AN ELM STUDENT’S FIRST SUMMER AT CAZADERO
by Kate Fitzsimmons
Summer music camp can be a time of unexpected discoveries. That proved to be true for 11-year-old ELM student, Daniela, who secured a coveted spot at this year’s Cazadero Performing Arts Camp.
Daniela joined ELM’s growing list of students who have attended Cazadero, a week-long summer camp where students play music outdoors in the redwoods alongside the Russian River.
This was Daniela’s first time away for a full week at a sleep away camp and she admits it was daunting, “At first, I was scared because I didn’t think I’d know anyone and then because we’d be outside, I was afraid there would be snakes.”
She soon discovered that the camp organized the students into teams and got everyone working toward fun, team-building goals, as well as musical goals. If a camper slept the quietest, they received a golden slipper which meant that camper got to go first in line for lunch. Casper, a stuffed bear, was hidden and if you found him, you earned points.
When it came to musical goals, instead of learning a song in two weeks, which Daniela was used to, students had to learn a new song within one week. The musical goals greatly stretched her abilities. She also found herself side-by-side with other musicians in her orchestra, some who possessed more musical training. When she experienced difficulty learning a new song that other campers seemed to pick up easily, she felt frustrated, but she did not give up.
She remembers at one point, her arm hurt, and she thought, well, I can’t go to the nurse in the middle of a song. So, she kept on playing. Daniela shared that, “It made you stretch and work hard.”
The satisfaction gained by sticking with it radiated brightly from Daniela’s smile as she revealed one of her favorite memories about the camp, “playing in the concert.”
Daniela discovered that she liked the challenge of learning new music in an unfamiliar environment. Her experience with ELM gave her a solid grounding. She concentrated on things like the proper fingering, bowing and rhythms.
The camp’s limited timeframe acted as an incentive. For orchestra practice, the larger groups were split into four or five smaller groups. They were divided up into violins, cellos and then the violas and she felt it helped her learn a song. She even practiced right through her 30 minute recess breaks.
Both ELM and the Cazadero Music Camp have contributed to Daniela’s feelings of confidence. Daniela admitted, “It was really fun. I made lots of friends, I saw some friends from ELM, and I was really happy. I didn’t want to leave.”
Now that she is back home, violin continues to be an important part of her musical and social life. “My favorite days are Saturdays because we get to see the whole orchestra.”
One of the wonderful things about growing up in a family who appreciates music is their patience. Especially when a musician just learning an instrument produces more squeaks than melody. Daniela’s older sister plays violin, too. Her mother, Rita, who serves on ELM’s Board of Directors, laughed when asked about what it was like to have her girls choose an instrument like the violin.
“Having the music around the house is always great,” Rita said, adding, “It's really fun when they get to play together; I think it is important for parents to know they have this opportunity for their children.