, 
, 
, 
, 
, 
Children at this week’s Luverne Street Music camp were laughing, playing instruments and singing.
“We want them to be excited,” said instructor Mistyn Kozisek. “We want them to be creative in front of a group and be comfortable with movement.”
For five days, 38 children ages 4 and older participated in a morning or afternoon session. Besides Kozisek, Julie Jacobsma and intern Emma Jirele led various exercises. The teachings were based on Carl Orff’s approach of building musicianship through integration of music, movement, speech and drama.
Those fundamentals are appreciated by Luverne High School band instructor Richard Owen who was assembling the marching band’s percussion line this week.
LHS band camp started Monday with the percussion students and will be followed by next week’s color guard and freshman band camp.
Owen said preparing for competitions sets the high school program on a different education course, one of building.
Percussion is the core of the band, Owen added. Starting with the percussion knowing the music and confident in their playing will help the entire band be successful as a group.
Tucker Besel from Worthington spent the week with the percussion students.
Besel said if students already know the fundamental musicianship of movement and expression, he as a teacher can build on that experience.
“If you don’t have that foundation, it is hard to build,” he said.
This year the high school band will perform songs from “Phantom of the Opera” at both parade and field competitions.