.
Your Subtitle text
Selected comments from Summers 1995–1999
Dear Jamie and Ellen,
I really enjoyed my experience at Encore/Coda this summer. This has been my first year here and I think it has surpassed all of the other music camps I have been to in the last five years. This has been an experience on to its own and I feel privileged to take part in it.
I found at this camp, that the staff was friendly and courteous. Everybody was willing to lend a helping hand. I found that other staff members who I did not have direct contact with over the course of the weeks, were more then willing to help me. I liked this a lot.
I also enjoyed the casual, but musically intense atmosphere offered at this camp. I was surprised after I left camp at the end of the first session, that I had learned so much about my instrument and also other instruments that I had not had the chance to play. I also enjoyed the food. At other camps I was only able to eat stuff from the salad bar, but here there was a plentiful array of things for me to eat because I am a vegetarian. I also thought the food staff was really cool and made great food.
The first and foremost center of attention for people in this camp was for campers to progress. I found that in my own personal musical experience, I progressed a lot. I am a much better player now then I was before I stared at Encore/Coda. I would like to thank you for helping me to progress in my musical endeavors. Thank you for having a great camp.
—camper from Amherst, NY
Dear Jamie and Ellen,
We could go on and on about all of the good things at Encore/Coda. This past summer especially we were very pleased with Katelin’s voice teacher, and in musical theatre. They were obviously very talented and worked well with the campers.
I have always felt very comfortable with Katelin being at your camp. I knew she was being taken care of. She felt comfortable and felt that when she had a problem people listened. Katelin will probably not be attending camp next year, as she will be working. It has been a great experience for her and I am so grateful we have your camp in our area. Thank you for everything!
—parents from Fryeburg, ME
Dear Mr. Saltman,
I’m writing in regard to my grandson, who attended the second session at your camp last summer. I can’t begin to tell you what a joyful and fulfilling experience it was for him. I can best describe it by telling you that he was inconsolable for nearly four hours after we drove away from the camp. Before leaving, he had taken us on a tour of the grounds, and into each building, describing, in detail, what took place. He told us he wanted to return next year for the whole summer and eventually would like to become a counselor. He still speaks of his counselors and bunkmates with great affection...
—grandparent from Sedgewick, ME
Dear Jamie,
Thanks again for another wonderful summer for Sophia. She thrives at Encore/Coda, deepening her appreciation of friends, music, work, pleasures, collective and individual accomplishments. It’s magical to see how happy this makes her be.
Could you again send me several brochures for her school (which sent another child) and our local music store. I’ll help get the word out about how special you all are.
—parent from New York City
Jamie,
I wanted to take a moment to thank you for having me at camp twice this summer. It was great to see you, Ellen, Hannah, Molly as well as the entire staff and campers. Before last summer I had lost track of how important the camp is in my life.
You see, Encore/Coda is the place where the priorities are straight. Seeing young (and not so young) campers playing "Twinkle, twinkle" and then seeing the other campers playing Beethoven or Coltrane, all the while enjoying the support of the entire camper body. This is what it’s all about. The support of each individual effort to better themselves, reminds me that the rest of the world has a long way to go before that ideal is in place out here. There is a real need for many people to have these ideals.
Encore/Coda is not only about the music though. I remember many speeches you made concerning being a good neighbor and a good community member. The weekly trash pick up sessions and the idea that there are no locks at camp provide a good lesson of life. Again another example of how the ideal world would function. Unfortunately, the world is not ideal, a reason that a trip to Encore/Coda is a true get-away.
You have much to be proud about. Coming in for a short visit really accentuates all of the changes you have made. I am not sure if the changes are as apparent to you as they are to someone like myself who knows the camp, but is always astounded with the latest changes. Your "plan" is sound (pun intended) and your plan is what makes the camp continue to grow in its current positive direction.
Again, thanks for letting people like myself be a part of your plan. It means a great deal to me to be associated with a camp like Encore/Coda. I hope to continue this relationship for many years to come. Have a great end of the year!
—visiting staff alum and guest artist from Northfield, MA
Dear Jamie and Ellen,
I am sorry to take so long to write to you, but as you have been aware I was travelling after camp finished and things here have only begun to settle down. The reason I am writing is to thank you for such a wonderful summer. I think that without a doubt it has been one of my most enjoyable summers in a long time, thanks to you.
