Flute Camp pt.1 of many in a random series
Where to start. I promised myself that i would write about each day, but each night passed by so quickly that i was just too tired to do anything. But tonight, the last day of flute camp, i felt that it was appropriate for me to finally jot down a few things.
It’s easy to write about things like mosquitoes, or what our daily schedule is like; full of master classes, chamber music and flute choir rehearsals. It’s a little more difficult to describe what it’s like when someone plays the first two movements of the Poulenc Sonata so beautifully that an entire section of the audience starts choking with tears.
man, there is so much to talk about….
as a counselor now, i have a few more privileges than the students do. (one of them being that using my computer). since i don’t have to go to all the master classes and electives, i have quite a bit of free time. In this spare time, two things that my friends have said via internet have struck me hard. one of them was a happy birthday at the “best week of the year” (in quotes). the other was after i told someone i was at camp, and they responded with a “wow you still go to that?” how can i possibly explain to them what flute camp means. i know they mean well yet they still treat flute camp as some sort of joke or summer band camp. flute camp is as much a part of my life as school or my family.
One of the faculty just walked by after their little end of the week celebration, and it reminded me how during the week, we would always have chats about what we would do better next year, etc. and it was so natural for all the faculty (myself included) to just talk about next year because to them, there is no other option besides coming back to flute camp. my mom had told me that this would probably be my last year at flute camp, chyeah right.
it was so nice this year that many of the students were young and new to camp. it was WONDERFUL to see them start to bond and grow as the week progressed. when they first walked into the registration room, their timid faces reminded me of myself and my first year how i had absolutely NO IDEA what i was in for. and today they were begging for photos and t-shirts and it was apparent to everyone that they didn’t want camp to end
camp has been a part of my life for 7 whole years now and each year remains distinct. i can still remember how different every single year is, watching people grow up into amazing musicians, seeing people leave and come back after years apart and embracing as though not a day passed by. the other two counselors this year mentioned that at a concert somewhere near Chicago, they mentioned the name of a faculty member, and someone in the audience turns around and goes “hey i know that name!”. to me that is one of the most amazing stories ever, that hundreds of miles away, people can still connect over flute camp.
I’ve just sat here in the dining hall for several minutes in my little corner, listening the clock tick by. It’s hard to thing that in one week, we went from being awkwardly saying hello, to really getting to know each other, enjoying meals together and sharing stories and laughing, all because of the flute. We played banangrams together, listened to music together, ate together, did stupid things with spoons, made fun of each other, reminisced about old times.
i think i just like having this moment to myself to reflect a little. it’s such a treat to be able to come back to flute camp every year. at this one place, secluded from the real world, i don’t have to worry about school or anything. i am busy helping teachers make copies and telling kids to practice but it makes me so completely happy. there is so much for me to learn; even though i will most likely not become a professional flute player, that doesn’t matter. the experience that i have each and every year has (as stated above) become a part of who i am.
someone i met this week summed up my life perfectly with one snapshot of my daily routine. i was waiting in line to get my dinner, and she points out; slung over my shoulder was my flute, in my right hand was a Star Trek book and i was wearing a badminton shirt. and you know what? i was damn proud of that. that’s who i am at this point and i have no regrets about it.
1 year ago • Notes