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Students take notes at Summer Music Camp

Tiffany Tuell

(Updated: Thursday, July 15, 2010, 12:00 AM)

Even though school is out for the summer, music still filled the air at Yosemite High School for eight days as 15 ambitious music students, grades 5 to 12, attended the YHS Summer Music Camp for three hours a day.

The camp, lead by YHS Music Director Randy Hyatt and assisted by Oakhurst Community Band members Bill Wagner and Pat Mierkey along with three YHS student volunteers, helped students brush up on musical skills, have fun with music and prepare for the fall music season.

"Summer music camp is important for three reasons," Hyatt said. "To provide students with an opportunity to work on their musical skills over the summer; to keep them motivated and encourage them to remain in music at their current grade levels and to link up kids with the music department at YHS. We hope incoming freshman and younger students will enroll in music at YHS when they arrive."

When school is out, most students don't want to be back in the classroom but that's not the case for these students.

"My whole family is involved in music and I've always liked music," said French horn player Joel Bradshaw, 11, a student at Chawanakee Academy. "When Music Camp came up, I thought it would be fun. I always like taking on challenges and people say the French horn is the hardest instrument to play so I thought I'd give it a shot. Mr. Hyatt and Mr. Mierkey have taught me a lot."

A normal day at music camp begins with group band warm-up, technique, review of skills and playing band music. Then it's time for music theory. Worksheets teach everything from cover note names and note values to rest values and reading rhythms. Students also receive individual lessons and instructions during the theory time.

Composers and music history are studied and students work together in ensembles, duets, trios, brass ensembles and in small groups with instruction. The three-hour day is wrapped up with everyone coming together to put together what they've learned through music.

"I just like how we get to learn so much in a little time and we're constantly learning about composers, which I find interesting," said Kenny Jeffris, 14, a freshman at YHS. "I just like to play music. It helps me concentrate, takes away stress and it's proven to help you do better in school."

The three YHS student volunteers provided lessons and individual assistance to attendees. "The students really connected with one another and had fun getting to know one another," Hyatt said.

YHS sophomore and cornet player Joseph Peterson, 16, has been playing musical instruments for five years and is a YHS band member. He also plays piano, trumpet, guitar, harmonica and recorder. Peterson said he joined Summer Music Camp to become better at the cornet and help other young students.

"When you're helping out with other people, you're not only learning from them but also teaching," he said. "It's ironic how you learn and teach at the same time. It's really fun learning and finding your strengths and weaknesses. Music is fun. I love music and think everyone should be part of it because it helps with school."

Peterson said he hopes to have a job like Hans Zimmer someday. Zimmer has written music for movies such as "Sherlock Holmes" and "The Dark Knight."

Music Camp wrapped up with a "Mini Recital" to show friends and family students' musical accomplishments.

"It has been wonderful to see how much the students have improved over the eight days," Hyatt said.