Program Details
For middle-school students passionate about music, we offer Spark, a day camp that helps students write and perform music together. In addition to exploring different career opportunities in the music industry, Spark aims to foster creativity, self-expression, and the Motown legacy.
This Summer Camp at Hitsville NEXT is a day camp that provides a safe space for middle school youth to explore their artistic talent and career opportunities available in the music industry. This camp is designed to draw connections between music creation and business development, exposing participants to the parallels between the music industry and entrepreneurship.
Participants attend workshops that cover career topics such as songwriting, beat making, and performance. Immersed in the legacy of Motown, participants will actively engage with Motown Alumni and music industry professionals as they develop the understanding of what it takes to create their own original music.
Master classes and workshops provide high level facets of teaching discovery through each career focus, advocating for oneself, and developing an understanding that no one path is the same. This camp provides safe space for young creatives to explore, enabling them to discover talent within.
Example of Workshops during Camp:
- Group Singing Lessons
- Beatmaking / Production
- Guest Artist Presentations
- Music Industry Career Panel
- Create your own Music Video
- Demystifying Songwriting
Eligibility
- Open to middle school aged participants completing grades 5 – 7 in the year prior to camp that are interested in singing and music performance
- Singers with at least 1-2 years of experience
Application Process
Application Deadline: July 3rd
Application Checklist
- Complete the online application form using Acceptd
Your application must include:
- Most recent school report card that shows your name, grade and school
Need help uploading? Email programs@motownmuseum.org
Admission Notification
This program is a non-audition-based program. It is limited to 30 participants, and are admitted on a first come, first served basis.
Review, admission, and notification for late applications will be on a rolling basis. Admissions decisions will not be given by phone.
Admitted campers will be provided a full scholarship to attend this program thanks to the generous support of:
With additional support from:
- MACC
- Erb Foundation
- Kresge Foundation
- DTE Energy foundation
- Hudson-Webber Foundation
- Elaine Stern Foundation
- Madeleine & Mandell L Berman Foundation
- Detroit Memorial Park Foundation
- Sony Music Publishing
FAQs
Do I have to audition?
No. While there is not an audition for this program, all completed application materials must be received by the deadline. We encourage students that are interested in exploring their creative potential to apply online by the application deadline.
I am not a 6-9 grade student, can I still participate in the program?
The curriculum framework for the Spark Summer Camp is research-based and developmentally appropriate and is therefore only open to youth that are completing grades 5-8 in the year prior to the summer workshop. Older students should explore our other summer opportunities.
I have to miss a few days of camp; can I still attend?
Because of the nature of this being a performance-based collaborative program, unfortunately participants will need to be available for every day of camp in order to attend.
Are participants required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to participate in programs?
All activities will follow local social distancing and other COVID-19 guidelines and CDC recommendations. Our Museum programs are not currently restricted to those who have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Motown Museum continues to monitor the situation and will keep students informed of any changes to requirements. Note that regardless of vaccination status, students should anticipate that there will continue to be COVID-19 related restrictions and students will be required to adhere to all rules and regulations throughout their program. For more information visit our Safety Measures page.