Top-19 of music camp in Havre de Grace

Our daughter had a blast during her first ever sleep away camp at Sandy Hill – great facilities, counselors, activities and friends.

Great Camp! Both our boys have been and it’s always their 1st choice each Summer! The core values that this camp instills in each child is remarkable. Our boys come back to us refreshed and more responsible. Highly recommended!

My daughter has been attending this summer camp for the past four years. It has always been the highlight of her entire year! Greg, the camp director, has created an environment of respect and consideration for others. All the campers have a great time with the fantastic activities, led by wonderful counselors! I never worry about my camper’s safety, as her health and care is their number one concern. Each camper is treated as an individual and warmly regarded for who they are. I cannot recommend this camp beyond the five stars they allow, but if I could, I would!

Cecile and Bennett have been so great to me and my son! My son has learned so much while having fun, and their ability to be flexible with our schedule has been key. I highly recommend!

School of Rock has amazing guitar and bass guitar instruction. And the band program keeps my son practicing and has boosted his confidence while making like-minded musical friends.

Personable, friendly staff. Easy going with expectations. Good feedback. Clear communication. Chill environment. Multiple learning options based off of your own goals. I highly recommend.

Signed up for a free class to check it out. Instead of a free class I was put on an email list. I unsubscribed and blocked their email but I am still getting emails from them almost daily. Would be nice if they accurately marketed there “free class” as “enter email to be on daily email list”

Saw the kids perform at the School of Rock in Chicago’s Oak Park branch. These kids were phenomenal – already rock stars in the making.

This has been a life changing experience fir my 14 year old who has discovered a new passion. He absolutely loves playing with a band and the staff is so encouraging and supportive. Thanks SOR!

I liked The teamwork and updated approach to music.

An update on this review to highlight how the Silver Spring School of Rock has taken cool to a new level!

I have to agree with all the previous reviews about the Silver Spring School of Rock. As a parent, I see several qualities at this school that are absent from other schools. I want to provide details that fill in the gaps and help answer questions that I think all parents have in choosing a place to send their kids for instruction.

First and foremost, what I witness at the school is that the management (Go Gia and Neel!!) and staff really care about the students. This care is more than just developing kids into musicians. They also care about the well-being of the kids as part of their school. I see management and staff interacting with kids to help them build their confidence and abilities, as well as to work with others. The school makes learning fun and turns kids into musicians people want to work with and not jerks. I sit across from one of the studio rooms while my son is in lessons and band practice. I have seen several instructors working with the kids and see passion and expressiveness in the instruction that motivates learning. Each instructor that I have witnessed has their own style that makes people feel relaxed and let the instruction sink in not just be received. That is, students feel the instruction and not just see it, which is an essential part of making music -playing without feeling or expression seems to miss the point of being a musician. The Silver Spring School of Rock gets that and it is an essential part of their approach.

Each instructor also provides notes to parents and students covering the lesson and band practice. This is very helpful in guiding what needs to be done outside of class time -leaves kids with something to anchor to and not just remembering what needs to be done. There is always direct and regular feedback to refine skills.

Second, it may go without saying, but the approach of participating in a band is a key feature. I wish I had this option when I was learning to play. Having a band practice component is more than just taking what is learned in a lesson and applying it. Playing with a band brings with it learning of how to connect with others in playing as a group. Without that part, playing with a band becomes just an exercise in making all the instruments sync-up. The staff absolutely have a good time with this and the kids certainly appear to enjoy it. The management and staff emphasize a subtle but important aspect of band practice, developing stage presence. This all shows a level of care in helping students be successful as performers as well as developing confidence in a young person in being different from others and not being afraid to do so. And what does this all lead to?..it leads to the management booking shows for these kids in some of coolest and famous venues in DC! The bands just played at The Black Cat in the U Street corridor! Playing at places like this for kids is huge deal in terms of crafting a program that is the real deal. What kid would not want to play in the actual venues they will be playing when they get out on their own?

Finally, the environment. Again, Silver Spring gets it! The place is comfortable and not stuffy. It provides a feeling of getting together to enjoy the practice. It does not convey a feeling of a cold and buckle down environment of just wrote learning or something like a room for standardized test taking. The environment resembles an ideal place any band wants to practice in and spend time, not a dreary cinder block room absent of feeling and expression. Creating requires a conducive environment, and Silver Spring seems to recognize this. I like being there so much, I signed up for vocal lessons to compliment my geetar playing.

If there a place that has perfected musical learning, the School of Rock must come the closest…. especially the Silver Spring location. They simply care. It is rare to find all the qualities present in any one thing to round out expectations… but that is the definition of exceptional.

