The French Woods Music Camp is one of the finest non-competitive, comprehensive summer camps in the United States. Kids who are enthusiastic about music (aged from 7 to 17 years old) are given instruction on all levels and perform in ensembles (合唱) based on their age, ability and schedule.

Working conductors and musicians are at the heart of the professional faculty for the Summer Music Camp at French Woods. The counselor staff consists of music students and young music professionals.

Unlike other music camps, French Woods doesn’t require campers to audition (试听) before the summer. Students at all skill levels are welcome to French Woods and will gain from the summer experience.

Both group and individual private lessons are available from the staff for all orchestral instruments, piano, drums, voice and guitar.

French Woods encourages a cooperative environment between music campers. With this spirit, French Woods’ classical symphony is able to perform a concert within two weeks from the start of camp. Other youth orchestras normally take months to be ready to perform.

Besides our youth symphony we have concert bands, a jazz program, and a great rock and roll camp. The Rock & Roll Camp has five rehearsal studios and a 36-track professional recording studio. Instead of just doing covers of other groups, the bands at French Woods are encouraged to create their own songs. Most rock campers leave with a professional level CD of their work for the summer.

The summer isn’t just about music. The campers have plenty of time each day to try the other activities at the camp like water sports, skateboarding, horseback riding and the theater camp.

Please give us a call (800 634-1703) to arrange a visit to the camp grounds or to talk to the camp executive staff.

How Did the Ancient Chinese Keep Food Warm in Winter?

Facilities like electric rice cookers, microwaves, and electric kettles, make it easy for people to keep food warm and enjoy a comfortable winter. So how did Chinese people in ancient times keep food warm in winter without these? In fact, ancient Chinese people used their own methods of heat preservation as early as the Shang and Zhou Dynasties.

☆ “Wen Ding”, ancient rice cooker

One of the major functions of an electric rice cooker is to keep food warm. The “Wen Ding”, an ancient cooking container, served the same purpose, but instead of using electric energy, the ancient cooking container preserved heat by burning fuels like charcoal.

The “Wen Ding” unearthed in Nanjing in 1989 is thought to be the oldest of its kind discovered in China, dating back to the Stone Age. The craftsmanship of making the “Wen Ding” was developed in the Bronze Age. The bronze Ding from the Shang and Zhou Dynasties took on different shapes and structures.

☆ “Ran Lu”, ancient small hot pot

The “Ran Lu” is a small size cooking vessel (器皿) made of bronze, which can be divided into three parts. A charcoal stove forms the main structure, with a bottom tray to hold charcoal ashes, and a movable cup at the top. Some experts have concluded that the vessel’s structure suggests it may have been used as a small hot pot and that these vessels became popular in the Warring States Period (475—221 B.C.).

☆ Bronze You, ancient kettle

The Bronze You was one of the most common wine containers during the Shang and Zhou Dynasties. The Bronze You can also be used to warm wine. For example, the Bronze You with beast mask design, unearthed in Jiangxi Province, has an opening where charcoal could be placed. Just as people today can’t do without an electric kettle, the Bronze You allowed people to enjoy a hot drink.

☆ Bronze Yan, ancient steamer

Although the “Wen Ding” was effective at keeping food warm, the ancient Chinese people later found that its burning process produced pollution. As a result, the Bronze Yan made with a two-tier structure and used to steam rice and other grains. After the Eastern Han Dynasty (25A.D.-220A.D.), further improvements to the Bronze Yan led to the modern-day steamer.