Park City Song Camp inspires the next generation of songwriters

The camp is designed for children ages 12 to 19 and will be held July 15-19 at a private home in Pinebrook. The camp is led by Park City singer Mary Beth Maziarz, who has produced seven full albums of original music that has been heard on television and in movies. She said the camp can serve as a catalyst for children interested in a musical journey.

“There are so many wonderful outdoor activity camps here. But this is for musicians. As a child, I was so excited about reading, playing the piano and writing poetry. And that’s what led me to this wonderful career as a musician. So I decided to pass on some of the knowledge I’ve learned to teenagers who are really excited about making music and performing on stage, but maybe need a little guidance.”

The camp runs from 11am to 3pm. One of the days is spent in an auditorium so campers can get a feel for working with a microphone and sound system to mimic what a live performance might look like.

Maziarz said every day is intense, challenging and also fun.

“When you put yourself out there, like singing in front of people, reading their minds and trying to put them into lyrics, you’re a little bit vulnerable,” she said. “We do a lot of collaboration, like co-writing, and then we do a few little pieces where people split up and work on something and then come back together. So at the end of those four hours, people are pretty exhausted.”

She’s really looking for people who are interested in music and embrace it with passion and enthusiasm. Participants don’t have to have any musical experience, but if they do, she says, all the better.

The camp is not about learning an instrument. Those who can play it can accompany themselves, she said. For the others, Maziarz said, she has many opportunities to help.

“It’s shocking how many karaoke tracks and simple beats you can come up with even on the iPad, and how many different ways we can come up with tracks together even when people aren’t instrumentalists.”

The cost of the camp is $300 and there are some scholarships available.