Camp organizer Carolyn Greenberg said her goal with the camp is to inspire a lifelong passion for creating music, craft a community of youngsters making music with friends and to give them foundational skills to build on.

The camp is held at the TrestleStreet Community Art Space on Woodruff Street, which is full of instruments and recently expanded with the addition of its “Linda’s Carriage Barn” space.

Greenberg said they have seven campers signed up so far — all students who are returning from past years. She said she’s honored to have them come back. There’s a couple who have attended for all four years and Greenberg said it’s been fun to see them grow — over the course of the week-long camp and through the years.

The instructors are all certified and very experienced music teachers.

The Mountain Melodies camp at TrestleStreet in Saranac Lake returns in July. There are still several seats open for aspiring young musicians to join. Here, campers in 2024 rehearse singing together. (Enterprise photo — Galen Halasz)

The camp is open to kids in grades four to 12, and of all musical experience levels.

Instructors Rebecca Saltzman and Abby Greenberg will lead a new a cappella group, focusing on the tuning, harmony and rhythm that can be made with just people’s voices.

New this year is the structured jam session “Strum Circle.”

“We used to have a drum circle, but we’re going to expand it this year and call it ‘Strum Circle,'” Greenberg said.

She wants to build young musicians’ confidence in making music on the spot and improvisation. She was partially inspired by seeing the groups of local people who gather to play music weekly at local bars and restaurants. Greenberg plans to invite guest musicians to sit in for these jam sessions.

Mountain Melodies campers rehearse singing together at a previous year. (Provided photo)

“I think it’s inspiring to see local musicians who go out in public and play,” Greenberg said.

Seeing one of these jam circles from the outside, it looks like magic, Greenberg said. But she added that there’s a method to the madness, and once someone learns the tricks of the trade, they can enjoy creating the magic.

The camp’s “Broadway-bound” program combines singing with dancing. It is led by Abby Greenberg, who tap dances.

The camp runs from July 14 to 18, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each day. Greenberg said the instructors are efficient in their lesson planning to make the best of their time.

Registration costs $200, and Greenberg said they offer scholarships to ensure any child who wants to attend can, regardless of family income. To learn more about scholarships, contact slmountainmelodies@gmail.com.

At the end of the week, there will be a family showcase where the students will perform for their families, and they will perform at the Third Thursday Art Walk on July 17.

To learn more about the camp or to register, go to slmountainmelodies.com.

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Instructor bios

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Greenberg and her husband are from New Jersey. They bought a home here before the coronavirus pandemic lockdowns in 2020 and have split their time between the states since then. She said she found so much art and music in Saranac Lake, and wants to make sure the next generation gets the skills and the drive to pick up those talents.

She’s been playing piano and singing since she was 8 years old, has 30 years of education experience in New Jersey and New York City schools and is the professional accompanist for several public school districts.

Abby, Carolyn’s daughter, is a choral music teacher at a middle school in New Jersey; directs her school’s extracurricular a cappella ensemble; directs her school musical; and plays clarinet, piano and banjo.

Carolyn and Abby are in a rock cover band called Mary’s Basement, where Abby is the lead singer and Carolyn is a keyboardist and vocalist.

Carolyn said Saltzman is at the “top of her field” and gives her time generously to the Mountain Melodies camp.

Saltzman teaches chorus at a high school in Connecticut, where she directs five curricular choirs and an extra-curricular gospel choir that performed at the American Choral Directors Association conference in 2024. She also advises three student a cappella ensembles at her school; teaches choral methods courses at the University of Hartford; and is the Eastern Division Board Member for the American Choral Directors Association.

Nathan Bischoff teaches music at an elementary school in New Jersey, directs his school chorus and musical and plays guitar when leading his classes. He and Abby have both traveled internationally with the University of Delaware Choral Scholars, winning “Best in World” for their division.