SPECIAL EVENTS
Enrichment Classes
Each UNI Community Music School student has the opportunity to attend an Enrichment Class each semester. During our Fall ’06 semester, students participated in “Tchaikovsky and the Nutcracker.” The students and their families enjoyed a presentation on the life and music of Tchaikovsky with special emphasis on “The Nutcracker” ballet. They viewed portions of the ballet, played selections of “Nutcracker” music, and listened to a live performance by the Peterhof Chamber Ensemble. These Russian musicians, UNI graduate students in the UNI School of Music, also shared information about their native country and the city of St. Petersburg, Russia. In the Spring ’07 semester, CMS students and families enjoyed an afternoon learning about Ludwig van Beethoven. Following a brief presentation about the life and music of this great composer, the students and families watched the Emmy Award winning movie, “Beethoven Lives Upstairs.”
Recitals
UNI Community Music School students will participate in a Spring Recital each year. Students, school age and adult, will share their music and their progress over the year with their friends, families, and other students. It is an important opportunity to showcase their talents and hard work as well as to inspire younger students to work toward the more advanced skills of older students. Both individual performers as well as ensembles participate on the Spring Recitals.
Summer Camps
During the summer months, UNI Community Music School offered three different summer camp opportunities to the Cedar Valley area. Teresa Rose, CMS Staff Instructor, created and implemented the camp curriculum and activities. The first summer camp, “ Camp Musicmania,” was held at the Malcolm Price Laboratory School, June 4-17.
A variety of activities each day included: “Jazz at Noon,” “World Music,” “Pots & Pans Ensemble,” and “Music IQ” (composers and instruments). During the week of July 9-13, CMS offered outreach music education to the Cedar Falls Recreation Center Summer Camp Program. The theme of this particular week was “Game That Tune.” Activities included a Rhythm Band and a field trip to the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center where UNI School of Music students Evan Smith and Matt Andreini gave special presentations on the woodwind and percussion instruments to the campers. The third camp experience was a cooperative project with the Hearst Center for the Arts. UNI Community Music School participated in two weeks of the Hearst Center Camp Creativity. Themes and activities for these weeks centered on “Sharing Our World” (hands on activities exploring world music) and “From Ordinary to Extraordinary” which included the “invention” of musical instruments from ordinary household items and the creation of the Hearst Center Kitchen Band.
