SUMMER vacation is just a few weeks away and for children, it means no classes, no school, no teachers, and freedom. As for the parents, it entails busier schedules, especially when looking after their antsy kids.
To keep children occupied during summer, a music studio in Cagayan de Oro City started its music summer camp program not just for kids but for all ages where lessons in voice and instruments are offered.
Psalms Music Lab, located at the 4th floor of Hotel Xentro, Corrales Avenue, this city, is a music studio that offers one-on-one tutorial lessons in voice, piano, violin, drums, guitar, and even ukulele.
The institution strives to inspire young musicians in the city to raise the higher standard level of music all over the Philippines.
Jordan Christopher Emata, a piano teacher and the owner of Psalm Music Lab, said the summer camp is an acceleration program designed for short term music education wherein the students will be taught one-on-one in two months, from March 26 to May 31, and will have their recital on June 2.
This year, according to Emata, the music institution uses modern approaches in teaching their students as some, mostly the adults, prefers the contemporary ways rather than the traditional ones.
"Kung classical na learning man gud, mo-learn gyud ka katong sa ilang Beethoven, Mozart nga style, and mga styles pud sa techniques or sa imong natun-an, katong mga songs nila Mozart, Beethoven, mga Chopin style, sa classical gyud (If the teaching approach is classical, the students will be studying the techniques of Ludwig van Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Frederic Chopin, and will be playing their songs)," Emata said.
Emata added that in modern teaching approach, the students will be able to learn how to play songs like "Somewhere Oven the Rainbow," pop, and blues.
Each of the students, the piano teacher said, will undergo 25 classes wherein 20 sessions will be for their one-on-one tutorial and five of them are for rehearsal wherein teachers will be helping them polish their recital piece will be performed on June 2 in Centrio Ayala's event center.
The sessions will be three times a week and will span for an hour, for students aged 6 years and above, and 45 minutes for ages 4 to 5 years.
Emata also mentioned of their plan to become a music institution accredited by the Department of Education to help their students who plans to pursue college for a degree in music to have their classes in Psalm Music Lab be credited.
"Hopefully, in the future we'll be recognized as a music school and credited sa (by the) Department of Education. Sa gusto mag enrol sa (for those who wanted to enrol for) Bachelor of Music, so we can credit their subjects... It is our vision," Emata said.
The enrolment for the summer camp program of Psalm Music Lab started on March 12 and classes will begin on March 26.
For those who parents who are interested to enrol their kids to their music classes, Emata said they can avail of their promo rate of P6,900 for the whole summer package which will be valid until March 24.
Meanwhile, the regular rate for the summer package is P7,500.
A summer camp of fun learning activity, just what the parents need to keep their children occupied and entertained this summer vacation.