From the moment I arrived at Encore/Coda, there was an amazing aura, which was apparent throughout my time there. It is difficult for me to be specific about what I mean by this, but it is an atmosphere created by you. I shall never forget the friendliness, the warmth, and the music of both the staff and the children. I think it is this that makes Encore/Coda so special for so many people.
I feel that the running of the camp was always smooth and organized with a good structure to support any member of staff. If I had any problems, I wouldn’t have had any concerns about approaching any of the head staff. The training and information you gave me was all very helpful and I felt very prepared by the time the children arrived. Thanks once again for making my summer so enjoyable!
—staff member from West Sussex, England
Dear Jamie and Ellen,
I have gone to many camps and have had many "fun" experiences. Attending a music camp was a whole new experience for me. It was also my first sleep away camp. I was quite nervous and questioning if I would really like it there. The minute I got there, I felt as if there was something special about the place. I heard musical instruments from every which way...I suddenly just knew I would like it there.
It was simply beautiful there. The sky was a rich, clear, blue, which seemed to encompass you in a whole different piece of the world that was isolated from everywhere else. There were studios in various comfortable places. There you could be alone with yourself, music and nature. When you walk down the rocky path of the campus, you hear so many different kinds of music that erase all the problems of your day and fill them with beautiful music. You’re never alone because that music that will guide you in so many ways. You will meet friends that will become close to you and you will meet amazing people you will never forget. When you leave, it is one of the hardest good-bye’s you will ever have to make. But do not get me wrong, you will never forget this experience. When you look back on your experience, it will seem like a fantasy. But this fantasy is one you can re-live every summer. Each summer, teaching you something new and different about life and yourself. This was much more special than a "fun" experience.
—camper from Philadelphia, PA
Dear Saltmans,
Martha and I were thrilled beyond measure to be a part of Parents’ Day at Encore/Coda last Saturday. We had gotten letters from Kathryn describing her own pleasure at your camp, under the leadership of your staff and in the company of so many good kids. But we had no idea that the culminating event of Parents’ Day would be such a brilliant display of students and their leaders doing what can only be described as lifting the campground on high with their communal passions and skills.
From the first set of pieces in the new Hall- the Lower Camp Jazz Band- through the Rep Orchestra, senior Orchestra, Chorus, Jazz Choir, Senior Jazz Band- WOW! You now must develop a technique by which parents and Grandparents are able to bifurcate, so that we can split ourselves to hear and watch some chamber pieces. I was able to grab small sections of music from the smaller venues as I trailed from the New Hall to the dining room and back. The tremendous leadership of the various conductors was apparent to all. The Jazz Choir in particular was astonishing, and Kathryn looks forward to being part of that as she matures at your camp. (By the way she asked that she return for next summer as soon as we landed!) The Senior Jazz Band left me speechless. I kept pinching myself to make sure this was really happening. Martha and I left that afternoon with our tired bodies and soaring spirits, eager to tell anyone who’ll listen about your remarkable summer. I have never spent a day quite like that one.
Thanks again from all of us, for a splendid initiation for Kathryn into the world of young musicians. We wanted a place where she would be surrounded with good kids who believe in "the other" as well as in themselves, where leadership is clear, informed and passionate. Our desires were deeply rewarded. Please send our best wishes and congratulations to all the excellent staff.
—parent from Greenwich, CT
Dearest Jamie and Ellen,
Oh, thank you for letting us come to visit and for always making me feel so welcome. I swear that every time I make that left turn onto the camp’s main road, I feel happier than anywhere else in the world. Sylvia and Pearl had such amazing summers as well, growing exponentially in musical knowledge, size, maturity and confidence. I woke up early this morning and looked out at the lake and the fog rising and thought about what a crucial place camp has been for me. So thank you for everything and have a great rest of the summer. See you in Brookline!
—visiting staff alum from Brookline, MA
Dear Jamie,
Camp Encore/ Coda is one of the best things that has happened to our daughter. Not only has it improved her technique and appreciation for music, but also her critical approach to music has become more sophisticated. We are also struck by her great vitality and self-confidence when she returns from camp.
She has made some strong friendships among her fellow campers and has quite a correspondence going with many of them. When she talks on the phone to them, her eyes light up and she’s filled with enthusiasm for next summer. You must be doing something wonderful. Thanks!
