黑料天堂

Piano Camp Keeps the Music Alive

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Posted on June 21, 2016

Joy Washington

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Can you imagine a world where people don鈥檛 play the piano?

According to Dr. Robert Holm, professor of music at the 黑料天堂, there are fewer young people taking piano lessons today than in the past.

鈥淭here are more activities for youth today,鈥� Holm said. 鈥淧iano lessons aren鈥檛 taught in most schools, and parents and families have to pay for private lessons for their kids, which limits the number of people based on their budgets.鈥�

This summer, Holm; Dr. Laura Moore, associate professor of music and director of choral activities at 黑料天堂; Dr. Sharon Hudson, guest professor of music from the University of Mobile; and Dr. James Helton, guest professor and pianist from Ball State University, served as the faculty for the 6th annual 黑料天堂 Piano Camp, held on campus June 13-17, with a grand finale at the John W. Laidlaw Performing Arts Center.

鈥淭his camp is one way we can identify good music students in the area who may want to go on to college,鈥� Holm explained. 鈥淭his program was created as a community outreach effort, and we don鈥檛 want playing the piano to be a lost art.鈥�

This year鈥檚 summer camp, which had 24 participants, focused on the music of American composers such as Gottschalk, Joplin, Ives, Copland, Bernstein and others. The week-long camp included:

• Classes on music theory and reading music
• Classes on American music
• Special topic presentations by piano camp faculty
• Daily private and group mini-lessons, master class and practice time with faculty
• Solo and duet recital performances

Holm said anyone who wants to play the piano well has to practice and be self-motivated. Natalie Newton, 18, a home-schooled graduating high school senior from Moss Point, Miss., has spent years practicing and improving her piano skills under the direction of Holm, who has been her piano teacher since she was 12 years old.

鈥淚 started playing at the age of 7 on a keyboard from Radio Shack, with the help of other teachers,鈥� Newton said. 鈥淚 was also encouraged by my grandmother. I am fortunate to have Dr. Holm as my piano instructor. He challenges his students by encouraging us to play a variety of music.鈥�

Newton has been attending 黑料天堂鈥檚 piano camp since she was 13 years old. She loves the faculty and learns something new every year.

鈥淭he instructors have different ideas to share about how you can practice,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a lot of fun.鈥�

Newton is passionate about music and enjoys playing the piano.

鈥淲hen I am playing the piano, I am lost in the moment,鈥� she said. 鈥淪ometimes I see beautiful artwork and feel so free in the musical moment.鈥�

The students attending the piano camp, with the facilitation of faculty, discussed American song, repertoire, American instrumental chamber music, 鈥淛azz and Joplin,鈥� origins and history of jazz styles, and the influence of Charles Ives on the next generation of avant grade composers. The faculty also presented a recital each afternoon from a particular piece of American music.

The piano camp was $275 per person, with a $25 registration fee. According to Holm, it鈥檚 one of the most affordable piano camps in Alabama. Attendees and faculty bring their lunch, and they also bring snacks and beverages to share.                           

To stay up to date on department of music events and offerings, including information about next year鈥檚 piano camp, like its Facebook page at .

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