Guest author and Vancouver Symphony bassist, David Brown, shares the joys of teaching adult amateurs in this guest post.
I have really enjoyed teaching for the past decade or so at this adult amateur summer music camp (July 29-Aug 4) called ‘Midsummer Music Retreat ‘ Midsummer Musical Retreat | A “Music Camp For Grown-Ups”
It started about 30 years ago at Pt. Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula. Some amateur musicians decided they wanted to have the same summer camp experience for adults that they had enjoyed as children. For many years, it has been held at Whitman College, a lovely campus with great facilities in Walla Walla, Eastern Washington.
The camp enrollment is around 250 people, including the faculty. It runs for a week and has a full range of music programs (choral, chamber, orchestra, concert band, jazz band, etc.). It runs from morning to night, with all kinds of fun events taking place throughout the week. While it is mainly Seattle and Washington State residents, there are also participants who come from long distances, including Scotland, to attend. They are a friendly, spirited bunch who really love music.
I have five bassists who are coming this summer. I coach the bassists in the morning before the large ensembles rehearse, but they are all really keen to have a bass quartet class each day during one of the three afternoon small ensemble rehearsal blocks. I will probably have the two least experienced players both play the fourth bass parts.
As you know, it is quite different teaching adult amateurs. They’re all really keen and appreciative of learning new things, but they are all very accomplished in other fields, and there isn’t the same sense of responsibility as there is in guiding younger players who may be considering playing bass as a profession. They ask great questions, and we have a lot of fun throughout the week
There is a marathon Saturday morning concert where all the groups play their smaller ensemble repertoire. The afternoon is the large ensembles, and then there is a big celebratory dinner in the evening before the camp ends on Sunday morning. My wife Mary teaches violin at the camp, and we have a faculty chamber music concert on Friday evening, which is always very eclectic.
All sorts of vocal, wind, percussion, brass pieces, etc., which I’ve often never heard or sometimes never played before. The camp runs really smoothly organized by a very capable board, the campus staff are wonderful and the food is great. It is a wonderful wine region, so that factors in as well. The only downside is that it can get really hot in Walla Walla during the summer.
Most of the campus is air-conditioned, and it is a really dry heat, so personally, I don’t find it much of a problem. Some participants are sensitive to heat, and people are always watching out and ensuring that the campers drink lots of water and aren’t in any distress.
What Campers Say About Midsummer Musical Retreat
“ I would rate this higher than excellent. A wonderful experience all around. The director’s musical skills are unparalleled. I learned a lot.” –Veteran camper
“Rehearsals led to a great performance experience. The music continues to walk through my mind now that I am home. Thank you for making this possible.” – 3rd year camper
“Our conductor was a delight. I learned so much in such a short space of time. Loved the repertoire. Section work helped immensely to learn my part.” – First-year camper
“The expertise I was privileged to hear in the faculty performance was indeed like admiring precious jewels.” Veteran camper
“My goal is to learn more and to cherish the experience of learning and changing. Whether or not I actually join a better group is not really the issue…the issue is what is going on to get there and, well, ups and downs, that’s what this is all about.” Veteran camper
Learn more about double bass events in your area, and check out this post for other adult learner reflections on double bass events.
About David Brown
Bassist David Brown has been a member of Vancouver’s professional music community for thirty years. He has performed with almost all the musical organizations (Masterpiece Music, Curio, Music in the Morning, Vancouver New Music, Vancouver Children’s Festival, Vancouver Chamber Choir, Festival Vancouver, Vancouver Jazz Festival, Cantata Singers, UBC Recital Series, Vetta Chamber Music, Turning Point Ensemble, VSO) in existence during this time. In addition to live performance, David has extensive film and commercial recording experience. He has toured with The Three Tenors and the Winnipeg Ballet.
A committed teacher he instructs both privately and has taught at most of the music performance departments (UBC, Capilano College, Kwantlen, VCC) in the lower mainland. During the summers he has performed at the Grand Teton, Sitka, Hornby Is. and Courtenay Music Festivals.
A recipient of two Canada Council Arts Grants, which enabled his studies at the Juilliard School, David has been a member of the Vancouver Symphony since 1978 and Principal Bass of the CBC Radio Orchestra since 2004. David enjoys a wide variety of musical opportunities and has a particular interest in small ensemble settings of a chamber music or improvisational nature.
