2024
in Victoria B.C.
Our 14 Annual Piano Boot Camp!
July 15 - 19, 2024 (Victoria)
Definition: Boot Camp - a short intensive course of training. AND this one's FUN!
The Dragonfly sisters, Linda and Sue Gould, are your hosts for this immersive piano camp focusing on lead sheets, creativity and improvisation at the piano. Imagine a room full of pianos creating music together!
Piano Boot Camp welcomes mature piano players (16+) of all levels, plus professional development classes for Piano Teachers.
Late Beginners, Intermediate and Experienced classical players, are welcome. We guarantee at the end of the week you will be playing pop, jazz and classical lead sheets… with inspiration!
Victoria Classes are 9:30 am - 2:30 pm for 5 days (includes a one hour lunch break). July 15 - 19, 2024
What To Expect
Unlock your piano potential at Piano Boot Camp. Say goodbye to note reading and hello to chords, lead sheets and creative exploration. Gain confidence and creativity at the keys. Join us and transform your musical journey today!
Morning Class
Interpret lead sheets and piano chords, develop critical listening and improvisational skills, learn new licks and comping styles. Compare 'notes' with other campers during breaks.
Two classes to choose from: Easier and More Advanced. Ideal for piano players who can play hands together comfortably and those that have taken traditional piano exams from grade 3 - 10 (and beyond). (2 hours)
After Lunch Coaching
Individual time for everyone to play with the morning songs and licks. Sue and Linda will be available for individual coaching during this time. (30 mins)
Afternoon Class (Two options)
Piano Ensembles
Piano players often don't get much time playing in ensembles. This is your chance to experience creating music together! Using our keyboards we'll experience every instrument in the band. It's really fun! (1 hour)
Pedagogy for Teachers
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RCM added lead sheets for exams, let's get comfortable with them.
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Teen students in jazz band? Prepare them for success with lead sheet immersion.
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Adult students? Learning songs from their youth is faster and much more creative with lead sheets.
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Teaching group piano? Experience the joy of teaching lead sheets in a group setting. (1 hour)
Camp Cost
Piano Boot Camp 2024 is $500. A $100 deposit holds your spot. Balance is due July 1, 2024
Coming from out-of-town?
Here is a list of accommodation options nearby...
Air Bnb
Nearest Hotels
U Vic
University of Victoria Summer Accomodation
Feedback From PREVIOUS BOOT CAMPS
Testimonials
Linda Quinn (student)
Take the plunge. It is a very supportive, non judgmental environment. I was surprised that there was always something new to learn and how quickly the hour flew by.
Barb Schindel (teacher)
I have taught voice/piano for over 30 years and have taught Play Piano Chords Today for over 10 years. I use the tools in my personal teaching - This is a revolutionary resource to enhance any music teacher's Studio!
Julianne Wolfe (teacher)
Your program is such a lovely way to introduce adults to playing and having fun. Those who go through your books continue to enjoy and learn from lead sheets, and also are more ready to read the bass clef and enjoy classical music as well.
Anne Glommen (student)
No more daunting pages of black notes - a single melody line and a few chord notations are all one needs for immediate satisfaction. This method of teaching has brought so much joy to my piano playing.
Phyllis Straatholf (student)
The classes have been fun and totally stress-free. If I had had this type of instruction early in my piano playing, I would likely have never stopped playing.
Irma MacKay (student)
I was hesitant to begin piano lessons again as a senior. However, I have learned so much in the 18 months that I have been taking lessons from Linda and am amazed at how well I can now play the piano.
meet the dragonfly sisters
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Linda and Susan Gould are award winning pianists who have been performing and teaching music for over 40 years (each).
They hold Bachelors of Music with Distinction in Piano Performance from the University of Victoria in addition to Jazz studies with Randy Halberstadt, Karel Roessingh and Lynn McNeil. Linda was on faculty at the Victoria Conservatory of Music and Mount Royal College in Calgary and Sue was on faculty at Banff Centre for the Preforming Arts.
Together and separately they have travelled extensively performing and educating in communities large and small.
They love Piano Boot Camp and it's opportunity to gather like-minded pianists together and immerse in a week of music making.
They can be found performing with a variety of ensembles including the Music Mosaic piano trio, the Selkirk Trio, Paulson Gould duo, and the Dragonfly Sisters duo.
Sue is the Music Director and conductor of the Purcell Mountain Orchestra and Linda is author of the 4 volume chording course, Play Piano Chords Today.
And yes, they are real life sisters!
Previous Boot Camp Experiences
Galina Coffey Lewis (Author)
I have fallen in love with playing the piano again!
After not having a piano lesson for over 10 years, I found Linda Gould. What a treasure she is!! And her teaching methods are so creative, so magnificent, so holistic and so enjoyable; I have fallen in love with playing the piano again. Linda is the most creative teacher I ever had.... Her teaching methods utilizing "Play Piano Chords Today" books, and her summer "Piano Boot Camp" are so much fun and I can hardly wait to go to my piano lessons.
John Pope (Vancouver)
I am so glad I did!
After retirement, I decided that I wanted to try to learn to play the piano again. I had taken piano lessons for a few years as a child, but really struggled with it. I didn’t enjoy the music I was required to play and my progress was slow.
When I found this piano camp for a week in the summer I thought I had nothing to lose except my pride so very nervously I decided I would attend.
I am so glad I did! They made every student feel comfortable that week. Even though we were at different skill levels, they were able to make the classes relevant to each of us and did it in such a fun and positive way. Of course I came back the next year!
I often think now, when I’m playing the piano, how much my enjoyment has increased because of taking the risk of attending my first Piano Boot Camp.
Want to be notified about Piano Boot Camp 2025?
Are you interested but this year won't work for you? Click on the form to the left and we will let you know when it is happening next year!
Boot Camp memories
Painted Piano at McNeil Bay
Play Piano Chords Today Piano Boot Camp
Play Piano Chords Today Piano Boot Camp
Painted Piano at McNeil Bay
We kept going through the pandemic!
