I just finished the first week of the first session of my summer music camp. I’ll be blunt- it was crazy! I had a nice curriculum laid out. First we would play introduction games. Then we would learn solfeggio, after that we would work on our song Do-Re-Me during which time I would explain proper singing posture and breath, after which we would play several rhythm games:the kids would each have a set of cards with different note values on them and they would create rhythms for the others to clap. We would then return to the singing before the time was up. ..  .

It went more like this. The two boys- ages 4 and 7 came in and immediately started rummaging through the fridge- while I was out chatting with their Mom. Luckily my niece Brecklyn talked them into a game of “Simon says.” I came in and asked them all to sit on their designated pillows on the ground. One half-laid on his pillow while the other jumped on the couch. There was a lot of couch activity- jumping, laying, swinging, sitting on parts of the couch I didn’t know you could sit on. . . the pillows were used for several different purposes- besides that one I had chosen- to be sat on. Brecklyn, again probably more used to this boyish behavior was quick to say, lets get rid of these pillows, and “You boys will get a sucker at the end if you’re good.” and. . .  several other wise and mature things. Meanwhile I stood, looking dazed, as these two sweet and energetic boys moved constantly.

Regardless, by the end of the lesson both boys knew four note values- and could clap 15 note rhythms. They were all doing actions and singing most of the words to Do-Re-Me and had learned how to find middle C on the piano. Not bad. I’ll call that a success.