Outstanding teachers. Learning both the fundamentals of guitar along with learning how to play my favorite songs of my favorite guitarists. Outstanding

A lot of talented students playing various instruments, very friendly and knowledgeable staff, Rose is extremely helpful to answer all my questions. There are many options to join a band plus many performance opportunities, which attracted my son to go there. My son really enjoys playing and learning at School of Rock.

The easy going, rock n roll attitude is fun and welcoming. The classes for kids seem great. Though I haven’t been able to get my kids interested, I know of families with several musicians enrolled which I’m sure reinforces the learning and enthusiasm — and demonstrates the lure of SoR.

Good experience

We wanted a FUN way for our son to get into music (I did several years of piano, and the mandated practice sessions often felt like chores). After looking at several options, we settled on SoundCheck. From the owner to the instructors, everyone is genuinely excited about music (most are professional musicians in addition to teaching), and they manage to get the most from the kids.

The curriculum is focused on playing the instrument, so the students get immediate gratification as they play along with familiar songs. In the process, they’re also learning age-appropriate music theory without even realizing it.

The individual lessons are great, but the real magic happens in the band program. They learn lessons about teamwork, supporting each other, and getting out of their comfort zone – important stuff, especially during those challenging pre-teen and teen years.

As a side note, I’ve been impressed with the school’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. They offer online lessons, which work really well, and for those who want to come to the school for in-person lessons and rehearsals, they have a rigorous program to ensure that everyone is as safe as possible.

Highly recommended as both a creative and social outlet.

The Columbia Rock School has exceeded my expectations! My boys (8 and 9) started taking lessons and quickly fell in love. They were placed in a real band and are playing songs they love. Their band is performing on Main Street in Ellicott City and at the M3 Rock Festival at Merriweather Post this Spring. Our whole family loves to watch and support them. They ask to practice all the time! I saw them having so much fun and when the Rock School opened an adult band, I also joined! I’m having a blast. I highly recommend the school.

Update – 12/20
My boys are 2 years older and their musical progress is crazy. They’ve kept up with their lessons virtually and with safe in-person practices. They’ve also had an activity that occupies them at home WITHOUT a screen. Both boys are learning songs on their own and have developed a true love of music. As an adult, I began doing drum lessons during the pandemic and I can’t wait to show off my new skills. We’re all looking forward to playing out soon! Happy Holidays Soundcheck Family!

Update – 12/21
We are continuing to have an amazing experience with Soundcheck Rock Academy. The community that is being built there is supportive, welcoming and fun. We have had concerts at amazing locations like Merriweather, Rams Head, Camden Yards and the Ellicott City music festival. It is fun for the whole family and incredibly rewarding to see your child’s progress. Now I am taking lessons and playing in one of their adult bands. It is like fantasy camp every week thanks to Soundcheck. Happy Holidays and have a great 2022.

This place is the best! The kids love being in a real rock band with real gigs at real venues. Tim and Dave are awesome and so are all the instructors. Can’t say enough good things!

My son has taken lessons, attended summer camps and played in the rock band programs at SoundCheck. A great school and a great environment to learn music. Besides Playing guitar, singing and Drumming , my son has learned self confidence, how to perform in front of a crowd and the kinship one achieves when making music with others.

This is a great program that truly offers opportunity to under served students in Philly. It’s a great program to get involved with if you’re looking to offer your time and support!

I am in rock to the future and it is an amazing journey and i had my first winter showcase and it was amazing i mean truly

A great and supportive environment that encourages students to push themselves in acamdenics and music!

My son has been a student at the school of rock for 8 years. It has been a fantastic experience. Over the years he has gone from very shy and reserved to much more comfortable and confident. I think this was bolstered by the performance portion of the program. The way the program is set up fosters reliability and responsibility in the kids. If they don’t work on their own to learn their music it affects the whole group on their song. The kids in the program are very supportive of one another and really learn to work as a team.
I am grateful that the kids have a safe supervised place where they can hang out and be constructive. Many of the kids that continue in the program become accomplished musicians. I think the friendships my son has formed with the other kids in the program has been the greatest reward.

Great place to learn music and meet new friends

I have been a piano/keyboards student at the School of Rock for just over three years. The program has had an inestimable effect on my musical ability, my confidence while performing, and my social comfort level. When I arrived in the fall of 2010, I was a classical piano student who enjoyed the Beatles, but really had no other exposure to modern rock music. Today, after performing shows of music by the Who, the Rolling Stones, Steely Dan, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Motown, Billy Joel and Elton John, I have been exposed to a much wider range of music.

