On Friday, the George Washington Middle will host a student orchestra and jazz concert. For attendees, the concert will be a free hour of live music. But for the performers, the concert is the culmination of a week of practice and learning at the Alexandria City Public Schools’ music camp.
Veronica Jackson has been coordinating the music camp for four years. Over those years, the program has swelled from 30 students in the first year to 205 this week. Jackson says support from the school system has been a large part of the increase in the camp’s popularity. At first, the program cost $30 per student, which covered the costs of the program. Since then, Jackson says Alexandria Public Schools has come in and covered all of the expenses of the program.
“[The school system] really stepped in when we asked,” said Jackson. “They provide the instruments for the students who need them over the summer. It’s a win-win for the students, parents and public.”
During the year, Jackson teaches orchestra at Francis Hammond Middle School, and says the summer camp has had a noticeable effect on the school’s music participation.
“Our numbers during the school year have greatly increased because of the music camp,” said Jackson. “It’s a chance to build your skills or try a new instrument. Five years ago, we had 70 students in my class at Hammond. Last year we had 182. That’s been the most rewarding result of the camp. And our students keep getting better and better.”
Over the course of the week, various renowned musicians will visit the camp and help lead classes with the students. On Tuesday, Glenn Donnellon, a violinist with the National Symphony Orchestra, came by the camp to teach about various types of string instruments. On Wednesday, the group took a field trip to the Kennedy Center.
The parents volunteering at the music camp were enthusiastic about the children’s participation. Yolie Carrasco. a parent of a seventh grader studying percussion, says she’s happy to see her child get to know the students and teachers at the local schools.
“She did it last year and she got to know her teachers at Hammond,” said Carrasco. “Now she’s at George Washington and she’s getting to know this school and make new friends.”
The social aspect is a large part of keeping the students invested. Ellie Lo is going into seventh grade and plays the cello. She played the violin first, but Lo said she heard the cello part of a Bach suite and knew that was what she wanted to play, so she recruited a friend to join her in learning the cello.
“My first day, I walked into jazz band scared,” said Lo. “I was one of the only fifth graders, but multiple people took me in. Music gave me new friends.”
For Lo and other students, being involved in music has also given them courage in other classes and activities.
“Confidence is key to what we’ve learned,” said Lo. “It’s really helped, especially during speeches and going up in front of the class. It’s another solo.”
Shamiah Scott is going into ninth grade and is the lead saxophonist at the camp. Jackson said Scott is usually fairly reserved, but through jazz band she’s seen him gain confidence.
“It’s taught me to be more focused,” said Scott. “In jazz band, when I do those solos, I have to be confident.”
For Scott and other students, playing over the summer gives them an oppurtunity to practice on instruments they otherwise wouldn’t.
“I don’t have an instrument of my own, so coming to music camp lets me play over the summer,” said Scott. “Otherwise I’d fall back and it would be hard to get started up again next year.”
“At home, I don’t want to play,” said Mannah Childlow, who plays clarinet and is going into sixth grade. “But I do want to play when I go to camp.”
Viviane Cavanaugh has three girls in Alexandria schools, two at Hammond and one at Patrick Henry, and she says programs like the music camp have helped her children immensely.
“For me, when schools provide this kind of program, it’s a no brainer,” said Cavanaugh. “[The kids] are into it. They love it. Now we schedule our summers so they can go to camp .… Music is a language, and the more languages you learn, the more your brain opens up.”
The concert will be on June 22 at 10 a.m. at the George Washington Middle School Auditorium. The concert will be free and the public is encouraged to attend.