Home From Camp

Camp was a lot of fun. Once I realized 95% of the people there had a lot less musical training and experience than I did, I relaxed, knowing I wasn't going to have to work to hard to get the rust off my musical skills that had lain dormant for over a decade. This was the daily schedule which shows all the classes that were offered:

Our individual schedules were written on the back of each of our nametags. This was a very handy feature because classes started at different parts of the hour and I always had to remind myself if I needed to go to the 2nd floor or the 4th floor.

Rifka had warned me not to sign up for a class for each of the 6 periods and I'm glad I didn't. I really needed the rest in the middle of the day.

After waiting around a lot after breakfast the first day for the first class to start, I timed how long it would take me to get to the dining hall from the dorm (about 5 min) and set my alarm accordingly to make it there before the dining hall closed at 9. My first class, Choir for All didn't start until 9:20. 

There were about 70 of us in this group. this is only part of the first couple of rows. Because we were such a large group, we rehearsed in the recital hall.

Then the ukulele singalong class and vocal jazz (with the same instructor in the same room) took us to 12:50 and lunchtime at 1pm. Since lunch was served until 2pm, I often would find a practice room to practice my vocal parts for about 20 minutes before going for lunch. Sometimes I'd practice on the electric pianos set up in the lobby of the recital hall if no one was using them.

To learn my vocal parts, I'd find a recording on YouTube and on my iPhone and plug my earbuds in. Then I'd put the piano's headphones on over them and play my alto part on the piano along with the singers on the YouTube video. It really helped a lot. You've gotta love technology. If I wanted to sing along, I used a private practice room in one of the rooms upstairs. 

Then I'd go down for lunch, then back to the dorm until my next class at 3:50. 

During this break in the day, I would usually lie down to rest and listen to an audio book, setting my alarm for 3:30 so I could compose myself and walk back to the music building (5 min) for Concert Band. Last period was Celtic music - basically a lecture series about Celtic culture in Cape Breton Island. I brought my knitting to this class and on Thursday finished the second, striped Kroy sock and grafted the toe closed.

Dinner would be served in the dining hall from 6 to 7. Then a long time to kill before the recitals would start at 8. Some evenings I'd sit outside in the shade as it would be a bit cooler then and I wanted the fresh air and a change from the frigid air-conditioning. One night, due to the misplacement of one of the critical instruments, a recital didn't start until 8:20. I usually did knitting or caught up on correspondence during these lulls.

There were lots of performing groups at each recital. We would get the programs earlier in the day so if we were performing, we knew to go to the 'green room' three acts ahead to be ready to go on. This was the weekend schedule for final rehearsals and concerts:

I got an action shot of Debi performing in a percussion ensemble. 

It was a total surprise to see her there - we just happened to sit in front of each other in the dining hall the first day. I joined the same sorority (ΓΦB) she was in 52 years ago. I had seen her a couple of times since - at both of Lorna's weddings, and most recently back in 2019 when she was performing in a handbell concert near Christmastime. From that concert:

Debi inspired me to want to try handbells but I signed up too late for that class at camp this year. It had very limited enrolment and filled quickly.

I also took a pic of Rifka (in the light shorts) and some of the altos performing in one of the vocal  ensembles. 

Recitals usually ended between 10:30 or 11pm followed by snacks (chips and fizzy water) back at the dorm. Wednesday night was Cabaret night in The Terrace - a reception hall in the building next door. Instructors and others entertained us with various acts and the bar was open for beer, ciders, coolers, and wine. I didn't want to be hungover the next morning so I only had a vodka cooler. 

Then right to bed until the next morning when all this would start again. 

Concerts by the groups that rehearsed all week started on Friday night. Two of the groups I was in performed: Concert Band and Jazz Choir. The performances went well. I was able to clear out my locker afterwards as I only had my Choir for All music to tote for the concert the next night and the ukulele group wasn't performing in a recital.

The ukulele in my locker. I also stored my backpack with my oboe and music stand in there.

Back at the dorm, I finished the toe decreases on the first Regia Yak sock and grafted the toe.

I'm not really fond of the colourway but the yarn is deliciously soft. I'll cast on the second sock tonight but it definitely won't be an identical twin since the colour repeats are so long.

Saturday morning was our last Choir for All rehearsal after which I had the rest of the day free. I probably should have gone back to the dorm to start packing but hung around the music building and practiced my alto parts after lunch until the next recitals at 3pm. They ended about a half hour before dinner at 6 then it was time to get ready for the concert at 8. Choir for All was in the second half of the program followed by the Musical Theatre group doing some solo and chorus numbers from 'Anything Goes'. Then it was back to the dorm again to grab some snacks and finish packing.

I skipped breakfast yesterday, got the car packed up. turned in my keys, and hit the road by 9am. I stopped en route at an ON Route near Cambridge for a bite to eat and a coffee and got home by 11am.

I'm really glad I did a variety of musical things - singing and playing the ukulele and oboe. I'm not sure I want to be in a small ensemble next year but would definitely consider orchestra as well as concert band. There was a suggestion to offer the next level for ukulele which I would take but if only a beginner's singalong is offered I would probably take that again, too. I'd also be interested in handbells. Lots to think about.

After all the activity last week I'm pooped. Yesterday afternoon and evening I just sat and noodled on the iPad and watched TV like a zombie.  The only unpacking I did was fish my charging cables out of the suitcase. 

This morning I went to stitching and then home to rest and do laundry.

Creating music was such a large part of my life for so many years. This week was a really great way for me to get back into it again. I have so much training and experience it's been a shame that I haven't done anything with it for so long. All that being said, I'm not sure I want to commit to anything that would require much effort on my part. I'd consider playing oboe in an ensemble of some kind but I don't want to have to schlep into The Big City for evening rehearsals. In the meantime, I can plink along with my ukulele and sing along with YouTube videos. That might just have to do for now.