Inspiring the next generation of musicians

Thirty-four adolescent musicians, adorned in matching red T-shirts, invaded the desolate campus of Washington State University on Sunday for the university's week-long Summer Keyboard Exploration, coming from as far away as Singapore and as close as Pullman.

The program, which has lasted for the past 28 years, allowed the 7th through 12th-grade performers the chance to improve themselves musically as well as worldly by working with the university's School of Music faculty, studying classical and jazz piano, improvisation and organ.

WSU music professor Dr. Jeffrey Savage said the students had the opportunity to work with a different instructor each day of the camp individually as well as together in a group setting during several master classes, concentrating on solo performance literature, technique and ensemble playing.

Students were told to bring at least three pieces to study: one ready to perform in the final concert and two that are a work in progress.

He said the faculty has been assessing the students' playing level throughout the week in order to place them in appropriate ensembles. The camp will culminate today at 1 p.m. in a student concert that features those groupings as well as solo performances from each participant.

Savage, who organized the event with other members of the keyboard faculty, said he has been participating in the camp since he was hired by the university in 2005.

"We have a great time every year, and it's just the best when we have people come back for it, too," Savage said. "I love seeing the development."

Almost two-thirds of the current group had participated in prior years. Savage said he's really enjoying "gauging their growth."

He said he has often seen people who go through the program later pursuing their music degrees at WSU - an occurrence he believes makes the week-long event all the more special.

"I think they come away from the camp really inspired," Savage said. "To get to know them as young students and then to help them develop as college students is really a treat."

Savage credits the program's success to the university's dedicated faculty, such as his colleague, Dr. Jill Schneider.

Schneider said she worked with about one-third of the students throughout the week in an organ class. She demonstrated various pieces for the group and allowed them each a turn on the keys. She also discussed the differences between the piano and the organ, and hopefully, she said, convinced some to favor playing the latter.

She has worked with the camp on and off since 2000, but Schneider said she looks forward to it every year, even if she can't always help out.

She said she, too, enjoys seeing the returning students and watching anyone - old or new - further their passion for music, especially if it involves the organ.

"Seeing that spark light up their face when they are sitting at the keys, it just doesn't get any better than that," Schneider said. "A camp like this just gives these students the chance to step away from their lives and focus completely on the music."

The camp not only features WSU faculty, but it also included guest artist Dr. Chris Weldon, who hails from Los Angeles, where he is a pianist, teacher, composer and arranger.

Weldon, a Julliard graduate, performed Tuesday and taught a master class Wednesday, where he worked one-on-one with each student.

Weldon said he was amazed at the talent of the young musicians and thoroughly enjoyed his time at the camp - a feeling students and faculty couldn't agree more with.

"We are aiming to help these students the short time that they are here and then spur them forward to their next stop," Savage said. "Promoting a love of music and inspiring the next generation of pianists is an incredible thing. It's a privilege really."

Olivia Heersink can be reached at (208) 883-4633, or by email to editor@dnews.com.