—parent from Worcester, MA
Dear Jamie and Ellen,
Greetings from the not-so-white north! How are things going for this upcoming camp season? It really isn’t that far away...I wanted to write a letter to tell you just how much camp Encore/Coda has meant for me. Seeing as how I won’t be able to go back this summer, it has occurred to me in retrospect just how much I’ve changed in my five years there.
I came not really having much love for the piano. Little did I know how much music really affected me. I learned so much about the workings of a piano and how we perceive music (thanks to the 9am piano workshop!). I also never felt such an incredible feeling as playing in a large wind ensemble before. There is an incredible emotion I get when we all finish a piece at precisely the same time and there is that moment of silence still hanging in the air. I have developed a love for music that I never knew existed.
Not only was the music terrific, but I will never forget the friends I have made, both as a camper and a staff member. With e-mail it is so comforting to know that my friends are practically at my fingertips! But it will still never replace the times we shared in the woods of Maine.
I had to write a paper during first semester and it had to be about something I knew well. I chose to write about the musical ensemble. After the paper was finished I realized that everything I had written was something I had learned at camp, whether it be about the triangle of sound or subdividing (!).
I could go on forever about all of the things camp has done for me, but it is impossible to fit five years into a small e-mail. I guess I just wanted to say thank you, and I know I’ll always have a home there. If you ever need to tell a parent to call if they want someone to recommend the camp, you can always give my number, and I’ll only have glowing things to say! So, thanks again and I hope this summer goes as smoothly as the rest!
—staff Member from Montreal, Quebec
Dear Jamie and Ellen,
I just wanted to thank you for a great summer and for giving me the opportunity to stay second session. I learned so much and totally fell in love with both of my instruments, not to mention all the new friends I made and all the fun I had. In fact, I’ve even talked to my mom about starting Piano lessons, just so I can learn even more about music. I don’t know how I’ll be able to survive the next 10 months without being exposed to music 24 hours a day. All I can say is I can’t wait for next summer!
—camper from Ledgewood, NJ
Dear Jamie And Staff,
Thank you so much for the wonderful time Peter has had at Encore/Coda! Your camp seems to run so smoothly, and every detail is so well handled! Pete has been fortunate in having a wonderful counselor, and also a terrific trombone instructor. He has just blossomed there! Thanks too to the nurse for overseeing his dietary/health needs so caringly.
The concerts were spectacular on Parents day and gave us a good chance to see into his world at camp. Thanks for the vision. Enclosed for your information is the brochure for a wonderful bed & breakfast we stayed at in North Conway, NH. While it is a bit further away then Bridgton, this place was so pleasant and well run that we hoped you could add their name to your mailing list. The Innkeepers offered to have just Encore/Coda families for the weekends of camp visiting days, if they know in advance.
Wishing you a healthy and relaxing end of summer and much continued success at the end of session II.
—parent from Port Washington, NY
Dear Jamie And Ellen,
I had a great summer at Encore/Coda this year! At first I was really nervous about staying the full season since many of my friends were leaving after half of the summer. Everything turned out great though, and I was very comfortable. I learned a lot and improved on my violin. My teacher noticed too.
Thank you for a terrific first summer and I hope to see you next summer!
—camper from New York City
Dear Jamie & Ellen,
I know that I just spoke to you on the phone, but I was meaning to write you a letter anyway, so here it is. Basically, my thanks to both of you for once again supplying me with a wonderful, fun filled and emotional summer...After only two summers, I already feel so attached to the camp and the campers alike, that I can’t imagine not returning. This year, every one of my campers wrote to me, thanking me for a great summer, which was very meaningful for me. I gave everything that I had, and as I suspected it would, It came back to me tenfold. Camp is a very special place, very magical, if I may- and you should both be very proud for keeping up such a high standard, and such a safe, caring, and moral environment.
—staff member from Storrs, CT
Winter: 32 Grassmere Road, Brookline, MA 02467 -Telephone: 617-325-1541
Summer: 50 Encore/Coda Lane, Sweden, ME 04040 - Telephone: (voice) 207-647-3947 (fax) 207-647-3259
email: jamie@encore-coda.com
Site design by Roaring Brook Design