Our Summer Art Camp Classes

Students will start by learning the structure of the instrument, basic technique and apply everything they learn to playing music together. While learning simple melodies, chords and scales, students will experience ensemble practice and performance. Students will deepen their musicality through listening activities and improvisation, and explore their creativity through a series of music games, warm-ups, and fun approaches to composition. No experience necessary.

In this preparatory piano class, students learn and develop the fundamentals of piano playing by familiarizing the geography of the keyboard, pentascales, full octave scales, contrary motion scales, note reading and rhythm, triads with inversions, and simple arpeggios. Repertoire is selected from method books as well as traditional favorites and contemporary pieces from pedagogical collections. Additional fee of $350 for 4-weeks and $250 for 3-weeks.

Students will start by learning the structure of the instrument, basic technique and apply everything they learn to playing music together. While learning simple melodies, chords and scales, students will experience ensemble practice and performance. Students will deepen their musicality through listening activities and improvisation, and explore their creativity through a series of music games, warm-ups, and fun approaches to composition. Instruments include violin and viola. No experience necessary. 

A unique program for advanced beginner pianists to develop solo and ensemble repertoire, advancing technique, theory and aural comprehension. 2 years of prior piano instruction required. Additional fee of $600 for 7-weeks, $350 for 4-weeks and $250 for 3-weeks.

“I liked how pianists can get a chance to play with other pianists in an ensemble.” -Gregory

“I liked the extensive repertoire of classical, modern and everything.” -Kevin

This intensive course offers students a taste of the collaborative effort of making a short animation. Students learn hand-drawing and digital imaging skills as they try their hands at every facet of the animation process, from conceptualizing characters and plot, creating frames, and layering audio. All levels welcome. Additional fee of $600 for 7-weeks and $350 for 4-weeks.

“Animation allowed us to be creative and turn our art to life” -Ashton

“It offered different kinds of artistic styles to use while animating” -Rayan

“Amazing teachers and great support in learning animation” -Ruby

Archery is a Usdan favorite! Students strengthen their concentration and confidence through careful focus and technique in a safe environment. Additional fee of $350. 

“I learned to do something most people have never done!” -Sofia

Through barre exercises, students are encouraged to recognize their individual anatomy and learn how to practice ballet in a secure and effective way. Moving away from the barre fosters a relationship to direction and movement as well as an understanding of different movement qualities, such as fluidity, suspension, sharpness in turns, and lightness in small and big jumps. The class culminates with a performance showcasing a piece the students have been working on. A brief placement form will be sent after enrollment. 

Please note: Dance classes will be run based on student selection. Some classes with low enrollment may not be offered, but each student will be placed in one of their selected classes.

“I like that we're challenged to the best of our abilities” -Aissatou

With an emphasis on hand-building and throwing on the potter's wheel, students study ceramic design, sculpture, and glaze technology. Explore and create traditional and experimental pottery, stoneware, and earthenware. All levels welcome. 

“Doing a combination of things in one subject is exciting. I loved handbuilding and glazing.” -Eleanor 

“What I liked most was that there was lots of experimentation and access to supplies.” -Nicole

Usdan offers a unique, individualized program for young chess players to hone their experience through tutoring and game play. The Usdan Chess Ladder groups students in varying levels, from absolute novices to advanced players. Individual and group lessons are conducted by highly-ranked tournament players with decades of experience at many of New York’s best schools. 

“What I like most was that I got to play many different people with no pressure.” -Dylan

“I was able to play a lot of chess and learn from my mistakes” -Noah

Graphic novels and comics—and the mythology behind them—are heavily ingrained in pop culture. This course offers an introduction to classic cartooning techniques and characters, including thumbnail sketches and breakdowns, penciling, inking, and page layout. Students develop and design their own characters and stories from conception to finished product. All levels welcome. For major classes, a brief placement form will be sent after enrollment. 

“We learned techniques and were also free to work on our own stuff.” -Anya

Four concert bands offer exceptional collaboration and performance opportunities for budding musicians. Students participate in one hour of full band rehearsal and one hour of sectional study each day. Students are placed in appropriate level ensembles and must have at least one year of prior instruction and the ability to read music. Culminates in a performance. A placement form and/or audition instructions will be sent after enrollment.

