Day two of LBI summer camp felt like an improvement over day one. As is almost always the case, Beth and I get progressively more relaxed the days go by and so do the children. I think that’s true of all groups – adults or children – that we have ever been a part of. Community builds day by day as we learn to trust and let ourselves move freely within a social circle.
Today, we welcomed a new six year old girl into the group, Alma, so now we have an even number of boys and girls. That balance helps when the children inevitably need to be part of sub-groups.
My favorite part of today was the process of teaching the kids about the different percussion instruments we brought with us to the camp. One by one, we introduced guiros, gourds and claves, demonstrating a couple of ways to get sounds from each and then passing them around the circle. This is as much a lesson about music as it is respect for handling “real” instruments. I was particularly impressed by how the children sought to find multiple ways to make sounds – some of them extremely unique.
Our work here and everywhere is having fun and playing/creating music, of course, but imbedded in every music lesson are discussions and discoveries about kindness (love) in all its forms. Music is our modality, but love and community are our mission.
After lunch, Beth and I joined our friend, Joe (Executive Director of the organization that runs the John Lennon Project). Together, we enjoyed a lively Zoom meeting with two wonderful arts educators who work for another organization that creates and provides free content to schools on a national level. They are interested in bringing a version of the Lennon program to schools throughout the country. This could be an opportunity for us to expand our reach. Let’s see what tomorrow brings!
“Day by day by day by day by day” Stephen Schwartz, Godspell