Campers learn to march to a new tune

By: MERCEDES PARHAM

Posted: 6/12/08

Twirlers, dancers and percussionists alike arrived Sunday, June 8 to begin a week of intensive training hosted by the Hugh Hodgson School of Music. Four separate camps comprise the Summer Marching Band Camp: auxiliary, marching percussion, drum major and band leadership camps.

Staff includes Summer Music Camp Director Skip Taylor, an associate professor of instrumental musical education, and a variety of instructors placed in each of the four camps. Instructors are field professionals ranging from high school marching band instructors to Redcoat Marching Band instructors. The diverse staff provides world-class instruction.

Auxiliary camps are instructed by Candy Byrd and provide twirlers, dancers and color guard members intense dance instruction with current and former members of the University's Redcoat Band majorette line and drum corps instructors. Their band counterparts, led by percussion instructor John Cypert, drum major instructors Amber Weldon-Stephens and Laura Stanley and band leadership instructor Jeff Harper, partake in an interesting journey that aims toward enhancing the participants' musical skills.

"You learn a lot of different techniques that are great to bring back to your school," said Michael Charfane, a camp participant.

Participants in the instrumental camps such as percussion and leadership consist of high school students, while dance-oriented training is open to students of all ages. Typically, day campers begin their day at 8 a.m. with breakfast and expect to conclude a day full of direction and rehearsals at 9 p.m. After long days of training, students look forward to rewarding breaks such as meals provided in the University's award-winning dining facilities. In addition to meal tickets, benefits include access to Legion Pool.

"I look forward to the hour break at the pool after a fourteen-hour day," said Michael Edwards, a camp participant.

Extensive days do not overshadow the camps' success as students look forward to the final concert. Taylor reflects upon the success of this year's camp.

"It has been a smooth and great camp - one of the best I have experienced in the last seven years," Taylor said.

The final concert will be held Friday, June 13 at Legion Field, beginning at 10 a.m. For more information concerning the camps' final concert times, visit www.uga.edu/music/summermarchingbandcamp.