Former campers return as counselors to mentor younger musicians in 12-day AAPS Summer Arts Instrumental Music Day Camp

Program unites students across Ann Arbor district for collaborative learning ahead of July 2nd showcase performance

The sound of instruments echoed through Skyline High School music wing this week, as about 100 young middle school musicians gathered for the AAPS Summer Arts instrumental music day camp. Now in its fifth year, the program has become a summer tradition that transforms the high school into a vibrant musical community.

Students from across the district come together for 12 days of intensive music-making, working alongside high school counselors and district music staff. The experience culminates in a final concert on July 2nd, where families can hear the progress their kids have made.

“The goal is to have fun and grow in any way that they can,” explained Brittany Osman, Scarlett Middle School Orchestra Director and camp director. “There’s no grades and there’s no pressure, and we have lots of counselors to differentiate instruction so wherever they came in, we just meet them where they are.”

The camp’s atmosphere reflects this philosophy. High school volunteers, many of whom are former campers themselves, work closely with younger students to create an environment where musical growth happens naturally. These returning counselors bring a unique perspective, having experienced the camp’s benefits firsthand and now eager to share that experience with younger students.

Previously, individual middle schools operated their own separate camps. Osman said that this centralized approach has strengthened the sense of community among young musicians throughout the district, giving them the chance to collaborate with peers they might not otherwise meet during the regular school year.

Participating AAPS music teachers, in addition to Osman, include Caroline Fitzgerald, band, Scarlett; Amanda Blackson-Pakela, band, Scarlett and Mitchell; Elizabeth Paddock, orchestra, Clague, Scarlett, King, and Pittsfield; Vera Schwankl, orchestra, Mitchell; Craig Beery, jazz, Tappan, Pattengil, Angel, Lakewood; and Henry Pakela, jazz, Pioneer, Slauson, Abbot, Dicken, and Bach.