Yamaha Helps Kids Discover The Power Of Percussion
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The addition of Dennis DeLucia to the Yamaha team as a percussion consultant and clinician has greatly improved the Sounds of Summer program. The camp programs, exclusive to Yamaha, are running strong and have grown consistently since their inception in 1986. This year, a new percussion manual entitled "Marching Percussion Essentials" was introduced. The outdoor camps offer students the chance to hone their skills and have fun in the sun. They are sponsored locally by music dealers and this year, over 1700 students attended. The Sounds of Summer program gives a music dealer the chance to stand out in their community as a supporter of music education and the arts and provides quality time between the dealer and camp students by building long-term relationships, while helping kids "jump-start" the school year.
"We hold our camp late in the summer, just before most school programs start, and a lot of teachers appreciate that," says Nick Rail, owner of Nick Rail Music in Santa Barbara, Agoura Hills and Santa Clarita, CA. "Our posture toward any clinic we do is one of community service. Our bottom line is giving back to the community, giving the kids a good experience."
Participants in the camp enjoy hands-on instruction based on the combined expertise of Yamaha's affiliated artists and teachers, such as James Campbell, Dennis DeLucia, Jeff Moore, Bret Kuhn, and Tom Aungst. Through rehearsals, exercises and etudes, the camp experience combines learning and fun for campers with different ability levels. The experience is a wonderful way to boost confidence and skills as a percussion artist.
For more information on Yamaha Sounds of Summer Percussion Camps, contact Yamaha Corporation of America, Band & Orchestral Division, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90620; call (714) 522-9011; visit the Band and Orchestral section of the Yamaha home page; or e-mail: infostation@yamaha.com.
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