Southeastern Louisiana University

Community Music School sponsors musical 'Summer Sampler' at Livingston Center

Contact: Christina Chapple

3/14/06

HAMMOND – Livingston Parish third, fourth and fifth graders can sign up now for the Southeastern Louisiana University Community Music School’s “Summer Sampler,” a three-day musical “mini-camp” June 5-7 at the Livingston Literacy and Technology Center in Walker.

       The camp, which will be conducted by CMS faculty and Southeastern music students, will be held from 3-7 p.m. daily. Registration is $60.

       CMS Director Kenneth Boulton said Summer Sampler will introduce students to a variety of brass, woodwind and string instruments through performances and demonstrations by  instructors.

       Boulton called Summer Sampler “a great way to shorten the gap of creativity between school years.”

       “Students will get to hear what the instruments sound like individually and together,” he said. “They can also personally try out the instruments.” He said each session will end with an informal concert for parents and students.

       Boulton said Southeastern designed Summer Sampler after meeting with Livingston Parish Schools curriculum director Lyn Easley and parish music teachers.

       “They were interested in a program that would promote and strengthen the presence of music in the lives of Livingston Parish children, most of whom have very little exposure to music in their schools,” he said.

       The Community Music School offers private instruction in voice and on all musical instruments for students of all ages and skill levels, as well as group theory classes, various ensemble performance opportunities, coaching sessions with Southeastern music professors, and a variety of performance programs.

       Classes are offered at the Pottle Music Building Auditorium on the main campus in Hammond and at Southeastern’s St. Tammany Center near Mandeville.

       Boulton said special facilities for CMS instruction, including instructional studios and a classroom equipped with digital pianos, have been included in the design of the new Livingston Literacy and Technology Center.

       “These state of the art facilities are going to allow us to integrate our program into the school system,” Boulton said. “Summer Sampler will provide Livingston Parish residents with an introduction to the musical activities the Community Music School brings to the region.”

       Boulton said students can sign up for Summer Sampler through their schools. For additional information about the Community Music School, including the annual CMS Summer Music Festival, July 10-21, contact the CMS office at 985-549-5502 or visit www.selu.edu/cms.