We are adults who are: New Horizons Band members, New England Music Camp alumni, and/or community band members. We range in age from 20-something to nonagenarians. We are novice to advanced musicians looking for a place to spend a week making music and trying new things in a safe, nonjudgmental & noncompetitive environment. We want to meet new friends and immerse ourselves in the joys of making music with others at this beautiful camp on Snow Pond. Some of us bring our spouse or a friend to share the week with us in one of the spouse/friend tracks (either music involvement or just time to hang out and enjoy the camp).
All of our participants play in one of the three bands, Not Quite Ready Players (beginner/novice), Concert Band (novice – intermediate) or Symphonic Band (intermediate – advanced) where each person, regardless of his/her skill level, is invited to either play what is safe, or to go for a challenge and try something a little out of range.
We send out the music ahead of time (four pieces for each band) so that people can have time to practice the parts and feel prepared when they arrive at camp. We spend our rehearsal time really digging into making music out of what we see on the page. We work on listening skills: hearing what is happening in other parts, hearing how one part relates to another across the band, discovering how the tuba part fits with the piccolo part or what that suspended cymbal roll adds to the moment. We work on emoting and playing the music with passion and excitement (with or without all the right notes!). The goal is that each camper goes home with a pretty good understanding of what the composer/arranger might have been thinking and doing in the composition, and perhaps with some new ideas on how to approach his/her own music making.
Your Best is Good Enough: We follow the New Horizons Music philosophy of “Your Best is Good Enough”. New Horizons groups create a safe space for people returning to instruments or just starting to play an instrument. The New Horizons groups are intended to be non-competitive places where your bandmates are encouraging and helpful. So often we bandies can get into one-upsmanship and perfectionism (especially if you’ve been to music school), but the New Horizons programs pride themselves on erasing that stress so that you can just enjoy hearing the music flow around you and be part of something bigger than yourself. You will not find a lot of competition in most New Horizons programs. Here at our camp, we mix up the parts so that everyone gets a chance to play first, second and third, or, for the percussionists, snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, timpani, mallets and traps. It is a place where a more novice player can be sitting next to, and learning from, a supportive advanced player!
If you want an emphasis on creating beautiful music and making new friends in a casual, warm environment, New England Adult Music Camp is the place for you!
Hello NEAMC Campers,
I went to band camp this summer! What a fun thing to say as an adult. Hopefully it brings up wonderful memories and associations with being a kid again and playing your instrument just for the pure joy of it, with no expectations or competition, just making music!
That’s what the New England Adult Music Camp is all about. It’s a place to make new friends, learn a few things, relax, and take in the natural world and beauty of Snow Pond. You get to pick the things that best nurture you, whether it’s a music theory class, practicing in one of the practice cabins in the woods, a swim in the lake, taking a nap, or sharing your music experience with fellow musicians.
We are hard at work making plans for the coming camp session. There will be many of the usual activities; social hour each afternoon on the patio outside the lodge overlooking Snow Pond, jam sessions with the Drum circle, Irish or Dixieland band, or Recorders in the evening after supper, final concerts in The Bowl followed by “lobstah” dinner, and of course our evening activities featuring faculty and camper performances.
The full schedule of ensembles and seminars will be available in June, so check back for updates.
If you are a returning camper you know how much fun it is, and if you are someone thinking about trying “camp” for the first time….JUST DO IT!
See you all in August!
Patrick, Cheryl and Amy
Adult musicians of all levels are welcomed from across the country for a week of fun music making on the shores of Snow Pond in Sidney, Maine. Special rates are offered to all NEMC alumni and members of New Horizons organizations.
Two levels of bands provide the best opportunity for every level of player, from novice to more advanced, to learn and enjoy making music in a fun yet challenging atmosphere. Participants design their own schedules, choosing from a variety of music seminars and classes, and ensembles including jazz, strings, small wind or percussion groups, and a drum circle.
Music and Friendship in the Beauty of Central Maine
Evening meals are preceded by an adult Social/Happy Hour on The Lodge porch with beautiful views of Lake Messalonskee at sunset. In addition to rehearsals, ensembles, and other musical events, there are many opportunities for recreation and traditional camp activities for both our participants and those in the spouse/friend track. The week culminates with a final concert on the stage of the historic Bowl in the Pines, the second largest outdoor amphitheater in the United States.
Meals
Three buffet style meals plus snacks will be served each day and are available a la carte or as part of participant meal plan options. A choice of three entrees (includes one vegetarian option) salad, and vegetables will be served at lunch and dinner. Nutritious and high quality meals are prepared in our kitchen by Snow Pond Staff.
On-Camp Lodging
We encourage you to stay on camp grounds and take advantage of the fantastic camp atmosphere. A variety of centrally located housing will be made available on a first come first serve basis. While NEAMC public facilities are handicap accessible, housing in The Lodge and on the upper level of The Dorm is accessed via a flight of stairs. NEAMC is a non-smoking facility and rooms and cabins are not air-conditioned. Participants bring linens from home (sheets, blankets, towels, etc.).
Girl’s Dorm: The original Dorm on campus, recently renovated. More “historic”. This dorm is closer to the Lodge and Alumni Hall, making it an easier walk to meals and rehearsals. This dorm will be for women only.
Boy’s Dorm: Newer and more “modern”, yet charmingly rustic. This dorm is on the far end of camp, but is a lovely walk through the woods (we also have shuttles!). This dorm will be co-ed, with women upstairs, and men/couples downstairs.
The Dorms are: Single or double occupancy dormitory-style rooms include single beds, dressers, and a closet. Newly renovated bathrooms with sinks, showers and toilets are located on each floor of the dorm.
The Lodge: Single or double occupancy rooms located on the second floor of the lodge. Include double or single beds, dressers, and a closet. Separate male and female bathrooms with sinks, showers and toilets are located at either end of the hall.
Cabins: A limited number of 1-2 bedroom, 1 bathroom cabins are available with and without water views. These cabins house NEMC’s music faculty during the camp season. 1 bedroom cabins have double beds and sleep up to 2 people; 2 bedroom cabins include a combination of double and single bedding and sleep up to 4 people. All cabins are appointed with beds, dressers, closets, a refrigerator and a coffee maker.
*If you choose to stay off-camp we are pleased to recommend several quality lodging options here.
New England Music Camp
New England Adult Music Camp is located in Sidney, Maine on the eastern shore of Snow Pond. Most buildings are located within 100 to 200 yards from each other with the exception of the Bowl in the Pines, which is approximately a 400 yard walk from the center of the campus. While there are paved paths to most buildings and rehearsal facilities, automobiles are not permitted past the main parking lot once camp is in session.
Registration for the 2025 camp, August 23rd-August 29th, 2025 will open in early 2025.
Music Lessons