Week One - Day One

     The B Sharp kids arrived at summer music camp in downtown Fort Worth on Monday afternoon. They were wearing their summer camp t-shirts and were excited and ready to jump in and get started. At long last they were to experience first-hand what Osvaldo Mendoza, B Sharp director, had been telling them about for weeks.  Jo and Deta and Molly and Pete and Dan and Jill all provided an exciting first day. Highlights--singing in the woodwind sectional, "boiwang" on Jo's rhythm in creative composition, all string players in one big group for the first time and playing by hearing the note in the brass sectional.
     This first week of camp our good friends, Performing Arts Fort Worth and the Children's Education Program at Bass Performance Hall brought 6 talented musicians from Baltimore and London to work with the B Sharp kids. Joseph from London plays the double bass, Dita, also from London, plays the flute, Jill from Baltimore plays the cello, Molly sings, Dan plays the tuba and Pete plays the trumpet. Each will work in sectionals with the kids to help them progress on their chosen instrument.and will also help facilitate each class. The first day began with Molly leading a choir practice.
     Then the sectional fun began with each B Sharper taking their chosen instrument and heading to a separate practice room to try and remember how to play. Most of our string players had not picked up a violin since December, the brass players had only played a very short while, and the woodwinds have only had the instruments in their hands for less than a week before coming to camp. Our percussionists are probably the most adept on their chosen instrument as Ms. Vessels, B Sharp instructor,  has worked magic and hours with all our students on percussion.
    Participating in camp right beside the students are the B Sharp staff and several local musicians.  They are learning what Dan Trahey and his entourage can show and tell us about teaching music to kids in the El Sistema-inspired way, because in the second week of camp these musicians and teachers will be working with the kids.  Stay tuned up for more camp news!