Frequently Asked Questions
California Summer Performing Arts Academy is a new non-profit organization founded by music educators in Gilroy, CA. Our mission is to cultivate the arts in the South Bay Area by providing every student with a quality arts education that will spark their passion for performing. This year’s fundraising goal is to provide both full and partial CSPAA scholarships to our 2023 summer camp to as many students as possible. We believe that music education should be accessible, affordable, and readily available to all students!
CSPAA provides a number of educational opportunities for students in the South Valley. Currently CSPAA provides quarterly masterclasses, and performance opportunities via virtual choirs.
This summer CSPAA is hosting its inaugural performing arts summer camp, Downbeat! Downbeat will focus on choral singing and rhythmic exploration, in addition to a number of other elective activities. Please visit our Downbeat page to learn more.
CSPAA plans on quickly expanding their programs to include all performing arts genres.
General FAQ
Most online donation portals allow $5 to be the lowest amount of a donation that can be made. We welcome all cash or check donations in any amount; they can be mailed to P.O. Box 1273 Gilroy, CA 95021.
All checks can be mailed to P.O. Box 1273 Gilroy, CA 95021.
To cancel your monthly donation, please email contact@cspaa.org with the name on the monthly donor account, and the amount of the recurring donation.
Yes, CSPAA is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Our non-profit tax ID is 85-3125921.
You will receive your tax donation receipt 2 weeks after you donate to CSPAA.
Donor FAQ
CSPAA is adhering to COVID guidelines provided by the SCDPH.
Downbeat! 2023 will be in person in Gilroy, CA. Exact camp location to be announced!
CSPAA welcomes all incoming third graders through outgoing ninth graders to be a part of Downbeat. If your student is a junior or senior in high school and interested in earning community service hours, contact us to find out more about our camp counselor opportunities.
CSPAA is planning on awarding 10 full student scholarships and 10 partial student scholarships. All of CSPAA’s scholarships will be awarded based on financial need and student interest.
Please email any questions, comments or concerns regarding Downbeat scholarships to: scholarships@cspaa.org and a team member will respond to you as soon as possible.
Downbeat! 2023 registration will close at the end of day on Wednesday, July 5, 2023. Scholarship applications should be submitted by May 21, 2023.
There will be roughly one CSPAA leadership team member for every four students.
CSPAA’s leadership team consists of three Executive Directors, one camp counselor, two elective teachers, two staff accompanists, eight section leaders, and eight camp counselors.
All of CSPAA’s leadership team that is 18 and older will be fingerprinted and undergo a thorough background check. All of CSPAA’s leadership team will be required to complete CPR training and complete safety training.
CSPAA will provide lunch for all Downbeat participants. CSPAA will also provide snacks for all Downbeat participants. Please alert CSPAA during your registration or via email of any and all food allergies: contact@cspaa.org.
Students are allowed to bring nutritious snacks to be kept in their personal backpack until snack time. Due to strict COVID precautions and allergy safety, students are under no circumstances allowed to share their snacks.
Yes, CSPAA will provide snacks during snack time.
Please notify CSPAA during registration or via email to the camp principal if your student may require a snack outside of the scheduled snack time due to health risks, low blood sugar, or any other health reason.
CSPAA will offer a variety of electives. Students will have the opportunity to take two elective classes - one in the morning and one in the afternoon. CSPAA is offering the following electives:
Acting It Out (AM Elective): Students will have the opportunity to experience a five day acting class led by an acting professional.
Let’s Move! (AM Elective): Students will have the opportunity to experience a five day movement class that will include elements from dance, yoga, Alexander Technique, and beginning stage movement.
Ukulele Under the Sun (PM Elective): Beginner and Intermediate options! Students will have the opportunity to experience a five day ukulele class where they will learn the basics of playing the ukulele or sharpen their skills.
Get Visual (PM Elective): Students will have the opportunity to experience a five day visual art class where they will experiment with different artistic elements including drawing, painting, and sculpting.
All students are welcome to Downbeat – the ability to read music, previous choir experience, or owning an instrument are not required.
Some students will have the opportunity to play the ukulele at Downbeat if they are enrolled in the ukulele elective, “Sounds Under the Sun.” CSPAA will provide a ukulele to any student enrolled in the “Sounds Under the Sun” elective.
That is a program we plan to start as we begin receiving grants and fundraising. Right now our community has no music education in schools (elementary) and little to no music education in middle school, so we are bringing the lowest cost programs first (general music and choir programs) and then our hope is to expand to concert band and orchestra, and then add in other arts fields such as dance, painting/sculpting, acting etc. For all of the programs that CSPAA runs we will provide whatever the students need to be successful in the program. If students need an instrument then CSPAA will provide the instrument that they need.
All Downbeat participants will need to wear their camp t-shirt everyday. CSPAA will provide all Downbeat students with one camp t-shirt. If you would like an additional camp t-shirt for your student they will be available for purchase at $10 for each additional t-shirt.
If a Downbeat student forgets their t-shirt CSPAA will loan them one at a $5 charge. If you decide to not return the loaned t-shirt you will be billed the full amount of the t-shirt.
All Downbeat participants need to wear their camp t-shirts daily as we will be at a larger facility and will need to quickly and easily identify and keep track of all of our students.
Please leave all toys at home unless otherwise notified by the Camp Principal or an Executive Director.
Please provide a list of people that are authorized to pick up your student if it isn’t you.
CSPAA will not release a child to anyone that is not on the pre-authorized pick-up list. All pre-authorized persons will have to provide a legal form of identification in order to pick up a student.
CSPAA has a zero-tolerance policy to verbal, emotional, or physical violence. Each student and their behaviors will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the Camp Principal and Executive Directors to determine the situation outcome. CSPAA has a zero tolerance for bad behavior policy.
CSPAA welcomes all students of mental age third through ninth grade. If your student has an IEP, please indicate so by checking the “IEP” box on your student registration. Each student will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis for admittance into Downbeat.
Unfortunately, at this time CSPAA does not have the financial capacity to provide behavior specialists or special assistance technicians to our students in need. If special assistance is needed for your student it will be the parents/guardians responsibility to provide the daily assistance for the student. Each student will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis for admittance to Downbeat.
CSPAA will evaluate cancellations on a case-by-case basis.
All students are entitled to a complete refund if CSPAA receives a verifiable doctor's note, if the county shuts down all activities, or if a written notice of cancellation is received two weeks prior to the beginning of Downbeat – by 11:59 p.m. on June 25.
If written notice of cancellation is received between June 26 and July 2 at 11:59 p.m. CSPAA will issue a partial refund – the amount will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the Executive Directors.
There will be no refunds issued for cancellations after 11:59 p.m. on July 2.