A youngster’s dreams of becoming the next Louis Armstrong are probably more realistic if the child gets an early hands-on introduction to the trumpet, music teachers say.
Guided by this philosophy, Music in the Mountains, Katzin Music and the music department at Fort Lewis College made 14 instruments available for tryouts Saturday under the guidance of accomplished musicians.
Aspiring singers and pianists weren’t overlooked. Voice coach Kimmy Laumann and piano instructors Jack Maynes and Susan Merrill were available for the tryouts.
It was the first time that similar programs by Music in the Mountains and Katzin Music joined forces for Instrument Discovery Day. The tryouts were held in Jones Hall at FLC.
“It was a remarkable day,” Ruth Katzin said. “I was stoked. I was pleased as punch. You never know until you get the child and the instrument together if they’re going to fit.”
Katzin said 119 children participated.
Organizers would have liked to see more students from fourth- and fifth-grade, levels at which students move into band and orchestra instruction, she said.
“It was fantastic,” said Kendra Holmes with Music in the Mountains. “It was especially fun to see the reaction of students when they were able to get a sound from the harder brass instruments.”
Jonathon Latta, who teaches percussion and jazz at FLC and volunteers with Music in the Mountains, said, “We felt we could reach more kids and make the program bigger and better with a single program.”
In identical morning and afternoon introductory sessions, parents and children were treated to snippets of pieces played on the instruments. The musicians then retired to practice rooms to meet aspiring musicians one-on-one.
Charlie Dillman, 7, a second-grader at Riverview Elementary School, was accompanied by mom, Liz Dillman, who teaches English at Durango High School, and grandma Sue Dillman,
“He’s interested in ‘anything you blow into,’” Liz Dillman said. “I teach him some piano at home, but that isn’t always conducive to learning.”
In the course of the morning, Charlie learned the basics of the saxophone, trombone, trumpet, viola, French horn, percussion instruments and euphonium, a smaller cousin of the tuba.
Charlie also had a voice audition with Laumann.
The French horn was his favorite.
“The others were too hard to blow, well, not too hard, but they were a challenge,” he said.
Liz Dillman said Charlie commented that the musicians made performing look easier than it is.
The free mini-lessons allow students, parents and music teachers the opportunity to gauge a child’s interest in music and preferred instrument. It saves the teacher time and the parents money.
Exhibiting their talent in the introductory session were Kyle Hollenbach (xylophone), Erik Stramel (French horn), Jonathon Patton (trombone), Nick Kalyan (acoustic guitar), Nathan DePetris (tuba and euphonium), Ashley Markle (violin), Hannah Howard (viola), Martha McCabe (clarinet), Steve White (cello), Paul Boyer (trumpet) and Noah Walker (bass).
Piano instructors Merrill and Maynes and voice coach Laumann were available for the individual visits.
Nineteen Durango High School students volunteered to guide the young students to the desired practice room.
daler@durangoherald.com
