Contributed by Meggie Aube
Summer Percussion Camp 2017
June 5-9, 2017
Sessions 1 & 2 @9AM, Session 3 @11AM
Percussion in the Valley
Colony Middle School
9250 E Silver Spring Cir, Palmer
Cost: $85 1st Session, $200 2nd Session, $250 3rd Session
This summer marks the 5th year of the Percussion in the Valley Summer Percussion Camp! With four years of excellent summer camps in the books, this year is guaranteed to be the best yet! Over the last four years, students from all corners of the Valley and Anchorage have attended the summer camp and helped it to grow into what it is now. The camp has expanded each year from its start with about fifteen students to the full group of over forty students last summer.
As always, the summer camp is an excellent chance for young percussionists and those interested in percussion, to develop their technique and improve on their rhythmic reading and playing. However, the camp is much more than that. It is an opportunity for students to have fun and make friends. Relationships are made that would otherwise be difficult with students coming from different schools and communities. Learning and playing music with others often creates lasting friendships.
While the students connect with each other, they also develop relationships with percussion teachers from around the state and country. Each year, the camp faculty draws from professionals from the Valley and Anchorage, and brings up one out of state professional percussionist each year. This year the camp faculty will include Alaska faculty, Dr. Meggie Aube, camp director and owner of Percussion in the Valley, and Brady Byers and Erik Chronister, percussion educators from Anchorage. The featured guest faculty this summer will be Michael Mixtacki, percussion professor at the University of Texas, San Antonio. Michael is a world-class percussionist specializing in Afro-Cuban percussion while also being versatile in all percussion instruments. Area students will not want to miss the opportunity to work with and develop a relationship with him.
Summer camp will be held the first week of June, Monday June 5th - Friday, June 9th. There are three sessions to accommodate all ages and ability levels. Session 1 meets each day from 9:00-10:00 a.m. for students age 7-11 with little to no prior experience. Session 2 meets from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and is for students entering 4th-7th grade with at least one year of experience in percussion or music. Session 3 meets from 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and is meant for students entering 8th grade through those just graduated from high school, who have at least one year of percussion or music experience.
Throughout the camp the students will participate in clinics, masterclasses and ensembles in all percussion areas. The camp culminates with a final camp concert for family, friends and community members on Friday, June 9th at 4:00 p.m. The camp will again be held at Colony Middle School in Palmer.
Enrollment has begun and people are encouraged to sign up early as space in the camp is limited and last year the camp met maximum enrollment. Early enrollment is in effect until April 14th. During this time enrollment is discounted by $15. To sign up, contact Dr. Meggie Aube to ensure that space is available in the camp session of your choice. Call 907-631-8079 or e-mail percvalley@gmail.com. For more information, visit the Percussion in the Valley website at www.percussioninthevalley.com.
Don’t let this summer pass without taking this awesome percussion opportunity!
