Thinking ahead! Next year's viola camp will be the SECOND week of August. Do get it on your calendar right away!
Jen
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Thursday, July 30th
Hello from McCall!
We're had many exciting adventures the past couple days. Due to server issues, there are no pictures for today, but everyone is healthy and happy.
Wednesday started with students rehearsing large and small ensembles. They are learning several fiddle tunes, a couple of pop tunes and some classical pieces. The high school students are working on a pieca titled "Viola Camp" written by Idaho composer Jim Cockey.
After rehearsing for 5 hours, everyone went on the annual viola camp canoe adventure. This is a time to really find out what students are REALLY like. Canoes were ambushed and tipped over, alliances formed and broken, and fun is had by all. After paddling to a beach, several students had a go at the rope swing. After canoeing, we all went to Toll Station for pizza.
Tonight, we are performing at Ponderosa State Park at 7PM. Our concert Friday is at 3:30 at the Cathedral of the Rockies. See you there!
We're had many exciting adventures the past couple days. Due to server issues, there are no pictures for today, but everyone is healthy and happy.
Wednesday started with students rehearsing large and small ensembles. They are learning several fiddle tunes, a couple of pop tunes and some classical pieces. The high school students are working on a pieca titled "Viola Camp" written by Idaho composer Jim Cockey.
After rehearsing for 5 hours, everyone went on the annual viola camp canoe adventure. This is a time to really find out what students are REALLY like. Canoes were ambushed and tipped over, alliances formed and broken, and fun is had by all. After paddling to a beach, several students had a go at the rope swing. After canoeing, we all went to Toll Station for pizza.
Tonight, we are performing at Ponderosa State Park at 7PM. Our concert Friday is at 3:30 at the Cathedral of the Rockies. See you there!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Monday and Tuesday!
Welcome to the viola camp blog for 2009!
The first two days of viola camp have been full of excitement and hard work. Students arrived to McCall around 1:00 pm on Monday and after setting up camp/eating a quick lunch, they got right to work on their new pieces!
Viola-ing wrapped up around 6:00 and students headed back to the campsite for dinner and a hike! Jen's dogs came with and everyone had fun taking turns walking the dogs and seeing the gorgeous trails in Ponderosa Park. After that, everyone finished setting up camp and had fun making smores and talking around the campfire.
Tuesday started early with an intense morning of large and small ensemble work. Things are starting to sound like they're really coming together and it's truly impressive how hard everyone is working!
We had a beach barbeque for lunch and students were given a bit of time to explore McCall and get ice cream or swim. After lunch was more viola-ing with a theory class led by Andrew and a eurythmics class led by Jen! Students did a great job of staying focused through all of their rehearsals.
Tonight, everyone is either going swimming or hiking (to finish the trail everyone was too sleepy to do last night!) and going to bed so they can be ready for another exciting day of viola camp!
The first two days of viola camp have been full of excitement and hard work. Students arrived to McCall around 1:00 pm on Monday and after setting up camp/eating a quick lunch, they got right to work on their new pieces!
Viola-ing wrapped up around 6:00 and students headed back to the campsite for dinner and a hike! Jen's dogs came with and everyone had fun taking turns walking the dogs and seeing the gorgeous trails in Ponderosa Park. After that, everyone finished setting up camp and had fun making smores and talking around the campfire.
Tuesday started early with an intense morning of large and small ensemble work. Things are starting to sound like they're really coming together and it's truly impressive how hard everyone is working!
We had a beach barbeque for lunch and students were given a bit of time to explore McCall and get ice cream or swim. After lunch was more viola-ing with a theory class led by Andrew and a eurythmics class led by Jen! Students did a great job of staying focused through all of their rehearsals.
Tonight, everyone is either going swimming or hiking (to finish the trail everyone was too sleepy to do last night!) and going to bed so they can be ready for another exciting day of viola camp!
Monday, August 4, 2008
Only the beginning!
The last day of viola camp went off without a hitch! Everyone started the day off right with a wonderful breakfast at McCall's "Pancake House." It was also Anna's birthday, so there was of course a rousing rendition of happy birthday while Anna received candle-lit cinnamon roll.
One last round of rehearsals was had as we all prepared for the final concert. Students had one more go at the high volume of large ensemble music and their small ensembles which were followed by a dress rehearsal. After all the rehearsals, everyone headed back to the campsite to pack up their tents, jump in cars and head back to Boise.
The final concert was truly impressive. It is incredible to see what can be pulled together in one short week. Keep in mind that not a single student had seen any of their music before Monday afternoon! We were all amazed by the level of talent, positive attitudes, hard work, and most importantly the willingness to learn. It was sad to see Viola Camp 2008 come to an end, but we look forward to the future and what is to come for Viola Camp 2009.
Planning is already underway for Viola Camp '09...actually, it was underway within 20 minutes of the final concert ending! We are planning to have 2 sessions next year. The first will be approximately 3 days long and geared towards violists that are going into 5th-7th grades. The second will be 6 days long and for grades 8-12. Everything will still take place in McCall and both sessions will have a very similar layout to what was done this year.
