The halls of École McIsaac School came to life recently as 148 music students from École McIsaac School, Ruth Betts Community School and Creighton Community School participated in an intensive workshop called Band Camp.
Eleven instrumentalists trekked north from Winnipeg to work with the grades 6, 7 and 8 students, giving them the unique opportunity to have concentrated instruction from experts on flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, French horn, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba and percussion instruments.
“This prevents so many problems that arise as students learn to play,” explains Flin Flon School Division music teacher Anna Jardine. “They get proper technique from day one, which will allow them to create the most beautiful sounds and prevents them from acquiring repetitive-use injuries later in life such as tendonitis or carpal tunnel.”
Jardine organized Band Camp in collaboration with Matt Abraham, a percussionist, clinician and music teacher at Vincent Massey Collegiate in Winnipeg.
Jardine and Abraham first connected at a music education conference last December.
Jardine arranged to bring Abraham north to work with Flin Flon band students in February 2015. The experience went over well with students and musicians alike, and the two decided to continue collaborating.
“After many conversations about pedagogy and student engagement, we hatched a plan for band camp,” says Jardine, who notes that the camp was designed to give students hands-on support while also inspiring a love of music.
“It gives them an engaging and exciting experience in September, which sets a standard of excellence for the rest of the year.”
Abraham recruited Winnipeg-based music educators, performers, students and private instructors to run clinics during band camp, and Jardine managed the logistics for the weekend, along with a team of volunteers.
Band Camp, held Sept. 19 and 20, wrapped with a student performance before the clinicians headed home.
“You should have seen how pumped those kids were after they played,” says Andrew Wahl, a music teacher who led the clarinet clinic for the weekend.
“To see them succeed and make so much progress in such a short amount of time is the most thrilling experience for any teacher,” adds Jardine. “They may not remember everything they learned at camp, but they will remember how they felt after that performance. That feeling of pride, success and being part of a community is what will keep them involved in music in the future.”
As for the visiting musicians, many of whom had never visited Flin Flon before, they are heading home with a new perspective on northern Manitoba, and, in some cases, their profession.
“While the students benefited from the professional instruction and increased their sense of efficacy, coming to this workshop benefited me as well,” says Wahl. “I met students who reminded me of why I think my instrument is wonderful, I made new friends that I would otherwise never encountered and I discovered a wonderful new place to visit.”
