I didn't get a chance to update before leaving for Lake Burrendong last weekend. All of my attempts of accessing the feature to write up a new entry were thwarted by the website, somewhat bizarre. While I recover from my bad dose of camp flu I will update my latest movements.
Clarence Valley Con Concert a Big Success
The Clarence Valley Conservatorium held their celebrations for the town of Grafton's 150th anniversary late last month displaying the assorted talent studying and emerging from the local conservatorium program. This was held at the Anglican cathedral in town. The first half of the program was an exhibition of soloists and small ensembles, including the clarinet choir I run at the con. The second half brought out the large ensembles including the big band, concert band, youth and adult choirs. To cap off the evening, the concert and big band joined forces with the two choirs as they performed Bridge Over Troubled Waters and The Rhythm of Life. Everyone present thoroughly enjoyed the concert, with many smiles on the faces of children, parents and friends.
Western Band Camp 2009
Prior to Western Band Camp there was a local advertisement for the local city orchestra performing with guest soloist Jai Farrell; oboist and former student of Bishop Druitt. Unfortunately I was not going to be in attendance due to the camp starting on the same day as the concert was being held. I have not heard any further from the concert but I hope it was a success.
From Sunday 5th to Friday 10th of July the Western Band Camp was held. For this year this was camp number three for myself, and for some others too. Also, we had the pleasure of working with a third "Di" as director of the arts for the region; Di Reichell.
This was the second consecutive year the program had been conducted, and the numbers did increase from last year. This was truly a very testing, and at times frustrating, experience of working for this regional camp (and the second half of the week this was while I was under the influence of the flu). More importantly, it was rewarding for the children in the long run. If I thought this year's camp was frustrating, I was soon told that last year's camp was in a league of its own.
The children were really great to work with. You did have to toil hard in order to get results, but by the end of the week the ensemble skills improved immensely compared to the first day when it was essentially "every man for himself". By the public rehearsal on Friday the students were beginning to do things they wouldn't normally have done before; watching and following the conductor, listening out for other parts including the melody, working together in sections, playing irregular time signatures, and learning to breathe and utilise their air properly.
The discipline is beginning to become established, and I only hope more students can be encouraged to participate in this camp next year. There is a lot of talent in this region, and I sincerely hope everything is being done to help develop and establish this in the area of music. I would certainly like to be back next year to continue working with and help establish and firm up the clarinet section for this region. We do need a few more clarinettists, which brings me to another point.
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About halfway through the week, myself and the other clarinet tutor were informed that a clarinet teacher from a conservatorium within the region was warning and cautioning their students that if they attended this band camp they might be taught how to incorrectly hold their instrument or use incorrect technique. After hearing about this, the other clarinet tutor and I would love to know why the students, who all had been learning for at least 12 months, in our section...
- have not been taught about compound time signatures
- have not been taught to count properly
- have been taught to substitute subdivided counting by using fruits (e.g. "watermelon" for 4 semiquavers, "apple" for a pair of quavers, and other assorted fruits for mixtures of semiquavers and quavers)
- could not follow a pulse or beat
By the end of the week we sincerely hope these students have learnt more about these different aspects and basics of music and can take these skills back home with them.
To say the least, I am sick and tired of the pathetic and petty politics being dredged up by some of these sorts of teachers- it is at times a poor reflection on conservatoriums making them out to be snobby, elitist establishments. Let's get one thing straight; regional conservatoriums and these regional band camps, as part of the state band program, both function under the DET. We are all under the same banner so instead of being so precious about our students we should be encouraging them to be working with other teachers, especially when these teachers travel from all different parts of NSW to help with these camps.
I am quite fortunate to be able to experience both worlds, and there is only one other teacher I know that has this opportunity as well in terms of the regional areas/programs. If the arts programs are meant to be windows of opportunity for these students, then shouldn't these be presented more readily for our students? Quite honestly the music programs of conservatoriums and the regional band camp programs are meant to work hand-in-hand together. If regional conservatoriums could put their hand up to say that they offer more challenging concert band music (plus a complete ensemble) than the regional band camp programs around NSW, then there might be a case for the program being futile. I'd actually like to see some of these teachers, and even directors, from regional conservatoriums actually attend the public rehearsal that is given at the end of camp to see what we actually do and achieve with the kids.
Students are not being poached through the band camp programs, and because they are working with instrumental specialists there should be no feelings of incorrect technique being taught but rather improvements, or an alternative for the advanced, in their student's playing. I had a student of mine go away on a camp this year and she came back knowing how to play C# major, and her sound had improved from the time I last taught her. Sometimes it takes another tutor/teacher to offer another point of perspective or approach in order for a student to understand.
A bit less "precious" paranoia, and a bit more of a push for performance would be appreciated.