“I made massive progress as a player and the teachers are extremely supportive.” -Olivia 

“What I liked most was the positive learning environment and challenging music.” -Derek

“The music was amazing and I made a lot of close friends.” -Brielle

“We were challenged and able to play GREAT repertoire in a short amount of time.” -Mary

Contemporary Forms draws on modern dance techniques and current day practices to help students build a strong technical foundation. Students cultivate dynamic movement principles including weight, flow, opposition, phrasing, and breath. Each class begins with a grounded warm-up, before moving across the floor into more intricate combinations. The class culminates with a performance showcasing a piece the students have been working on. A brief placement form will be sent after enrollment. 

An open environment for young storytellers to write poetry, short fiction, and playwriting in small collaborative groups. Students build imaginative narratives and find their creative voices, while developing concrete elements of storytelling like structure, point of view, and conflict and resolution. The summer culminates with the publication of every student’s work in Usdan’s student-authored literary magazine.

“It encouraged me to be more creative than I thought I could be.”- Rina

“It's a writer's dream. My ideas couldn't flow until I went there. My favorite part was the way every student and the teacher supported each other.” -Soleil

Learn how to write your own original fantasy or scary stories while improving your writing skills. Love Harry Potter and Percy Jackson? Who will your heroes and villains be? What will be their quest? What kind of monsters will they fight? In this class, you’ll learn how to develop your own original ideas using emotion and imagination as your tools. The summer culminates with the publication of every student’s work in Usdan’s student-authored literary magazine.

An exploratory dance experience open to all levels. Students are introduced to a variety of forms, based on the faculty expertise, which may include ballet, hip hop, and/or contemporary. This class offers a supportive space for students to try a variety of dance genres. The class culminates with a performance showcasing pieces the students have been working on. A brief placement form will be sent after enrollment.

Please note: Dance classes will be run based on student selection. Some classes with low enrollment may not be offered, but each student will be placed in one of their selected classes.

Calling all actors! Drama Lab is where the science of being an actor comes to life. Students navigate through the audition process, rehearsals, and staging. The summer experience culminates with the performance of their play. Past performances include Little Women, The Miracle Worker, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), The Diary of Anne Frank, and Peter and the Starcatcher.   

“It was extremely fun, I got to meet great new people, and we were able to put on a great performance.” -Oriana

From American rock, indie, blues, and jazz to classical and Latin, explore the tones and techniques that make the guitar the most versatile instrument in music today. Through ensemble practice, seminars, and improvisational jam sessions, find your groove across many genres and learn how to collaborate in a band/ensemble setting. One year of guitar experience required.

Students focus on the process of writing songs using their guitars as the main tool for composition. Through songwriting exercises, using poetry and short stories as a source of inspiration, students learn techniques to expand their creativity and write their first song, or develop their songwriting skills further. We will have listening sessions with songs by some of the most renowned songwriters, such as Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, The Beatles, and more of the student's choosing. Students will learn to play songs and analyze their forms and structures in order to understand what makes them great. Lyric and poetry writing techniques will be explored through free writing, and students will expand their musicality and “composer toolbox” through a series of improvisation and composition games, all the while learning new chords and guitar techniques. Students will work on songwriting individually and through collaborations with the group. One year of guitar experience required, but no songwriting experience necessary. 

You can’t go wrong in improv! Students work on building ensemble, object work, and the essence of a good improvisational scene. Using games, exercises, and other play, students explore relationships, character motivation, and heightening techniques to create compelling scenes and characters purely out of improv. All levels welcome. 

Campers receive instructional swim Monday through Thursday. Instruction is based on American Red Cross standards. We group students according to their swimming ability and age, based on a required swim assessment the first day. In addition to lessons, there will be a supervised free swim on Fridays. Cards and board games will be available in the picnic area for students who prefer not to swim 

“It made me a stronger swimmer.” -Lorelei

Students are introduced to a variety of musical styles such as miniature Baroque and Classical dance and song forms as well as Romantic and 20th century character pieces. Duets among the students are used to foster listening and interdependence. Additional fee of $350. Audition Required.