The School of Rock House Band has given me the opportunity to play with some of Chester County’s best young musicians in settings as diverse as Chamber of Commerce holiday parties and Victory Brewing Company fall festivals. In addition, the All Star program was an excellent way to meet musicians from all over the east coast, and built my confidence as a musician. The School of Rock program has allowed me to meet people who shared my passion for music, and I consider my School of Rock peers to be among my close friends.

General manager Kathy Bigos has worked tirelessly throughout my whole time at the School of Rock to ensure that my experience was smooth and pleasurable, and musical director/piano teacher Thomas McKee has given me invaluable musical assistance, from helping me through difficult scales and pieces to kindly allowing me to play difficult and prominent pieces (like “Root Beer Rag” by Billy Joel and “Love Reign O’er Me” by the Who) in shows.

In short, 6 stars out of 5.

really great experience. i did a camp there this summer and i had a great time. the instructor and teachers were cool, along with the kids i preformed with. i really recommend it if you’re interested in playing music. i feel like it’s such a different kind of place. definitely doing it again next year.

After TWO MONTHS of them rescheduling (once was just 24 hours before), we give up and are going elsewhere. Shame because my daughters were excited but we’re at the point where even they’re saying enough is enough.

We loved the vibes at SoR and everyone seemed competent, but it seems scheduling is their weakness. The program has great structure on paper and seems like its worth the additional few dollars a month (compared to other music schools).

I would rate 1 star for scheduling alone but I feel that’d be unfair to the instructors and in all fairness, aside from my daughters’ trial lessons, we never got the SoR experience to even give an accurate rating.

Save the headache and show some love to one of the tons of other local instructors in the area.

Very desorganized and terrible communication! I came here last week with my husband and my 7 years old daughter to learn better about what the school has to offer and about the programs. I was given a folder with all the information and they scheduled a trial singing lesson for my daughter for the following weekend. When we came here today and after taking the trial they said my daughter could only start when she turns 9 years old. So they made me go ahead with the trial, waste my time and my family’s time coming all the way here. At the end to just say there’s been a mistake and the person with whom I scheduled the trial should have not scheduled. They gave us concert tickets for the past weekend and we actually came with the kids to know the place better and to help with our decision. For nothing! Very frustrated with the little consideration and little respect with us!!! I do not recommend this place! Carpet and floor very dirty as well.

i remember being a kid and the jack wagons turned off my amp right before I went on a show and it was pretty intentional. They wanted me to just have a spot, not to actually play. Consider this place schemey. There’s way better instructors out there.

ok so i attend this school and it’s great but you literally have to wait around for nearly 2 hours just to practice 1 or 3 song if you’re in a show. the drum lessons are fun but unless you’re kid is 13 or younger this place is not for them. im 16 and all i do is sit here waiting for them to call me up while i listen to children in 5th or 6th grade screaming and yelling and running around. they also make you buy at least $120 worth of tickets for the show you preform at. my family just recently moved here and we literally have 0 friends out here so we paid 40 per person (my mom dad and sister are the only ones going) which is an absolute scam. please just come here for lessons and not to preform in a concert unless your kid is an immature brat who loves to scream and run like he’s on fire or something. the only reason why i’m not giving this daycare 1 star is because my drum teacher is one of the coolest people here, plus the show director is nice.

We love the structure of the lessons and shows. The quality of instruction along with the personal and friendly instructors and directors. Also, there is a great community of kids here and it is lovely to see them regularly come together and perform at such a high level!

best decision of my life to come here 😀

Such a great place with an effective approach to getting kids not only learning an instrument but how to play with other musicians. This moves kids to grow – awesome!

Don’t bring you kid here if they are not a pro at music. You will get 3 songs and no respect. The practices for shows are two hours of time wasted.

Make sure you understand the 30 day cancelation policy. These are Corporate policy to charge you even if you don’t go. Wasn’t clear to me. Now I get burned. Rock & Roll style.

What an awesome place to rock out! The teachers are dedicated and the staff is very helpful. It’s wonderful to hear the range of music the kids play, and their outfits are ecclectic. Best of all, the outdoor music festival in the delightfully grungy parking lot!

Both of my children take lessons at Rockdale Music (piano and voice) and we have been pleased with the teachers and the level of instruction. They truly care about each student and go out of their way to give individual attention and encouragement!! Great studio !

My son (who is 8) did drums one on one for a year and half. He wanted to quit as it wasn’t fun anymore. We switched him to Rockdale and he absolutely loves it there, is flourishing,. He loves the band and social aspect. We love how enthusiastic instructors are and how relevant the music/lessons are and their approach to teaching is incredible! So happy we found this place!