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The Freight x Lark Summer Music Camp is designed to strengthen foundational music and rhythm skills for youth aged 8-14 through hands-on experience in a range of global artistic traditions. Running from June 29 through July 3rd, the camp is anchored by daily harmonica lessons with the Bay Area’s King of Bollywood Blues, Aki Kumar. Campers will learn through Aki's genre-bending lens that opens harmonica up to a world of new practices. In addition to daily harmonica and basic music theory lessons, students will receive global percussion instruction from a rotating cast of percussionists from Lark Camp and The Freight’s teams. Afternoons will be filled with movement and dance activities, building upon themes from the day’s lessons. Parents are able to opt-in to optional aftercare as needed. This camp takes place in person at The Freight, 2020 Addison Street Berkeley, CA 94704.

Campers will be provided light snacks and beverages throughout the day, and guardians should provide their campers with a lunch to sustain them (campers will not be permitted to leave the building for lunch). If opting into aftercare, campers should bring activities such as books, tablets, etc. Other aftercare activities can include a movie provided by The Freight, or an area to practice lessons learned during the day’s camp. Late pickups will be billed a fee of $40 per 30 minutes.

What will a day at camp look like?

8:45 AM: Camp arrival and drop off

9:00 AM: Grounding exercises, group bonding

9:30 AM: Percussion with Guest Artist

10:30 AM: Harmonica with Aki Kumar

11:30 AM: Lunch and free time

12:30 PM: Movement activities

2:00 PM: Lesson reviews

3:00 PM: Camp concludes and parent/guardian pickup, or optional aftercare until 5:00 PM

Educational and Cultural Benefits

• Cross-cultural engagement: Students encounter diverse musical styles and movement traditions in a respectful and accurate format.
• Accessibility: Both the harmonica and hand drum enables meaningful music-making without significant cost or prior experience. Music Camp will give each camper a harmonica for free. Drums will be provided when possible, and The Freight x Lark Camp will let parents know if campers will need to bring additional drums.
• Holistic learning: Combining music, rhythm, and dance deepens comprehension, creativity, and personal expression.
• Community building: Daily collaborative instruction fosters teamwork, empathy, and shared artistic experiences.
• Artistic stewardship: The program aligns with Lark Camp and The Freight’s commitment to preserving, teaching, and honoring traditional art forms.

Additional Benefits

• Campers will have free attendance to Circlesongs with Bobby McFerrin and MOTION on the first day of camp.
• Campers will receive their own four-hole harmonica to use at camp and take home at the end of the week.
• Campers will receive tickets for themselves and one guardian to a show at The Freight during that week (show title TBD).