This is the true story of three strangers, picked to live in a dorm to find out what happens when people stop being shy and start getting band nerdy. Band Camp!
...um, ok, no. Just kidding. It was cute though, wasn't it? So, here's the complete analysis I promised...
Ok, so this isn't my complete analysis of Summer Music @ Stanislaus. I mean, there are some things I just don't remember, sorry. I'm not Nash Bridges, I don't have photographic memory, get over it. Plus (if you're my friends) you'll notice the lack of specific details; I just felt they weren't important, and you've all heard it anyway... besides, it adds for some interesting "This one time, at band camp..." stories later in the year :)
Yeah, right. On to my analysis/review/whatever...
Overall, I had a blast. There were some things I liked a lot more than when I went to UoP last year, then there were some things I liked less. All in all though, let me put it this way: I will definitely be going back next year.
I mentioned things I didn't like as much as UoP. I didn't like that the full orchestra rehersals were during sectionals. I remember the sectionals at UoP being really helpful, but that's ok. We had a 2 hour lunch & lots of recreation time in the evenings, so I had plently of time to lock my anti-social self in a practice room & hammer out parts until I got them smooth.
Actually, that's one thing I wanted to mention. Even I, in all my hide-in-my-room, anti-socialness, had a blast. The people (both campers & councilors) were so easy to get along with, a lot easier than at UoP. I don't know if it's just because I'm more outgoing than I used to be (which I am), but I think it's also because the councilors were college students, which made them a lot easier to relate to. The campers were just (in my opinion) a lot cooler, and since the camp was small, it was a lot easier to get to know everyone. Ok, I'll admit, I steered away from the choir people (they're weird, and I'm sure they'd say the same about me), but I did meet some really cool pianists. I actually think it was a good experience to get to interact with more than just band people--I mean, it wasn't just band camp, it was music camp. The best part for me, I guess, was not having to sing in an all-campus choir like we did at UoP!
Let me think... my favorite part of UoP last year was Dr. Hammer because he was hysterical & really easy to get along with. Plus the kid I sat next to, Charles, was a really talented clarinetist & working with him was wonderful. So let's see... Mr. Sims was definitely not Dr. Hammer, but he was cool & made rehearsal fun in an entirely different way. Once again, I had the honor of sitting next to an extremely talented clarinetist. That's one thing I love about music camp; you get to connect with people on a social, professional, & musical level.
Oh yes, the clarinets took a master class with Frank Renk. It was very educational, and when I had my lesson with him (prior to the master class) I was surprised to discover that he's very down to earth and not intimidating at all. My junior year is coming up, and I am under serious pressure to start considering my future from some nameless persons (*cough*Mom*cough*), and after meeting both the director & the clarinet teacher at Stanislaus, I am really considering CSU Stanislaus as an option for college -- they made quite an impression on me, which is something I didn't get at UoP... the clarinet teacher there was great & definitely had a lot to teach me, but I didn't connect with her the way I did with the staff at Stanislaus.
On a scale of 1-10, 1 being the worst experience of my life (you know, when my parents told me they were taking my clarinet away ...j/k), & 10 being the best thing ever (you know, getting first chair at all-state lol), I'd give it an 8, because not only was it a great musical experience, but I really got to connect with everyone around me in a way I've never really connected with people ever before.