insights

We are thrilled to bring in guest speakers throughout the week! These professionals—ranging from working songwriters and performers to recording engineers—will share their firsthand experiences, offering campers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at what it truly means to work in the music industry.

Beyond the Music

We believe creativity flourishes in a well-rounded environment:

• Jam Sessions: Daily opportunities to collaborate, play, and improvise with fellow campers. Students are highly encouraged to bring their own instruments to add their unique flair to the group sound.

• Visual Creativity: Every song needs a face! Campers will have the opportunity to design their own original album art, giving them a fun, artistic way to represent their musical vision.

• Balance & Wellbeing: We prioritize a healthy creative flow. The day includes plenty of scheduled breaks, snacks, and lunch to ensure everyone stays energized, focused, and having fun.

The Grand Finale: Showcase

The week culminates in a final showcase where we invite families to celebrate the campers' hard work. We will share the final recordings, perform live, and unveil the unique album art created throughout the week. It is a fantastic opportunity for students to experience the pride of sharing their finished work with an audience.

Listen to some of our February break camper’s amazing song compositions here!! (Put link)

HALF DAYS (Morning or Afternoon): $200 base cost per builder
FULL DAYS: $375 base cost per builder

Builders can sign up for the full day experience (9-4 daily) or half days (contact us if you need a mixture of full and half days). A lunch break and snack breaks will be provided. Builders who choose to do the full day can choose to do a second project (with additional supply fee) or spend time learning to play their instrument of choice with our staff! We will have many creative music and building related projects and games available throughout the day. 

This workshop offers a unique, hands-on experience designed to be fully adaptable for all ages and skill levels. Every student leaves with a functional, playable instrument, that they assembled and designed, starting from our accessible kits. Clifford will guide students through the fundamentals of lutherie, teaching them how to work with their hands, handle tools, design an artistic instrument body, and understand the mechanics of sound. Students will also design, prep, stain and/or paint their instrument bodies for a truly unique product!

Mornings will feature guest artist Erin Deneuville of Atelyay! Art Studio, supporting the builders in designing, practicing and exploring different art options for project and instrument design. 
https://atelyay.com/

PRICING INFORMATION:  
Our pricing is broken down by the camp session (Full days vs. Half days) plus the material cost of the specific instrument(s) your builder chooses to create.

FIRST INSTRUMENT BUILD: Every builder chooses one primary instrument to build during camp. Add the material fee below to your base camp price:

-Soprano Uke +$25
-Cigar Box Blues Guitar +$50
-Full Size Electric Guitar +$90

FULL DAY CAMPERS ONLY: Optional second build!

Full day campers have the time to build a second instrument if they want to! (This is not required for full day builders though!) SECOND BUILD DISCOUNT: A discount on the material fee of your second, lower-priced instrument. How the discount works: If you choose two different instruments, the discount will automatically apply to the cheaper of the two material fees. 
-Soprano Ukulele: +$20 (applies as the 2nd build to any other instrument)
-Cigar Box Blues Guitar: +$40 (this applies if building an electric for 1st build)
-Full Size Electric Guitar: +$72 (this applies if building two electric guitars)

Please contact us if you need financial assistance or a sliding scale. We are committed to the accessibility of our services.
Please contact us if you would like to participate in this group but the timing doesn't work. With enough demand, we can add additional sections. 

Our Instructors

Clifford Scherer, local luthier

We are thrilled to welcome back master luthier Clifford Scherer to lead our expanded Instrument Builders Workshop. A retired Cornell University professor, Cliff has dedicated over 25 years to the meticulous art of instrument making.

His journey into lutherie began out of a father’s love; when both of his daughters pursued paths as musicians, Cliff dove into the world of guitar repair to ensure they always had the best equipment in their hands. That initial spark evolved into a lifelong passion for crafting instruments from scratch.

Cliff’s craftsmanship is as diverse as it is masterful. He is well-known for building bespoke, hand-crafted instruments ranging from traditional guitars to intricate mandocellos. Notably, he is the expert artisan behind the instruments for the 14-Strings! Filipino Rondalla, specifically crafting bandurias, octavinas and lauds for this local music group.

Beyond his technical mastery, Cliff is a gifted educator who finds deep joy in mentoring the next generation of builders. After the success of his soprano ukulele kit workshop last summer, we are delighted to host him again for an expanded program. Cliff’s patience, deep knowledge, and love for sharing his craft make him an invaluable resource for our community!

Erin Deneuville, local artist

Erin Deneuville is a local artist, art educator, and the founder of Atelyay, a community art studio and gallery space on the Ithaca Commons. Guided by the belief that creativity is an essential component of individual health and community well-being, Erin has dedicated her career to creating welcoming, inspiring spaces where people of all ages can gather to explore their creative potential.

Erin is a professional oil painter, artist and educator, working with many wonderful kids and students in our community. During this workshop, Erin will bring her artist’s perspective to the world of instrument building. Each morning, she will guide students through art-based design projects, helping them develop the aesthetic identity of their instruments. By working with students to conceptualize their designs from an artistic standpoint and explore artistic mediums, Erin’s presence will support our builders in creating their instruments into a unique piece of visual art that reflects the student’s own creative voice.

Please note that Erin will present only during the AM sections of the class!