Stompin' at the savoy
Jun. 24th, 2005 09:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
raystrobel47The first week of the Chatham Day Camp is over, and things are clearing up as to how they'll develop through the next five weeks.
The wierdest thing is my percussion "ensemble". That word is in quotes because only four kids are signed up for it, and due to the fact that kids only have to enroll for a minimum of three weeks to the camp, not even consecutive weeks, I never see the same kids two weeks in a row. In fact, I never have all four at the same time. I'll have three, maximum, then a different three another week. Bizarre. Annoying. So, I've decided what I want to do. Instead of working up a traditional percussion performance with snare drum, bass drum, etc., (and that's it's own mish-mash cuz the kids are responsible for bringing all instruments and Chatham owns no percussion equipment) I want to do something Stomp-like. I'm going to go to Home Depot and get things like dowel rods, metal pails and screws and bolts, and maybe lids of some type for banging and rattling, and I'm in the process of recruiting camp counselors to help me in the performance. I think I have somewhere around nine volunteers, which with me and three kids, would make a decent ensemble. This could be really cool, and I want to make it work. I'll keep y'all updated.
The most straining is Knights and Castles class. This is the third year I've taught it to the elementary group (kids who've completed K or 1st gr.). While it seems to be a very popular class, it takes a lot of work, talking, and creativity to keep things interesting. I also teach it four times a day every day. I want to change what I do, which I have permission to do for next year, but I'm afraid anything else I try will fail and disappoint the younguns. *sigh* I don't know. I actually feel I have more of a grip on how to pace the class. Gotta think more on that.
The instrumental kids are the strongest we've had since I've been doing this camp, and this is my sixth year. The jazz band performed this morning, and they were strong. I got my turn at directing the orchestra, which has most of the jazz players, and they were also good. The strings were fewer than last year, and the strings teacher, who is new, gives me the impression that while she has a doctorate, she doesn't know much about working with kids at all. She seems very knowledgable, but awkward and unsure about how to go through a rehearsal. I'm finally at the point in my development where I'm reasonably confident about doing that, which makes me feel pretty good.
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This weekend proves to be a doozy, with many folkses coming over for various reasons both Saturday and Sunday. I expect cricket, sewing, cooking, little girls, singing, and who knows what else. As usual I'm typing this near bed time and I'm beat-beat-beat. Hope to post tomorrow.
The wierdest thing is my percussion "ensemble". That word is in quotes because only four kids are signed up for it, and due to the fact that kids only have to enroll for a minimum of three weeks to the camp, not even consecutive weeks, I never see the same kids two weeks in a row. In fact, I never have all four at the same time. I'll have three, maximum, then a different three another week. Bizarre. Annoying. So, I've decided what I want to do. Instead of working up a traditional percussion performance with snare drum, bass drum, etc., (and that's it's own mish-mash cuz the kids are responsible for bringing all instruments and Chatham owns no percussion equipment) I want to do something Stomp-like. I'm going to go to Home Depot and get things like dowel rods, metal pails and screws and bolts, and maybe lids of some type for banging and rattling, and I'm in the process of recruiting camp counselors to help me in the performance. I think I have somewhere around nine volunteers, which with me and three kids, would make a decent ensemble. This could be really cool, and I want to make it work. I'll keep y'all updated.
The most straining is Knights and Castles class. This is the third year I've taught it to the elementary group (kids who've completed K or 1st gr.). While it seems to be a very popular class, it takes a lot of work, talking, and creativity to keep things interesting. I also teach it four times a day every day. I want to change what I do, which I have permission to do for next year, but I'm afraid anything else I try will fail and disappoint the younguns. *sigh* I don't know. I actually feel I have more of a grip on how to pace the class. Gotta think more on that.
The instrumental kids are the strongest we've had since I've been doing this camp, and this is my sixth year. The jazz band performed this morning, and they were strong. I got my turn at directing the orchestra, which has most of the jazz players, and they were also good. The strings were fewer than last year, and the strings teacher, who is new, gives me the impression that while she has a doctorate, she doesn't know much about working with kids at all. She seems very knowledgable, but awkward and unsure about how to go through a rehearsal. I'm finally at the point in my development where I'm reasonably confident about doing that, which makes me feel pretty good.
<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>
This weekend proves to be a doozy, with many folkses coming over for various reasons both Saturday and Sunday. I expect cricket, sewing, cooking, little girls, singing, and who knows what else. As usual I'm typing this near bed time and I'm beat-beat-beat. Hope to post tomorrow.
