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Goodbye ring-a-ling.
. . Hello rat-a-tat. Move over, ice cream man--it's
Yamaha who ushers in the sounds that signal summer is finally
here. Yamaha firmly believes in the intrinsic value of music programs in our nation's schools. Music education has been proven to contribute to a student's intellectual and creative growth on many levels. Playing an instrument or singing builds confidence, and promotes healthy communication and interaction skills. Instruction in music is not just an extra--it's as fundamental as the  Three R's. But music shouldn't stop just because kids put down their pencils and pack up their books for the summer break. That's why Yamaha supports local music initiatives that involve students in musical activities throughout the year, not only during the school term. The Sounds of Summer program is one such initiative. Focusing on percussion, nearly 40 summer camps countrywide utilize the expertise of some of the finest instructors in the world, encouraging thousands of American kids to take out their scorching summer energies on drumming, while keeping those learning skills sharpened. This year's Sounds of Summer programs began in late May, continuing through mid-August. Yamaha provides each camp host with a sponsor handbook that outlines a successful camp, gives guidelines for planning, and includes sample press releases. But this certainly doesn't mean that each camp will follow a set formula: "Every camp takes up a life of its own," says John Wittmann, Yamaha's Sounds of Summer camp national administrator. "We simply provide ideas. It's up to the host and dealer involved to form whatever kind of camp best suits their particular needs." Educators from around the country relate widely varied results, but the common thread is one of success: they are convinced it should be not only continued, but expanded. Ken Wegman was involved in the program held July 10-12 at Texas' Midwestern State University. His camp involved 40 kids, and this is the fifth straight year it's been hosted in Wichita Falls. "We ran a slightly smaller program here," he says. "We didn't have the full auxiliary pit. We just had bass drums, tenors, and snares. But we went right by the Yamaha book." At Wichita Falls, a camper's typical day starts at 9:00 and goes until around 4:45--and that makes for one very full day of drumming. Wegman points out the pro-gram's emphasis on the mechanics of playing the instrument properly: "There's a lot of insistence on the fact that students need the proper technique to get started. They also had a masterclass on tuning." The Wichita Falls program featured John Pollard, a percussion teacher from L.D. Bell High School and one of Yamaha's clinicians, as well as Alan Black, a percussion instructor at the university. Wegman feels the kids' continued involvement is the best proof that Sounds of Summer really works: "We have several repeat campers that have been here several years, and they've grown with the program." In response, the program itself is constantly growing and evolving. According to Wittmann, "Every year, we improve the  sponsor information
guide and the percussion music book based on feedback from hosts,
teachers, and campers." Wittmann is certainly pleased, but
there's always room for tweaking. "The summer music camps
were developed to help promote school music programs," he
says. "Our clinicians work side by side with local educators
to improve teaching skills. The students develop greater confidence
and playing skills. And we always want to improve it--although
we view Sounds of Summer as successful, it is never 'done.'" |
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