Two Iolani students spent their summers making music at the Interlochen Arts Camp. Here are their reflections on their summers:
Summer at Interlochen Arts Camp
by Young Kim, '07
Throughout much of my life, I have been in a minority with regards to my complete love for music. This summer I attended the Interlochen Arts camp, and for the first time had the opportunity to be surrounded by people who share that sentiment. Despite our diverse backgrounds and personalities, we were all united by our passion for the arts. At Interlochen, taunts of “orch dork” or “band geek” were replaced by words of encouragement and praise for the commitment to improve one’s abilities. Things I once thought impossible to do on an instrument, like hitting a triple high C on the horn, became commonplace. In a time when the arts are said to be dying in the schools, the people of Interlochen are a testament to the passion and determination that still exists to create true art.
One of the greatest things at Interlochen was the intensity everywhere. “Do more in less time” is the Interlochen motto, and it proved to be very effective. Weekly concerts, four hours of daily rehearsal, two hours of chamber music and one hour of weekly lessons was just the minimum playing time for most musicians. While it was initially difficult for my lips to endure such a schedule, I got used to it and eventually enjoyed the challenge. Like most people at camp, I even practiced on my own to better learn the music assigned to us.
Being in the Interlochen Philharmonic Orchestra was much different than the Honolulu Youth Symphony. The orchestra met daily, gaining insight on each instrument’s difficulties and capabilities. I learned to listen for balance, tone color and style while playing. Meeting with a diverse group of conductors helped me improve my phrasing and ability to interpret the meaning and shape of the music. While some conductors were impatient and condescending, others were very thorough and inspired the orchestra to really feel the music. In my experiences with this orchestra, I not only forged many friendships, but learned to be flexible and adapt to any situation that might arise.
As part of the chamber music program, I played in a woodwind quintet. I had never played in such an ensemble before, but soon learned to be more sensitive to my woodwind counterparts. Because I was the only brass player in a group of softer instruments, I felt more pressure to be accurate and consistent. There was never anybody to cover my part if I needed rest, and the slightest over-blowing or backing off would destroy the balance of the quintet. It was truly a lesson in listening and control.
To add to the intense atmosphere, re-auditions for seating were held every week. Competition was fierce, as people were determined to move up in the seating order. At times it was disgusting listening to people show off in attempts to undermine the confidence of their section members. Initially I found myself struggling to hold my position, but eventually I learned to better deal with my competitors. Although I only moved one seat and stayed on the 3rd part for the entire camp, these experiences taught me to keep my will strong.
Improving my musicianship was nice, but it’s nothing compared to the interactions I had with other musicians which helped me mature as an artist. Some people were great, while others were flat out jerks. I met people from Costa Rica, France, Germany, South Africa, Peru, Venezuela, Israel and countries that I have never even heard of. There was a violin player named Sergio who learned Spanish from his dad, English from his Houston boarding school, Korean from his friends, and French while in Puerto Rico! There was also a Japanese guy whose English evolved from “hi” to being able to pick up complex American nuances in just six weeks. However, for all the incredible people I met, there were still jerks in our midst. Many egos only inflated further, and while I hoped for their fall, the more modest of my fellow musicians helped keep my anger in check. Meeting such a variety of performers taught me that how I handle myself socially is just as important as being a solid musician.
Perhaps the most obvious difference in my new environment didn’t even have anything to do with music: people there were giants! Coming from the Asian-dominated population of Hawaii, it was great seeing how different mainland people are. 70% of the time, when I was talking with somebody, I’d have to look up to them. For the most part, white rice was non-existent, a sort of culture shock for somebody who practically lives off the stuff. Going through this huge culture change really gave me a new perspective and a preview for what college might be like.
Even cabin life was a great experience. Living with ten other passionate artists was heaven on earth for me. Almost everybody had a different concentration, from Musical Theatre to Jazz Performance to Composition and many more. For six weeks, we supported each other by attending all performances and helping in any way possible. Such camaraderie throughout Interlochen surely helped make the performances as great as they were. The Musical Theatre production of “The Rags” was amazing, as was the Repertoire Theatre majors’ performance of “The Government Inspector.” Everybody was so passionate and talented in their field that I would never have believed they were only in high school.
