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Arts & Entertainment

Piano Camp is in Session

A new music program for kids starts this July.

From School of Rock to Willie Mae Rock Camp, these days music camps for kids are pretty commonplace.

But Greta Gertler, a Brooklyn-based singer, songwriter and keyboardist, realized that there was something missing from the current crowd of music camps.

"I had never heard of anyone doing a specifically piano-centric summer camp," said the Australia native. “There are so many different styles and approaches to piano. I wish I'd had a chance to explore a broader palette of these when I was a kid, instead of just sticking to classical music." 

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So Gertler and the members of her musical group, The Universal Thump, decided to launch Summer Thump Piano Camp for Kids, a Slope-based two-week music program where kids ages 7 to 14 can hone their skills behind the keys. 

Students of Summer Thump will work on mastering everything from rock to jazz and blues, boogie woogie, and of course, classical music. The kids will also get to do fun stuff like “piano yoga” and take a trip to a piano factory.

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"There will be workshops for all different levels," Gertler said. "As this is a small camp, we will tailor the workshops individually, according to the skills of the students."

The students will also have the chance to perform a new and unique musical composition.

"It will be a piece for a “piano orchestra" of up to 20 pianos based on whale songs,” said Gertler.

Gertler’s musical background dates back to her classical piano studies as a 6-year-old. The other instructors at Summer Thump – Lee Feldman, Barney McAll and Deidre Rodman –  are professional musicians that  Gertler has worked with as part of The Universal Thump. 

"[They] are good friends of mine; or they are pianists that I've heard perform and admired for a long time," Gertler said. "They perform all different styles of music.  And they love to share their knowledge and passion for playing piano with kids."

The camp will take place at GodelString studio on Fifth Avenue—its owner Joel Hamburger is a friend of Gertler’s. The studio is equipped with a Steinway grand piano, a large space in which to hold workshops, plus additional performance and recording spaces, and even a roof-garden where the kids will be able to have lunch.

Plus , Gertler added, it’s “a ten minute walk from Prospect Park." 

As for what she hopes future Van Cliburns, Glenn Goulds and Billy Joels will take from the Summer Thump experience: “I hope that they'll gain a greater understanding of how amazing the piano is, and how many different places, musically and emotionally, it can take them. I hope they will also make new friends and bond over the piano!"

Summer Thump Piano Camp will take place at GodelString, 46 Fifth Avenue, on July 11-15 and 18-22. For more information, visit summerthump.weebly.com .

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