Preparation was underway for Band Camp on Wednesday, 21 May as students from the Greater Sydney Adventist school campuses came together to participate in Band Day at Fox Valley Community Centre. Sound bites from pieces like When the Saints Go Marching In, Hallelujah Chorus, and Peggy Sue were heard being practiced by the band.  This music will later be performed at the end of Band Camp on their performance night.

Band Day Unites Sydney Adventist Schools

Teacher Steven Erceg, a music teacher at Mountain View Adventist College and one of the guitar teachers who is participating for his third year, explained the importance of the events.  “Band Day and Band Camp are initiatives to get all the Seventh-day Adventist schools in the Sydney metropolitan area to get together and learn and play instruments… This gives the children an opportunity from a young age to experience music and to play with different people, which helps them in their musical ability and development.”

The young musicians get the opportunity to play in various groups depending on their instrument. The orchestral instruments make up a large part of the traditional band, but there is also the opportunity for contemporary instruments –such as the guitar, bass guitar, singers and even the melodeon –to get together with a tutor to learn more about their specific instrument.

Parent Plays Alongside Children at Band Day

Mark Hinze is a parent who participated in Band Day alongside his children Damian, who plays trumpet and was attending his fourth Band Day, and Nichole, who plays violin and was participating in her second. “Band Day is a great opportunity for kids learning an instrument to be enthused and inspired,” Mark says. “It was a really fun day for my kids to enjoy learning and playing music, which gives a purpose to their practice. Playing in a band also allowed my kids to hear and feel what can be achieved when all of the parts come together to make a great sound.”

Opportunity for Collaboration

The magnitude of this opportunity to get together and collaborate with other students and schools is one aspect of Band Day that is echoed by teachers, parents, and staff.  Fiona Russell, from Wahroonga Adventist School, and Karen Koolik shared their views of the importance of Band Day. “What’s really good is trying to integrate the schools. Not to mention, the social and cognitive benefits from practicing music with others,” said Russell, who ensures that Band Camp continues to be a long-standing event that’s known as one of the best social get-togethers for Greater Sydney Schools.

Band Day saw 152 participating students from 4 Sydney schools come together. Band Camp will take place 16-18 July at Crosslands.