Sample repertoire:

Bach • Invention No. 1 in C Major, BWV 772

Beach, Amy • Children’s Carnival Op. 25, No. 5 (Secrets)

Chopin • Prelude in E Minor, op. 28, no. 4

MacDowell • Woodland Sketches, op. 51, No. 1 (To a Wild Rose)

Junior instrumentalists are placed in small ensembles at an appropriate level based on a placement audition. These ensembles consist of an orchestra or band conducted by a member of our music faculty, or smaller chamber groups. Chamber music students are coached by Usdan’s renowned faculty over the course of the three weeks.  Major includes one hour group lesson and one hour in chamber groups by level. Students must have at least one year of prior instruction and the ability to read music. Available for band and orchestra instruments only. 

(The 3 week session is for 5-6 grade returning campers or new campers with experience)

Students learn to design and create art from metal with basic metalsmithing skills and techniques. Create your own unique sculptures, jewelry, cutlery, mobiles, and more using hammering, raisting, chasing, soldering, acid etching, bezel stone setting, and bead stringing. All levels welcome. Additional fee of $600 for 7-weeks, $350 for 4-weeks and $250 for 3-weeks.

“Metalsmithing is a class where you can experiment, and it's really fun. I liked the whole atmosphere of the class and that you have a lot of freedom to try new things.” -Madison

“There are few limitations, lots of freedom, lots of variety of projects....and blowtorches.” -Margot

“You can’t do this at home!” -Samuel

Students learn to design and create art from metal with basic metalsmithing skills and techniques. Create your own unique sculptures, jewelry, cutlery, mobiles, and more using hammering, raisting, chasing, soldering, acid etching, bezel stone setting, and bead stringing. All levels welcome. Additional fee of $600 for 7-weeks, $350 for 4-weeks and $250 for 3-weeks.

“Metalsmithing is a class where you can experiment, and it's really fun. I liked the whole atmosphere of the class and that you have a lot of freedom to try new things.” -Madison

“There are few limitations, lots of freedom, lots of variety of projects....and blowtorches.” -Margot

“You can’t do this at home!” -Samuel

An incredible, eye-opening exploratory theatrical experience that introduces young students to basic acting, singing, and dancing, and results in a staged production at the end of summer.  Additional fee of $600 for 7 weeks and $350 for 4 weeks.

“This class gives people a very big imagination.” -Max

Young musicians discover the vibrato of violins, violas, cellos, and double basses that form the core of Usdan's four incredible orchestras. Each day, orchestra students come together for one hour of full orchestra practice and one hour in sectional instruction. The orchestras perform major symphonic and string repertoire while collaborating with other Usdan ensembles. Students are placed in appropriate level ensembles and must have at least one year of prior instruction with the ability to read music. A placement form and/or audition instructions will be sent after enrollment. 

“It's a challenge, but not too hard. I liked the music we played.”  -Marcus

“The orchestra is alive and has so much energy.” -Anonymous

This course will focus on creative writing that is centered around spoken word poetry. Students will be challenged to write dynamic poems that live both on and off the page as we explore writers and poets in the art of Slam Poetry. The class will record (audio, video) and perform their poetry while also curating podcasts/channels (iTunes, YouTube, SoundCloud) where their spoken works of art can live in the world. Find your voice with us.

Using Usdan's lush wooded campus as a backdrop and their fellow students as photography subjects, students do a deep dive into the principles of composition and lighting, while using Mac computers for imaging, photo enhancement, printing, and digital presentation. Students must supply their own digital camera. All levels welcome. For major classes, a brief placement form will be sent after enrollment. Additional fee of $600 for 7-weeks, $350 for 4-weeks and $250 for 3-weeks.

“Photography class teaches you valuable information on how to take better photos.” -Jenna

Sculptors explore three-dimensional forms in wood, plaster, wire, metal, and more. Inspiration is all around as students experiment with new materials and imagery—both representational and abstract—and work together with classmates to produce large scale installations and sculptures. All levels welcome. 

