NZ Suzuki Journal Summer 1999 – Hamilton Suzuki Summer Camp
The January 1999 String Camp at Ngaruawahia has been and gone. Another wonderful camp, set in beautiful surroundings with temperatures reaching 30 degrees and sweltering airless nights, there were plenty of happenings: the swimming pool, well-attended lunchtime concerts, a fun concert, a full-house formal concert, a serene cello recital by Rachel Johnston, a tremendous thunderstorm right above the dining hall, and, of course, the most important part of the camp—the lessons themselves.
What a wonderful group of tutors, able to withstand the heat and motivate the children to play their violins and cellos so beautifully. There were very few flat fourth fingers at this camp, and Group E playing the third page of Vivaldi A minor 1st movement 20 times proved that “practice makes permanence.”
This year Moirsheen Kelly tutored an improvisation class, and it was fascinating to watch. Seeing the children think on their feet, listen so closely to a theme, play it themselves, and then improvise upon it was the highlight of the camp for me. By the time of the group’s performance at the Fun Concert, the whole group could improvise in a relaxed and stylish manner.
The orchestra undertook a very ambitious programme this year and was directed by a very cool Margaret Cooke, who, assisted by Graham McPhail, produced excellent results. A big thank you goes to Josie Fluhler. Her wonderful accompanying and her lovely welcoming smile ensured that all the children enjoyed playing in the lunchtime concerts.
While the music was playing, the kitchen was being run with military precision under the very competent hands of George Thorburn. Let’s hope that George feels like returning next year. Having a chef that can cook, sing, and accompany his wife, Val, on the guitar was an example to us all.
Miles proved to her classes that meticulous attention to detail gets results. This was hard work, and she had the added worry of whether her own five-year-old daughter was working hard in her cello classes (which she was!). The final play-out with Moirsheen Kelly stood out for many reasons, namely the children’s smiling faces and beautiful playing.
During conversation with Moirsheen Kelly, it emerged that in Australia it is well-nigh impossible to hold residential camps, so here in New Zealand we are all very fortunate to have parents prepared to organise and run these wonderful camps and tutors happy to teach and enter into the spirit of summer residential string camps. All the children who attended this year’s camp played hard over four days, both instrumentally and recreationally, and for us, the camp was a great success.
All of us (parents and children) hope that the organisers have the strength to repeat their efforts next year. I hope that everyone returns next year and passes the word around to other Suzuki families about the Ngaruawahia Camp.
Katherine Stephens, Wellington
