The seventh annual Errington World Music Youth Camp is changing its structure this year, according to Fahlon Smith.
Smith is one of the instructors for the two-week music camp at Errington Hall.
“This year, we wanted to give some of the students an opportunity to take it a level further, so that’s why we have the intermediate group, and then we still have the sort of beginner group that would be the same as the previous years.”
Smith said they are trying to accommodate the increasing musical level that the students have been able to achieve over the years while still accepting new students.
“We have some brand new students which we love. We really encourage people to check the camp out. We like having new energy in there, but it’s also really nice that we have had so many students returning,” Smith said.
Smith said this year is the closest the camp has been to the original camp. She added that three of the original five instructors are back this year, including herself.
Smith was a part of the workshop from 2010 until 2012 with performance group Afro-Mumanzi when camp co-ordinator Val Dare started the youth camp six years ago.
“They’re really successful. So she’s an expert at these camps, so we’re lucky that she’s started these exciting opportunities for youth here,” said Smith, adding that Dare has started similar projects on the mainland as well.
This year, Smith said the camp is going back to the youth-to-youth idea for the second week.
Aug. 8 to 12 is for beginners aged eight and up with little or no previous experience. The first week will teach beginners, with one or two years of experience, lively African marimba songs and gumboot dances as well as the Brazilian Samba, percussion, rhythms and movement.
Aug. 15 to 19 is for more experienced youth aged 10 and up. The second week gives those with more experience a chance to compose their own marimba songs and play more advanced djembe drum rhythms. On top of that, children in week two will also learn one traditional dance, as well as an original dance choreographed by the instructor.
On Aug. 19, Smith said there’s going to be a dance featuring Kumbana Marimba, a local marimba group, and the instructors from the previous weeks. It will be free and open to the public.
“This is the first time we’ve had a dance, but it’s kind of bringing in the members from the original faculty and the new instructors and Kumbana. It’s all kind of tying together as a little celebration,” Smith said.
Registration has begun for the workshops, and Smith said the marimba classes fill up fast.
“Every year the marimba classes are sold out,” she said.
To register, visit www.erringtonhall.bc.ca. The classes run from Aug. 8 to 12 and 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with an hour-long lunch break.
Each week is $75 for 15 hours of instruction.
For more information, email vgdare@gmail.com or call 250-248-0153.