Dear Singers,
The second day (first full day) of Camp Fasola broke open with a burst of
energy. There are two parallel tracks of instruction, one for the kids and
those for more fossilized. After a fortified breakfast the more fossilized
individuals attempted the beginning rudiments.
Without a doubt the single most important skill our teachers wished to imbue us
with was to learn the scale's major and minor. With the fa so la (and the
occasional mi) in hand the student is freed from the tyranny of clef's and key
signature. Free to find their way into musical nirvana as long as they master
the relative pitch directions of the friendly shapes along the path blazed by
the appropriate major or minor scale.
The late morning schedule provided for many alternative activities. This
ranged from an amazing rock slide up in the mountain creek (pictures to follow
tomorrow perhaps), to canoe lessons that for some became spontaneous swimming
lessons.
After of morning of rigorous beginnings and fortified by a well balanced and
bountiful dinner some students were ready to face the leading class of Shelbie
Sheppard. Even facing physical challenges Shelbie still provides a model of
grace to relative newcomers who have a tendency towards gracelessness in the
square. Her positive advice is better received in person (or on a video) but
the negatives are easily transmitted in prose. No bowing, bending, squatting
or stomping in the square! Stand straight up and move with the beat. And her
response to a question about throwing your book down in the square was "it just
tears me out of my frame!". (just hand your book to a person in the front
bench to avoid this awful result:-).
After a second round of rudiments in the afternoon and an even more bountiful
supper we again regathered for an evening of singing, both children and adults.
Following an energetic singing the camp had arranged for a hayride and bonfire.
Which was well enjoyed even though the tropical storm just then hitting
Louisiana was making its watery presence felt.
--Keith Willard
St Paul, Minnesota
but posting from Anniston, Alabama
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