Rock camps typically operate in two different ways. Day camps operate for one or two weeks with students arriving in the morning and leaving in the afternoon. Overnighters allow the campers to sleep and eat at the camp, allowing for more instruction in a given week.
The basis of rock camps is musical instrument and vocal instruction, but some camps also have additional classes including songwriting, music video production and graphic design. Classes in each of these areas are divided for beginner, intermediate and advanced musicians. Camps typically end with campers performing in a final concert or recording songs they have learned at the camp.
Camps with legitimacy are instructed by professional musicians or musicians with experience. Some camps, however, include exposure, instruction or meet-and-greet sessions with actual rock stars.
Camps vary in price, but you can expect to pay at least a few hundred dollars for a week-long day camp, says Rock Camp USA. Overnight camps can cost more than $1,000. Specialized camps with rock star appearances are more expensive because camps have to pay appearance fees for these musicians. A 2010 rock camp in Hollywood cost almost $7,000 plus hotel expenses.