Artists in the Schools
Birch Creek Faculty Coach, Inspire Local Music Students
November 10, 2010
The same musicians that performed in the Club Jazz concert at Birch Creek on November 4, 2010, also had the opportunity to work with local music students, particularly jazz and rhythm section students, on November 4 and 5. Birch Creek faculty Jeff Campbell (bass), Reggie Thomas (piano), and Rick Haydon (guitar) participated in the Artists in Schools program which brings world class musicians into local schools to educate and inspire our area music students.
Birch Creek implemented Artists in Schools in 2002, holding workshops and clinics annually--with two programs in 2006--for a total of ten programs since it began. Artists in the Schools reaches as many as 400 area music students annually. The outreach program consists of faculty coaching area instrumental music students by conducting seminars which include hands-on workshops, and group and individual instruction. Side by side, faculty and students demonstrate and perform basic to advanced skills, depending on the ability of the students.
On Thursday, November,4, 2010, Campbell, Thomas, and Haydon visited the Sevastopol music department, with the assistance of music teachers Cheryl Pfister and Tanya Hasenjager, where they led a workshop for the instrumental students and young vocalists. The following morning, percussion and rhythm section students from Southern Door, Sturgeon Bay, Sevastopol, and Gibraltar schools gathered at Birch Creek's rehearsal center for a half-day clinic with the faculty in residence.
Since 2002, Birch Creek has joined the increasing nationwide effort to bring music programs, performers, and clinicians into our public schools.
Door County band directors may contact Birch Creek throughout the school year to inquire about the Artists in Schools outreach program or to ask questions of the faculty regarding their public school's music programs.
Door County high school instrumental music students are also encouraged to apply to attend the two-week summer sessions at Birch Creek. Scholarship assistance is available specifically for Door County students.
Birch Creek is a nationally recognized summer study program three miles east of Egg Harbor offering promising young musicians two-week sessions in symphony, percussion & steel band, or big band jazz. During the day, students are taught by legendary performers. At night, students perform before live audiences in concert programs that are challenging and exciting. Concertgoers are treated to exceptional performances, combining students with the professional symphonic, percussion, and jazz teachers-in-residence. For more information or to inquire about off-season facilities rental, contact Birch Creek Executive Director Kaye Wagner at (920) 868-3763.
