Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Private music lessons, adult dance and piano classes, Kindermusik camps for newborns through 7-year-olds, a musical theater camp for second through fifth graders and "Glee Camp" for sixth through 12th graders are all part of the summer program offered by the Music Preparatory Division at Stephen F. Austin State University.
The FlexLessons offered by the division enable students to sign up for either four, six or eight private lessons in piano, voice, guitar, flute, harp, percussion, Suzuki and traditional violin, viola, cello, bass, and other instruments as requested, explained Pat Barnett, division director. "We recognize that families' summer schedules are full, so we offer a variety of flexible options between June 6 and Aug. 13."
Adults wishing to improve their piano playing can register for Dr. Ping-Ting Lan's seven-session adult intermediate piano class that will meet from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on the following Mondays: June 6, 13, 20 and 27; July 11; Aug. 1 and 8.
For the second summer, SFA dance instructor Heather Samuelson will offer jazz and tap dance classes for adults of all ages from 4 to 5 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. The jazz class will run June 6, 8, 13 and 15, and the tap class will be offered June 20, 22, 27 and 29. All classes will be held in Studio 201 of the Norton H.P.E. Complex on the SFA campus. Cost for either class is $65.
Parents of newborns through 7-year-olds may enroll their children in Kindermusik Adventure Camps taught by certified Kindermusik instructor Karen Greer July 25 through 29.
"Oh What Busy Days!," for newborns to 18-month-olds and their caregivers will meet from 9 to 9:45; "Zoo Train," for children 18 months to 3 years, will meet from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.; "On the Road," for 3- to 5-year-olds, will meet from 1 to 2 p.m.; and "Tell Me a Tale," for 4- to 7-year-olds, will meet from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Tuition for the camps is $75, $100, $110 and $120 respectively.
Two separate musical theater camps, led by SFA Children's Chorus Director Nicole Stewart, will be offered in August.
"Bach to the Future," open to second through fifth graders, will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, Monday, Aug. 1, to Friday, Aug. 5, and culminate in a performance of the musical at 7 p.m. Aug. 5.
"Participants will be taken 'Bach' in time to tell the tale of Johann Sebastian Bach's successes, foibles and conflicts through scenes featuring Bach's familiar music," explained Barnett. "Students will make props, build sets and be the actors and singers in the musical."
"Glee Camp," open by audition to students who recently completed sixth through 12th grades, will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday, Aug. 8, through Friday, Aug. 12. The final performance at 7 p.m. on Aug. 12 will feature the participants singing and dancing to music from the hit television show "Glee" and popular musicals.
Auditions for the camp will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 6. Students should come prepared to sing a song, with or without accompaniment, perform a short dance piece taught that day and sight-read a simple piece of music.
More information and the registration form are available on the division's website, www.music.sfasu.edu/prep. Questions may be addressed to Barnett by e-mailing her at pbarnett@sfasu.edu or by calling her at (936) 468-1291.