We hope that this way each student can have an experience more tailored to their needs. We also hope that this will keep any one session from becoming too large, as one of the excellent things about viola camp is the ability to get to know everyone there! We are constantly striving to find ways to make this program even better than it already is and will definitely accept any feedback or input that any of you might have to offer!
Here is a link to the site where you can see more pictures from viola camp!
We look forward to seeing everyone back at Viola Camp 2009!
One last round of rehearsals was had as we all prepared for the final concert. Students had one more go at the high volume of large ensemble music and their small ensembles which were followed by a dress rehearsal. After all the rehearsals, everyone headed back to the campsite to pack up their tents, jump in cars and head back to Boise.
The final concert was truly impressive. It is incredible to see what can be pulled together in one short week. Keep in mind that not a single student had seen any of their music before Monday afternoon! We were all amazed by the level of talent, positive attitudes, hard work, and most importantly the willingness to learn. It was sad to see Viola Camp 2008 come to an end, but we look forward to the future and what is to come for Viola Camp 2009.
Planning is already underway for Viola Camp '09...actually, it was underway within 20 minutes of the final concert ending! We are planning to have 2 sessions next year. The first will be approximately 3 days long and geared towards violists that are going into 5th-7th grades. The second will be 6 days long and for grades 8-12. Everything will still take place in McCall and both sessions will have a very similar layout to what was done this year.
We hope that this way each student can have an experience more tailored to their needs. We also hope that this will keep any one session from becoming too large, as one of the excellent things about viola camp is the ability to get to know everyone there! We are constantly striving to find ways to make this program even better than it already is and will definitely accept any feedback or input that any of you might have to offer!
Here is a link to the site where you can see more pictures from viola camp!
We look forward to seeing everyone back at Viola Camp 2009!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday and Thursday!
It has been a rather eventful two days here in McCall!
Yesterday entailed an epic canoe adventure. After spending the early afternoon rehearsing, everyone piled in the cars. There were varying levels of canoe experience, from the people who spun around in circles approximately seven times before leaving the immediate area to those who arrived at the beach early just to dunk an unsuspecting soul into the water. All in all, it was a fabulous time and much enjoyed by everyone!
We then had a pizza dinner, which was sponsored by an anonymous donor. Thank you!!! The food was much appreciated after such a busy day.
Today was also rather busy. Students spent most of the morning/early afternoon rehearsing with their ensembles and in the large viola ensemble, polishing things for the concert we had tonight at Roseberry! Though there was a wee bit of a battle with the wind at first, everyone had lots of fun playing everything from "Turkey in the Straw" and other fiddle tunes to the Dragonetti bass concerto, with soloist Renaud! Renaud also got to conduct the premier performance of his piece, "Golden Crocuses." Another highlight involved the all-viola rendition of Tchaikovsky's 1812 overture, including cannons!
After their performance, there was ice cream and, of course, ultimate frisbee with the dog named "Lucky Bear" who was better at it than many of the humans!
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Tuesday
Tuesday was a day chock full of rehearsals and fun...work hard, play hard! Students spent time working hard to pull together their small ensembles and it certainly shows! The groups are all coming along quite well and things are really starting to sound great. There was also some time devoted to large ensemble and learning some new fiddle tunes for our upcoming performances.
For lunch, students headed to the Rotary Park for a beach barbecue. Everyone enjoyed a delicious meal, some played a rousing game of badminton and a few braved the slightly chilly water for a quick swim.
Tuesday evening contained exciting games of catch phrase and several people got together and played some soccer near the campground. Tonight we all look forward to a canoeing adventure!
For lunch, students headed to the Rotary Park for a beach barbecue. Everyone enjoyed a delicious meal, some played a rousing game of badminton and a few braved the slightly chilly water for a quick swim.
Tuesday evening contained exciting games of catch phrase and several people got together and played some soccer near the campground. Tonight we all look forward to a canoeing adventure!
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Monday!
The first day of viola camp was filled with much excitement! Everyone piled in cars for the drive up to Ponderosa State Park and proceeded to unpack and set up their 'homes' for the week. We then headed to the church in McCall for the first read-through with groups. There was also the first read through of many viola ensemble pieces, including one by our very own composer!
After an afternoon of intense viola-ing, everyone headed to the campsite for dinner and an evening hike. We hiked up to a viewpoint of Payette lake (pictures soon to come!) and journeyed back for some delicious smores and generalized hanging out by the campfire.
This morning (Tuesday) was filled with more viola ensemble and another stab at all the small groups, followed by a barbecue lunch at the beach.
More stories and pictures from our day to come!
After an afternoon of intense viola-ing, everyone headed to the campsite for dinner and an evening hike. We hiked up to a viewpoint of Payette lake (pictures soon to come!) and journeyed back for some delicious smores and generalized hanging out by the campfire.
This morning (Tuesday) was filled with more viola ensemble and another stab at all the small groups, followed by a barbecue lunch at the beach.
More stories and pictures from our day to come!
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