BAND CAMP

  To end band camp the students were given the task to write a thank you note to Zayas Law for funding our band camp this year.  Below you will find a few responses by some of the students.

Student #1 Response

 I am a member of the Carmen Arace School Band Program and I attend band this summer. I would like to thank you for letting us have a camp this year. At camp these are the things I did thanks to you.

Firstly, I was able to learn new things. When I started my summer I learned basic notes and easy songs. When joining the band camp I was able to learn higher notes and trickier songs. I now can even play some really high notes that I couldn't do before. I am going into sixth grade this fall and this camp has made me stronger with my flute than ever before.

Also, the friendships were amazing for me. When first walking into the band room on day one we were getting settled and stuff. We started growing as a family and started to care about each other. If someone were to play the wrong thing we would help them fix it. I normally let the teachers solve all student’s problems, now I help people when they have trouble playing notes. I would help with their music and would make sure they got the notes right.

Finally, it was really important to our teacher Ms. Jones. The first day of band in fifth grade I hadn't a clue what to do and it was hard for me. Even though Ms.Jones didn't know us yet she made sure we became amazing musicians. I notice how sometimes someone would have a problem with a song, she helps that person and practices with them until they get it. She treats us like family and seeing how happy this program makes her and how much she cares makes me love the band.

Thank you again for supporting this program.

Student #2 Response

 I am a member of the Carmen Arace School band program and I attended band camp this Summer.  I would like to thank you for helping us to have camp this year. At band camp I learned a lot! I learned three songs called Let's Go Band, Saints Go Marching In, and Homework Blue’s.  I learned to play a drum set.  My favorite song is Saints Go Marching In. It's really easy once you do it over and over again. 

Student #3 Response

 I’m part of the Carmen Arace band. I would like to thank you for your support of our band camp.  At camp, I was able to play with my friends and I was able to learn new notes.  It was really fun when we played games like Boggle. We played Let's Go Band, When The Saints Go Marching In, Homework Blues and Guantanamera. I learned some new notes. I was afraid of meeting new people, but when I got used to them I felt better.

Thank you for your support.

WEEK 1:  WOW!  The first week of band camp is in the books.  The children are doing an amazing job.  We have 35 students from grades 6-8 and they are working well together. Each section of the band has a learning goal.  Some students are learning and applying 2 to 4 new notes to the new music they have received.  Others are learning and applying new rhythms to the new music.  All of them are meeting a greater goal, which is helping each other during class.   We started the week with an SEL activity.  Ms. Crimi and I gave the students a bingo sheet with different strengths and interests in each square.  The children were given five minutes to ask each other which strengths or interests they have, and put their initials in the square with the goal to get 5 sets of initials across, down or diagonally to form bingo. It was wonderful to see the students mix and talk to each other. I am so proud of the students.   This is the third year I have run this camp, and each year it grows and becomes more special.  I am looking forward to the next two weeks of camp.

WEEK 2:  Band camp opened with water in the band room.  The water was the result of the rain we had over the weekend.  As the children arrived for camp we moved instruments and stands to the chorus room and rehearsed there.  The children were cooperative with the sudden move.

Progress on the music is going well.  The band has learned three songs with a fourth underway.    At this point in camp, an amazing thing is happening.  When the children arrive and start warming up, they start to rehearse themselves as a group without my direction.  They choose the song. They choose the speed of the song, and they run the song on their own as a group.  Although we have a mix of ages, the children are working together.  The band has been invited to perform at the district convocation for the teachers and staff on August 28.  We are working hard to finish our music.

Week 3 - the final week  The final week of camp was a race to the finish line.  We put the final touches on the music for convocation.  Miss Crimi had the students use online music education websites to create music of their own.  At the end of the week we had a visit from our superintendent, Dr. Thompson and Senator Doug McCrory.  They were able to get a sneak peak of our music for convocation.  As an exit ticket for band camp, I had the children write a thank you note to Zayas Law.  In April, I applied for a grant given by Zayas Law to fund the band camp.  Last year, I was able to receive partial grant money from them, however, this year we were fully funded by Zayas Law.  I am hoping that as the band camp grows larger, we will be able to have the transportation piece added.

• "It's fun to play everyday."
• "It improved my playing."
• "It made me more comfortable with my notes."
• "I got to play/learn new material."
• "Playing in band camp helped me because if I didn't have it I wouldn't be practicing during the summer."
• "Playing in band camp helped me to play some of my notes properly."
• "I feel playing everyday has helped me become a better flutist, learn new songs, and have more experience."
• "Playing in band camp everyday helped me with playing better and learning from my mess ups."
• "I feel it helped me discover my talent and learn new notes.  It helped me grow as a player."
• "Playing everyday helped me produce a better sound and play better.  It also helped me fix by posture."
• "It helped me learn new songs for next year."
• "I think playing everyday has gotten me better at playing my instrument because when I'm home I don't have any time to practice and improve."