Interlochen Counseling Job

[cplask]

Has anybody ever been a counselor at Interlochen for the 6 week summer camp? If so, what is the practice time like for counselors/staff? I also applied to Blue Lake and was told my practice time would be limited to less than an hour/hour and a half per day. I'd like to compare the two before deciding on which job I take.
Thanks,
Christopher Plaskota
University of Michigan
Euphonium

[SRanney]

Has anybody ever been a counselor at Interlochen for the 6 week summer camp? If so, what is the practice time like for counselors/staff? I also applied to Blue Lake and was told my practice time would be limited to less than an hour/hour and a half per day. I'd like to compare the two before deciding on which job I take.
Thanks,
Christopher Plaskota
University of Michigan
Euphonium

I worked at Interlochen in the Intermediate Division (middle school-aged kids) during the summer of 1995 and had a blast. Certainly, you've got free time, but recognize that you won't be there to practice or perform, but to be a counselor to the kids. If I recall correctly, I practiced a few hours each day and also had the opportunity to play in a staff brass quintet and the weekly Sunday-morning brass choir. Generally, my daily schedule consisted of reveille, breakfast, cabin clean-up, mornings working at the waterfront as a lifeguard, lunch, afternoons free, then dinnertime/evening activities. One day off per week, and Wednesday polka nights (with free beer for the band) at the polka hall down the highway.

If you're basing your summer job on the amount of practice time you'll have available, I'd stick with something that doesn't involve being a camp counselor.

Steven