Young performers get a fun lesson in music at March Break band camp

About 25 kids, between the ages 6 and 12, are spending their March break at Bandology’s annual band camp in Waterloo.

The program is part of a partnership with Wilfrid Laurier University’s Academy for Music and Arts that accepts kids with any and all musical abilities.

On Tuesday afternoon, campers took part in an Instrument Petting Zoo – testing out smaller plastic versions of their musical counterparts.

“It’s not about hitting the right notes,” said Lisa Michaels, the executive director and co-founder at Bandology. “It's just about how can they play sounds, how can they figure out the air they need to put through those instruments?”

This is the second annual March Break band camp and Michaels is proud that it’s been a hit with families.

Last summer, kids from Grades 2 to 12 took part at a band camp in Guelph.

Michaels said this younger group of students is really excited about learning about new instruments –some they’ve never played before.

“They're just like little sponges soaking up all the musical knowledge,” she said.

Learning how to play

Vivian Zhang, a 9-year-old camper from Kitchener, takes flute lessons every week on her own time. Tuesday was the first time she learned how to play the trombone.

She said it was hard to get the hang of it at first.

“You have to play at the front end,” she explained. “Flute has keys to press and trombone you have to slide the thingy.”

Music can be a mood booster and that’s why Zhang loves it.

“If I'm bored, or I'm really frustrated, I can play some of my pieces and [it] kind of cheers me up,” she said.

Playing the trombone at Bandology's March break band camp at Wilfrid Laurier University. (Heather Senoran/CTV Kitchener)

Ian MacKay, a 12-year-old camper from Waterloo, said he already knows how to play multiple instruments. His musical tastes are influenced by the kind of music his parents like.

“I play ‘Black Betty’, ‘Come Together’, Queen – stuff like that,” MacKay explained.

He said his parents are dancers so he got the performing bug from them.

It’s MacKay’s favourite part about playing on stage.

“The thrill when you get on the stage, it's kind of cool,” he said. “It’s exhilarating.”

MacKay and the other kids will show off their chops on stage at the end of March Break – playing for their friends and family at Laurier.

Parents in Waterloo Region can take part in Bandology’s summer band camps this year as registration is still open.

Participant at Bandology's March break band camp at Wilfrid Laurier University. (Heather Senoran/CTV Kitchener)

Instrument library

Last year, Bandology launched a new instrument library where they can be borrowed for one school semester or during the summer months for free, with a $10 administration fee.

Bandology started the instrument library to help families overcome economic barriers.

“Some of these instruments are a bit more rare, and certainly expensive, to rent and we hope they’ll take advantage of the chance to rent them for free,” Michaels said.