The sound is unmistakable.
The thwack of a snare drum, the soothing strings of violins, and the forceful insistence of a trumpet drifted invitingly up from the lower level of the near-empty Poughkeepsie Middle School on College Avenue. The Poughkeepsie School District’s inaugural summer music camp brought melodic sounds to the empty halls of the school this summer.
The camp concluded its three-week run last week with a successful recital. Playing in front of friends and family, 20 students and four teachers played in groups including a saxophone quartet, flute ensemble, string ensemble and five pieces as a full band.
“This has been wonderful,” said camp counselor and Smith Elementary School music teacher Michael Colucci. “We’ve all grown over the last several weeks. To get to this level takes nearly half a school year, but they had nothing else distracting them here from learning as a group.”
The music camp was attended by students in the seventh through ninth grades. Perhaps the biggest challenge facing the students wasn’t the pace set by their teachers, but rather getting up early enough during the lazy summer mornings to arrive at school by 8:30 a.m.
“It’s really fun, but I also have to wake up really early,” said incoming eighth grader Rebecca Kardas. “The best part about playing in the orchestra? You get to hear the violins, cellos and everything else.”
Poughkeepsie Middle School music students are a hardy lot. Last year, there was no band during the school day, so musicians who wanted to play in a group setting had to arrive at school well before the first bell rang.
That won’t be a problem this year. The band has been restored to the normal school schedule. And the experience of going out of their way to play together has formed an unusual cohesion between the students.
“It’s very hard to get up early, but it really bonds us together as friends and players,” said eighth-grader Anissa Williams-Carswell.
While the music camp offered the students an opportunity to improve their playing chops, the teachers were mindful that the occasion couldn’t and shouldn’t be just a musical boot camp. The campers play games like “Musical Jeopardy.” In this version of the popular television game show, students were presented with categories like musical notation and answered some questions with rhythmic clapping. Winners received Mardi Gras-style beads as a reward.
Other activities included music-related movies and playing with Boomwhackers, large tubes that play a single note when struck.
Dr. Richard Carr, who teaches stringed instruments at the high school, said the camp was invaluable for students who ordinarily might not pick up their instruments until September.
“It’s been fun. I’ve enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere,” he said. “A lot of kids don’t play all summer, and they get rusty. This gives them a chance to practice things like tone production and good bow control and posture. Consistency is very important.”
Mary Mullaney, a band teacher at Smith School, said she has seen older campers grow into mentors for younger musicians. “It’s been fabulous for the kids,” she said. “It’s especially good for the older kids to be leaders, and it gives an opportunity for the younger kids to transition from elementary to middle school.”
Students have been infused with a sense of musical history, Mullaney reported. “Dr. Carr talked about Mozart and jazz musicians, and we give them theory lessons, just trying to get them to be independent thinkers,” she said. “It’s like picking up a new book; you don’t think about it, you just pick it up.”
The band camp was a hit with family members, who seemed thrilled that their children had a summer performance place. Curtis Johnson said his son Tyler was focused on being part of the middle school band this year.
“It’s been great for the kids,” said Johnson. “They all seem to be very enthusiastic. He’s wanted to be in the band all through elementary school, and now is his chance.”