Music … playing and teaching

Day one of the New Hampshire Independent School of Music over night camp was … exciting, hectic, fun, and over with to fast. Between fixing trumpets, guitars, violas, and flutes, learning our schedule and where to go for classes, finding the lunch hall and meeting and greeting old and new faces, the day just flew by. What a great assortment of 46 kids, all loving their music and wanting to grow musically. This years camp is held once again on Lake Winnipesaukee this time at the North Woods & Pleasant Valley YMCA Campground.

Peace and good tunes to you, D. Patrick

The rain has been strong and deadly. We had a fatality at a campground in Ashland due to flash flooding. Tragically a 7 year old little girl lost her life. Life is so fragile and tenacious. It’s an old but true adage … “we must live the moment because we never know when it will end”.

Today I start preparation for the New Hampshire Independent School of Music over night camp on Lake Winnipesaukee. We have a lot of excited kids fir the camp. Many are returning campers and a few new to spice up the week. This is our third year holding the overnight camp and it has grown past our widest expectations. But how can you go wrong, outdoor fun, water play (canoeing, fishing, swimming), and music. Sounds like a great combination to me.

Peace and good tunes to you, D. Patrick

The 2008 New Hampshire Independent School of Music summer day camp was once again a huge success. The camp had 26 students. I was blessed this year by being able to work closely with eleven of these fine musicians. I was honored to conducted two guitar groups with three guitarists in each, one guitar ensemble of seven guitarists, two students with DAI (discover an instrument) on cello, five DAI guitar, and three DAI on violin. The performance on Friday afternoon was wonderful and exciting for all the parents and friends of these fine musicians. Time and again I would hear someone say to me or one of the others teachers how amazed they were that we could put together such a fine concert in five days. Our humble response was unanimous, “it’s not just us … it’s those amazing kids.” We were treated to a great concert of vocalists, jazz groups, blues groups, classical piano and woodwind groups. The finale was the entire camp performing an audience participation tune called “Listen to the Rain”. You can check out the pictures at www.myspace.com/standupfclef I’m already looking forward to next years camp but first it’s time to prepare for the overnight camp on lake Winnipesaukee later this month.

Peace and good tunes to you, D. Patrick

The 2nd day of the New Hampshire Independent School of Music day camp is in the books. What a great line up of musicians ranging in age from 7 to 14. This year the day camp is very guitar heavy. I am conducting two different groups of three guitarists in each, an ensemble of 7 guitarists, 5 guitar students are in my discover an instrument (DAI) class for guitar, three DAI for violin and two DAI for cello. You guessed it they are keeping me on my toes. I am so blessed to be a part of the musical lives of these young musicians and I take very seriously the role I play as their teacher and mentor.

On top of the camp schedule I am playing electric up-right bass Wednesday with the Moose Mountain Jazz Band at the North Hampton Bandstand, acoustic up-right bass Thursday with Andy Kustas at a jazz garden party, Friday electric bass-guitar with Lisa Young & Co. at the Weirs Beach Lobster Pound, Saturday with Lisa’s band at Fun Town Splash Town USA, and ending the week with Lisa at the Town Dock’s restaurant Meredith. Idle hands are the devil’s workshop so I guess I’m safe for now.

Peace and good tunes to you, D. Patrick

Next week the New Hampshire Independent School of Music (NHISOM) will be holding their music day camp. As a co-founder of NHISOM I am very excited for the camp. I have the privilege of teaching the guitar and strings portion of the day camp. The music camp will run from Monday, July 28th till Friday, August 1st. On August 1st we will hold a public concert and give the camp students a chance to show off the music they have been working on all week.

Peace and good tunes to you, D. Patrick