The 2012 Community Music & Arts Network Summer Jam Camp will be held
Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, August 6th – 10th &
13th – 17th for local youth, ages 8 to 18. The venue for this year’s
camp is the School for Environmental and Vocational Arts (S.E.V.A.),
located in South Kortright, NY.
This is the 4th year for the local “School of Rock” style modern music
camp, run by local teaching/performing artist Pamela West-Finkle. It
is funded in part with a generous grant from the A. Lindsay & Olive B.
O’Connor Foundation, administered by Performance Plus of Stamford.
During the camp, participants or “Jammers” choose a band based upon
the genre of music they like. Four to five bands rehearse for two
weeks, learning several cover songs and writing their own original
material. In between, they receive specialized instruction from music
industry experts and professional musicians, as well as private and
group lessons in their instruments. Those attending for two weeks
will have the opportunity to learn about the multi-track recording,
mixing, mastering, and product creation process. On Friday, August
17th, the bands will give a free public performance from 3 to 5 pm.
Director Pamela West-Finkle, or “Angel” Pam West as she is known in
the music industry, has spent the last 25 years as a
multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, internationally acclaimed
recording and performing artist, and the last 15 years as a teaching
artist, working with thousands of youth. She is a K-12 New York State
certified music teacher and holds a Masters in Music Education. Her
most recent album release, Unicorn Crossing, won a 2012 Parents Choice
Recommended Award.
Her staff includes bassist Sean Deegan, Hartwick graduate, 2011
counselor, and the string teacher at Delaware Acadamy in Delhi;
Jefferson Piasek and Cassie Deluise, graduates of Roxbury and Stamford
Central School who are studying music and theater in college; Arthur
Piszcz, technical director and president of SUCO’s music industry
club; and guitar prodigy/producer Matthew Curran.
The cost for the ten-day camp is $250. Jammers who wish to try it out
or who have obligations during one week or the other may attend for
five days at $125. Several scholarships are still available—especially
to area families who were affected by last year’s flooding. Local
businesses who support arts education for local youth are encouraged
to sponsor a full or partial scholarship.
To receive an application, contact Pamela West-Finkle at
FunMusic4Kids@aol.com or call 607-652-2330 or 607-441-8448.