“In this class you can use different materials to create cool sculptures. I LOVED mixed media. I made a cool mask, based on Chuycels.” -Emile 

This class features small ensemble coaching by our music faculty. Chamber music is typically performed without a conductor and are lead by the performers themselves. Learning to play in a chamber ensemble enhances the students ability to listen, blend, make musical decisions and think critically. In chamber music you act as both the soloist and ensemble player at the same time. Ensembles may include string, guitar, wind, brass, piano, and percussion groups as well as mixed instrument groups. Varied repertoire will be selected from different classical genres and periods. Beginner to advanced students welcome. Students will be grouped according to experience and interest, based on a placement audition.  Some composers include Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn, Bach, Brahms, etc. 

Note: Senior division instrumentalists are asked to rank their choices based on the list of possibilities below.  The specific classes that are offered will be based on this ranking and students will be placed in the most appropriate group after a placement audition.  Placement audition instructions will be sent after enrollment. Some classes with low enrollment may not be offered, but each student will be placed in one of their selected classes. 

Join one of the most collaborative ensembles Usdan has to offer!  The Pit Orchestra will provide live music for Usdan's top theater company - The Usdan Troupe. Using the real broadway books, this is the perfect class for a budding musician looking for an immersive music experience. Playing in the Pit Orchestra will improve your ensemble, solo, and chamber music skills. Past Troupe productions include Singin’ in the Rain, Cabaret, Finian’s Rainbow and Carousel. Students must be NYSSMA level V or VI and must audition. Students that play multiple instruments are welcomed to audition on each instrument. 

Please note: Senior division instrumentalists are asked to rank their choices on the application. The specific classes that are offered will be based on this ranking and students will be placed in the most appropriate group after a placement audition. Placement audition instructions will be sent after enrollment. Some classes with low enrollment may not be offered, but each student will be placed in one of their selected classes.

With no musical scoring in the early days of film, movie audiences in the 1890s through the 1920s were treated to live musicians who supplied the drama, emotion and entertainment. The Silent Film Orchestra will perform the scores to classic films from this era. Some composers include: Scott Joplin, Irving Berlin, W.C. Handy and Adolf Minot.  Open to all instrumentalists, beginner to advanced. 

Please note: Senior division instrumentalists are asked to rank their choices on the application. The specific classes that are offered will be based on this ranking and students will be placed in the most appropriate group after a placement audition. Placement audition instructions will be sent after enrollment. Some classes with low enrollment may not be offered, but each student will be placed in one of their selected classes.

By popular demand- this is now a major class! Inspired and created in conjunction with artist Olafur Eliasson's Little Sun Project, this course teaches students to use unconventional materials to create sustainable solutions and environmentally-focused art and design. Students will create things out of nothing, using materials such as sunlight, recycled and found objects. In the beginning of the summer, the class will decide together the projects they would like to work on. The results are unexpected and the process is fun! In past years, students worked as a team to make a wind powered air conditioner, a bike powered generator and a solar BBQ. This class is open to thinkers from all disciplines.

“I enjoyed the tasks that we had to complete using mostly things we found on our own.” -Luke

Learn proper form and develop a love and understanding of the game through a combination of fun, tactical, and non-competitive instruction. Tennis students are placed in beginner or intermediate groups according to their age and level. Four courts will be utilized to maximize court time for all players. All basic strokes will be taught, as well as scoring and situational positioning on the court. Additional fee of $350. 

“In the beginning of the summer I couldn't hit a ball, now I can.” -Charlotte

“I like how you play against people at the same skill level.” -Perry

“We learned everything and then played tournaments.” -Milla

It all begins in the Shop! Learn to bring light, sound, and scenery to life. Students attend daily tech briefings and are assigned to work alongside theater professionals from Usdan's renowned Theater Scene and Design Shop as they prepare shows for the Camp’s fantastic theater season. Enrollment is limited.

“My favorite part was getting a hands on experience with tools.” -Luke

There is nothing more exhilarating th​an collective voices raised in song. Develop your voice and technique in the study of the fine art of this musical craft. Learn proper breathing technique and diction while studying popular vocal arrangements. The first four weeks of the season are devoted to standard choral repertoire; the last three weeks focus on light classical and Broadway standards. Each class features live piano accompaniment and each session will culminate in a live performance for the camp community and families.   

“We learn in a great environment!” -Anthony

“We sing and perform a very wide range of music that is amazing to sing. I enjoyed the whole process of learning the music...and seeing it all come together is an amazing thing”  -Kennedy