I received an email this morning through my website. The message (below) was short and sweet and it made my day.
Thank you Katy!

I found your website through a friend’s fb page. My business partner and I direct summer camps for children with a parent incarcerated, and drums are our primary method of healing and fostering creativity & communication. It is GREAT to see drumming used in so many places and by so many dedicated individuals. We work primarily in Texas and Oklahoma, but maybe our paths will cross sometime!
Regards,
Katy Hoskins
Promises for Families Foundation

Katy’s organization does work that makes a difference in the lives of children.
Here is a link to her website:
http://www.promisesforfamilies.org

Katy & Arthur with campers

Good Work!

Image of Pratidah playing a drum by Millie Young

I was driving in my car today and listening to WNYC . The host was interviewing a guest by the name of David Soldier, who tells an amazing story of how he began teaching elephants in Thailand how to play musical instruments. The elephants eventually learned visual cues and were able to play together. David and his team created special instruments for the elephants! No joke… Read more or watch a video about this amazing work here.

This raises one of my favorite questions that I like to ask Camp Directors, “Do you have a music making program for your campers?”.

I usually get a variety of responses, but the general answer is that they would like to, but are not quite sure of the best way to go about it. Or, perhaps they tried to do something a few years ago and they judge that it was not successful, and so they let go of the idea. (By the way, my favorite answer is, “Yes, we have a kick-ass music program.“)

What is a music making program? To be clear, a music-making program is any program, club, elective, or activity that enables campers to learn and play musical instruments together. It can be organized and taught by staff, informal and put together by campers, educational and taught by a hired professional, or a combination of all of these and more. Your programming will be unique as to meet the needs of your camp. You may also find the programs you offer changing and evolving from year to year.

If you do not yet have a music making program, now is the time to start one!

I assume that we all know how schools have been affected by budget cuts, and music and arts are the first programs to be cut. With children missing out on these opportunities during the school year, summer camps have an opportunity to pick up the slack and provide music programs for their campers.

The benefits of having a music making program:

• Campers are given an opportunity that they may not get during the school year
• You will have a program that is educational, and the campers enjoy
• Making music together creates a sense of community and connection
• Encourages creativity and is an outlet for creative expression
• Provides an alternative path for campers who are not interested in playing sports
• rainy day activity

If elephants can learn to make music, imagine the possibilities for all of those intelligent human beings that we call campers!

If you already have a music program in place, I would love to hear about what works for you and your camp. Leave a comment below and start off the conversation.

Learn More About Music Programs in Summer Camp

I will be presenting on this topic at The Tri-State Camp Conference in Atlantic City on March 16th, 2011. Look out for the session, “The Case For Music Making In Camp; Does Your Camp Rock?”.
I hope to see you there!
-Adam Issadore 

Monday June 21st. Not only is it the Summer Solstice and the start of summer, but most camps will be starting within the next two weeks, which really marks the start of summer! It is an exciting time, and for camp directors it can be a stressful and anxious time. I hear this.  I am saying, relax for a moment, take a deep breath, and know that you are doing all you can to make this a kick-ass summer. You have already  hired  the best staff possible, and your leadership team is more than capable, so trust them to do their jobs. You have already made your enrollment numbers. You have already been in communication with parents and have kept them informed on all they need to know. Your H1N1 emergency plan is in place. And all of the 10,000 other things that may be distracting you will fade away, and come back, and constantly change and be there for you to stress about all summer. So don’t stress. Care, be concerned, but don’t stress. Breathe deep.  Take a look around,  remember with your heart why you wanted to do this job in the first place. You are an inspiration. A role model to staff. A Rock Star / demigod to the campers. The work that you do is important. I wish you good luck. I wish you a successful summer. Remain positive, and allow your self to take a step back from the work and enjoy what you have created.

Best Wishes for Summer of 2010,

Adam Issadore

This video was sent to me by my buddy Scott Denett…

This video is special to him because it happens to be his grandfather that is featured in it (playing with drum sticks). Scott was ecstatic to have stumbled upon this video.  Scott is an amazing musician in his own right. I have been playing music with Scott off and on for the past twenty years. We have much in common in that we both started playing music at a young age and  developed a passion for it.

This video inspired me. I enjoy how it is a choreographed routine, and I love how it maintains a sense of spontaniety and fun. I also like seeing how the drummers have talent and also have worked hard at mastering their art form.

All of this raised the question for me…Is rhythm in our genes, and if so, is it inherited?

I imagine Scott felt happy to see his grandfather and to know that he comes from a lineage of musically talented people.  I too come from a musical family, my father plays the keyboard and sings, and I have several cousins who are drummers, and a few cousins who are talented singer-songwriters.

I believe that rhythm is inherit in all beings. Life is rhythm. Nature, a human heart beat, birds singing, all of life has rhythm. I also believe that as humans we have a sense of rhythm that can be developed. Obviously musicians spend time developing this sense of rhythm. I do believe that genetics and family lineage can play a part in an individual having a predisposed developed sense of rhythm.

After having worked facilitating drum circles with beginners and adults who have never played drums before, I have seen first-hand how rhythm is in all of us, and we just need to get in touch with that pulse that is at the very core essence of our exisistence, the heart beat. Rhythm can be developed, so if you don’t come from a family of drummers, don’t worry, just start playing anyway. Who knows, you may just discover a video of a distant relative playing drums from 60 years ago!

Bonus: see a video of me and Scott playing together here.

I recently interviewed Dr. Susan Rubin after her presentation at the ACA  Tri-State Camp Conference in Atlantic City, NJ. In this interview we discuss the importance of making conscious and healthy choices for food programs at camps.

Check out the interview featured on the Camp Nation Blog, click here.