Music Camp

Grades: 2 – 4

During this week-long summer camp, students will be learning basic techniques in playing percussion instruments, particularly conga drums and xylophones. Students will be involved in drumming circles, and will learn xylophone arrangements of African-American spirituals, as well as folk songs from a variety of cultures. Students will also be singing folk songs and learning folk dances from the U.S. and other countries. There will be a culminating mini-performance on the final day of the camp.

Details

Instructor: Jeb Gist
Grades: 2-4
Dates: TBA
Location: Bel Aire, Music Room
Time: 9am to 1pm
Fees: $250

Jeb Gist has been teaching music for 22 years, the past 15 at Bel Aire Elementary School. In teaching music to children, Mr. Gist employs an approach called “Orff Schulwerk”, developed by the German composer Carl Orff. Orff Shulwerk taps into children’s natural predisposition and attraction to games, rhymes and chants. It is a multifaceted approach to music education, which offers a variety of media (singing, dancing, playing instruments, dramatizing) in which to create and experience music.

Jeb also teaches band, directs the school musical, chorus, and percussion ensemble. He gives private piano lessons and works free-lance as a piano accompanist. He did his undergraduate work at Williams College, in Massachusetts and his Graduate work at Indiana University. He received his teaching credential from San Francisco State University. In 2003, he was selected as the District’s “Teacher of the Year”, and his program was again recognized in 2005 with a “Golden Bell” award.