Programming

BAM! Camp Calgary (formerly Girls Rock Camp Calgary) invites girls and gender-expansive youth of all backgrounds and abilities, to engage with each other through musical education and performance in a positive environment. 

Summer Camp: August 18-23, 2025 REGISTRATION NOW FULL

Click here to fill out our Waiting List Form.

  • Registration opens April 22. Once camp is full we will take information for our waiting list.
  • You will be contacted by us within a few days to confirm we have received your registration and give you payment details.
  • Camp tuition is $300
  • Subsidy and Pay-What-You-Can options are available for those in need.

**2025 Times & Locations: Mon-Thurs 9am-4pm at Bowness Commons (formerly Bowness Scouts Hall), Friday at OCL Studios 9am-4pm, Saturday at Ship & Anchor 2pm-6pm***

Overall camp goals include: Self-esteem building, positive engagement with peers, musical instruction and performance, music industry orientation, and development of social skills.

​Camp Description 
The camp consists of 4 full days of instruction, practice and workshops, a full day of recording at OCL Studios, and a Saturday afternoon showcase at the legendary Ship and Anchor.

In their registration, campers will be asked to provide information about their musical tastes and reasons for joining the camp, as well as instrument preference (guitar, bass, drums, keyboard or vocals), and age. Bands will be formed on the basis of these applications. 

Please note that no musical experience is required! Experienced instructors and industry veterans will provide instrument and workshop education, as well as mentorship. 

Campers will be split up into bands, but will also have the opportunity to form other collaborations, and work together as a group during workshops.

Workshops
Workshops will depend on available instructors, a finalized list will be posted at least a month prior to camp.  In past camps we have included workshops on:

  • Songwriting
  • How to work together as a band
  • Stage presence and live performance
  • Promotion
  • Making merch
  • Exploring music history and genres
  • Recording standard practices
  • Navigating your local music scene
  • Keynotes with professional local artists

The Showcase!
Saturday afternoon will be dedicated to giving the bands an opportunity to show off all their hard work. The showcase will be held at the Ship and Anchor pub on 17th Ave. SW, and will include performances by each of the BAM! bands, as well as collaborations and special guests.

What you walk away from BAM! Camp with:

  • New friends
  • New instrument skills
  • Knowledge of the music industry
  • Experience of creating and performing music!

​Tuition includes:

  • Instruction/mentorship
  • Merch
  • Instrument/equipment rental if needed
  • Any materials needed in workshops
  • Professional recording of your original song
  • Portrait of your band

Collaborative Songwriting Camp: August 22, 23, 24, 2024

  • Registration opens July 19th on a first come, first serve basis – limited to 6 campers. Campers will be paired for songwriting.
  • Ages 14-18
  • 9am – 1pm at Royal Canadian Legion No. 1 (116 7 Ave SE, Calgary AB)
  • Camp Fees are $125 to be paid upon successful notification via e-transfer
  • Subsidy is available for those in need

Goals

Songwriting 101 | Learn to co-write | Chord Progressions | Generating Rhythm Ideas from Anywhere | Getting Unstuck and Finishing The Song | Record A Demo | Shake Those Jitters –  Perform Your Song for Your Friends 

Learn how to take that lyric idea in your journal to a fully finished song ready to record and perform. Over 3 days you will learn the basics of songwriting, how to get your song out of a dead end and ready to add to your pile of “Songs I’ve Written”. By working together, you’ll learn how to work with other songwriters and see how fast your song can go from start to finish. Finally, you’ll learn the basics of recording a demo and giving and receiving songwriting feedback. We’ll finish off the day by performing our songs live for each other!

Camp Activities

Day 1

Improv Icebreaker Games

Harmony – What is it? How to find chord progressions. Examples of popular progressions. Ho to find them if you don’t play an instrument

Rhythm Ideas – What is rhythm? -Intro to basic notation. How to find fresh ideas, how to find inspiration anywhere, even if you don’t play an instrument

Begin Co-write – meet your co-writing partner and start brainstorming ideas

Day 2

Melody – The 3 shapes of melodies and how to use them

Songwriting Toolkit – form, rhyming, repetition, metaphors, storyline

Continue Co-write – Complete a verse and chorus to your song. Record to your phone

Day 3

Song Analysis – Pick a favourite song and identify where the writer uses songwriting tools (30 mins)

Songwriting SOS – What do you do if you hit a wall with your song? How to overcome ‘writer’s block’. Save your song from going to the graveyard of unfinished songs. (30 mins)

Demo Making – Gear, tips and doing the work 

Make your demo

Perform for the group & songwriting feedback from peers

Requirements for camp – 

Smartphone or iPad with voice memo app

Basic knowledge of your instrument (x 3 people)

Have fun!

Songwriting Camp: July 24, 25, 26, 2024 (REGISTRATION NOW FULL)

  • 9am – 1pm at Royal Canadian Legion No. 1 (116 7 Ave SE, Calgary AB)
  • Ages 12-17
  • Registration opens July 4th on a first come, first serve basis
  • Camp Fees are $125 to be paid upon successful notification via e-transfer
  • Subsidy is available for those in need