The choir worked with its clinician, Ms. Janes, to further their vocal skills. Students had the opportunity to figure out what their vocal range is, as well as work on technical skills, such as how certain notes feel in your body when they are sung, so to be able to find them again later. They also worked on becoming what Ms. Janes called a “wise musician” by using previous notes that were sung to find future notes in the pieces. The choir worked on the pieces:
Fix You by Coldplay,
21 Guns by Green Day, and
What About Us by P!nk, among others. Choir members look forward to perfecting the pieces using the skills they acquired.
Meanwhile, the band students had the opportunity to work with their clinicians to help hone their skills on their instruments and work on keys aspects of musicianship to refine their technical abilities. Their days began with clinics in the morning with their primary instruments, followed by a full jazz and concert band rehearsal before and after lunch, respectively. This year the band was lucky enough to work with a jazz clinician who wrote a piece specifically for the jazz ensemble to play, as it challenged them dynamically and rhythmically.
The jazz clinician focused on the importance of enhancing one’s musicality when playing in a jazz setting, whereas a musician must be dramatic when playing chorals and in modes, or over exaggerate their dynamics when playing mainstream jazz to liven the overall mood of the band. All of these key concepts really help to differentiate being a concert band instrumentalist and a jazz instrumentalist.
On a more contemporary and classical note (no pun intended), concert band was made a huge success by the band clinician who managed to entertain and spread very meaningful and thoughtful words that stressed the importance of music in everyone’s lives and as an art. There were clinicians in every section to aid with any difficulties that students might encounter.
Finally, during the final two days of camp, during lunch and dinner, students would prepare a small ensemble piece with their section to play for the rest of the group, showing what they had accomplished and worked on during their sessions.
On Friday evening, all music camp members had the opportunity to perform in a talent show, as well as witness their clinicians perform a solo piece of their choosing. Acts ranged from singing and playing instruments, to acting and magic tricks.
A dance was held on Saturday night, making for some great laughs and memories. The dance was followed by some late night packing as the group departed from the camp to return to school early on Sunday.
Story by Carly Campoli ’20 and Anthony Botticchio ’20