 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: wolfedp
Date: 2010-03-01 15:37
Has anyone worked at Blue Lake? It looks like a good summer job for college students. It is the only fine arts camp job that I have found that isn't just a glorified babysitting gig. It looks like the staff actually get to play in ensembles and have a little bit of practice time and I think there is a concerto competition as well. If anyone has worked there in the past could you let me know how it was? It really looks like a good college summer job but sometimes some of these camps can be a bit misleading and when they say you will get to play in ensembles and things like that what they really mean is you can play in an ensemble if you put it together yourself with the other staff members.
Thanks
Bb - Tosca
A - R13
Zinner/Vandoren M13
Bonade Inverted Ligature
Muncy Buffet Barrels
V12 - 4/Rico Reserve Classic - 4+
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2010-03-01 20:30
Prob very nice, but having fished and visited several Blue lakes, what state is your
Arts Camp in ?? Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2010-03-01 20:48
Blue Lake is in Michigan, on the west side of the state, about 30 minutes north of Muskegon. My daughter attended BL as a camper for three years, and will probably be applying for a summer job this year. A couple of years ago, I attended their adult concert band program. It was a gas.
EDITED FOR TYPO
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
Post Edited (2010-03-01 20:49)
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2010-03-02 00:38
I went to BLFAC in 1964, their first year, on a work-study. This former scout camp is in a microclimate, and the long-unused football field was overgrown with dwarf prickly pear cactus, which grows in several spots along western lower Michigan. Our job was to clear it out for Marching Band Camp. You could tell the work-study kids - they would be the ones pulling prickers out of their hands during rehearal breaks.
It was a good experience for me, the first time I could do nothing except play and practice all day. I learned a lot, but camp was a lot more improvizational. One day two percussionists and the conductor went to the junk yard, to find something that sounded like an anvil. They are better equipped now.
My wife taught there 15 years ago, and it was a good experience. Our kids were little, their grandmas took turns watching them, and at some point they availed themselves of ballet lessons, and I played in the faculty circus band.
There are some gotcha's though. Swimmers Itch means you cannot swim in Little Blue Lake. Staff food is better than student food, but nothing to write home about.
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2010-03-02 00:44
Oh yeah.... if you go there for an extended stay, bring plenty of bottled water!
Jeff
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2010-03-02 00:56
Ah yes, western MI, one of the Twin Lakes?, very nice in summer !. My first 20 some years were in MI, Lansing. I once played a 3 nite gig at a resort in that area. I have a cousin Paul Gifford, studying cl, Master degree now. His mother Roz Peacock [first cousin] and I have talked several times on this BB, so you might ask her if Paul has been to B L F A C, perhaps, seeing this, she may respond. Good luck, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: ironbessflint
Date: 2010-03-02 01:35
I attended there several times and always enjoyed it. I never worked, but several of my friends did and I know they loved it, and went back consecutive summers so it can't have been too bad. I do know they got to play.
Also check out Interlochen, which was very performance oriented last I knew (though that was 15 years ago...)
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Author: wolfedp
Date: 2010-03-02 01:39
I looked at Interlochen and they said it's basically just babysitting and grunt work. That on its own isn't a complete deal breaker for me but then they told me I would have a maximum of an hour or two a day to practice and that is definitely a deal breaker for me.
Bb - Tosca
A - R13
Zinner/Vandoren M13
Bonade Inverted Ligature
Muncy Buffet Barrels
V12 - 4/Rico Reserve Classic - 4+
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2010-03-02 06:10
I went to the academy, a 4 year high school, at Interlochen, so I can't say anything about the summer camp. They offer an amazing array of famous musicians performing pretty much every night at the summer camp.
When I attended the academy in the 70's it was a pretty intense education. 2 of my clarinet classmates were Lee Morgan and Dave Shifrin. Dave replaced Bob Marcelles at the Cleveland Orchestra and at the institute around the age of 21 or so, and is now teaching at Yale. Anyway, I'm not sure if you would call the camp a place for parents it drop off the kids. I'm sure it has something related to the childs grade level.
Hope this helps.
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Author: Phillip O. Paglialonga
Date: 2010-03-03 20:50
The staff at Blue Lake definitely get opportunities to perform. They often play in the "Festival Band" which is a mix of faculty and staff as well as various chamber music groups.
Last year I coached several staff chamber music groups and I think it was a positive experience for everyone. There were definitely some pretty good players on staff..
Frequently staff members also are able to take lessons too if that's something that interests you..
If you have any questions about Blue Lake please drop me a line at ppaglialonga@hotmail.com.. I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have about Blue Lake.
Best,
Phil
Clarinet Faculty, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp 2009-Present
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