Traditionally, at the end of each Interlochen Arts camp, all high school music majors gather to play an amazing piece called “Les Preludes” by Franz Listz. The group ended up with 24 French horns, 14 trombones, 7 tubas, 14~20 trumpets and an army of woodwinds and strings. Enthusiasm and ability combined and poured out into one final performance of the summer. It was literally a wall of sound. Conducted by the president of the Academy, Dr. Kimpton, the piece was fantastic. There were dancers in the audience, in front of the orchestra and even on the roof! Everybody gave it their all, and afterwards cried and embraced one another.
In the end, we all promised to keep in touch with each other and return again next summer. Everybody at Interlochen hailed from a different home, and brought with them a diversity that I found to be unique. Yet everybody was also the same. They all shared in their enthusiasm and passion for what they love to do: create art.
A Typical Day at Interlochen
Sheri Muneno, '05
Jazz Bass major
At Interlochen, Reveille is a despised melody that calls all girls in the high school division to morning line up at 6:30 a.m. After groggily standing around and not even listening to the announcements, the girls go back to their cabins to prepare for the day. Everyone is scrambling around, fighting for showers and sinks, and preparing for the daily inspection of the cabin. In addition to tidying up individual areas, campers have cabin capers ranging from sweeping to cleaning toilets.
After breakfast, my first class was jazz theory. In the theory class I was in, I studied transcriptions of solos from Louis Armstrong all the way to John Coltrane. We played through some of the solos, discussed the licks we liked, and analyzed the notes the artists used. We learned a lot about upper extensions, modified dominants, and form. Studying these solos in such depth opened up my ears, allowing me to hear music in a completely different way.
My second class was jazz history. I was in a class learning about jazz rhythm sections. We followed the evolution of bass, drums, guitar, and piano through jazz time periods. We saw how the instruments and the styles changed over the years.
After a short lunch break, it was time for a two hour big band rehearsal. The guitar and piano ensembles (containing the guitarists and pianists who weren’t in the big band) rehearsed at the same time. The jazz majors all performed every two weeks in Jazzfest. My biggest challenge this year was connecting with the drummer. After six weeks of playing together and learning each others’ styles, we significantly improved our time.
After big band, I would have an hour break, bass lessons, or flute lessons. Then I would go to the improvisation class, where I would back up the advanced improv students. I found this class to be the most helpful to me. I learned so much about improvisation and different techniques. The teacher, Dr. Brewer, was my favorite teacher at camp. Not only was he a genius, but the way he taught brought out the most in his students, especially me.
Every other day we would have a jazz colloquium. This was basically an open hour to do anything. We would watch jazz videos, talk about colleges, have sectionals, or listen to combo groups perform.
In the evenings, we had free time. Sometimes there would be cabin time, and there were always recreation activities. There was some kind of concert or performance every night. I would use this time to practice, our hang out with friends.
The two highlights of my summer at Interlochen this year were playing with Bobby McFerrin and meeting Jeanne
Baxtresser.
When Bobby McFerrin came to perform a concert at Interlochen, he asked if he could have a small jazz combo to play with him on a song. After a short dress rehearsal with him, he left us with one piece of advice for the concert: “Expect anything.” The concert ran smoothly, and the four of us were ecstatic after jamming with Bobby McFerrin.
Jeanne Baxtresser, the former principal flautist of the New York Philharmonic, came for a week to observe rehearsals, give master classes, and speak to us. Since the flute teachers knew me from last year, they allowed me to skip some of my jazz classes so I could watch the master classes and forums. I learned so much from her, not just about playing music, but also about musical etiquette and how to succeed in the music business. Although she is an amazing musician, I admire her most for her warm personality and her interest and skill as a teacher.
This year at Interlochen gave me just as many good memories and wonderful friends as last year, but I think I came home this year with more knowledge. My jazz classes taught me to listen in a different way, and I learned a lot of new things about the flute.
Interlochen is a place that is a true home for so many of us, where we are surrounded by like-minded peers who enjoy what they learn and work hard at what they do. Like the blue uniforms we wear, the people in the arts are all pretty dorky and weird. The uniforms are normal and blend together when everyone has to wear them--perhaps that’s why friends at Interlochen have such a strong bond.
