Embedded Files
Written By: Leena El-Said
Photos By: Leena El-Said
A little over two years ago, T.A Blakelock's Wind Ensemble was in preparation for MusicFest Nationals, a festival that would take place in Calgary, Alberta, and would give Blakelock the incredible opportunity to showcase the hard work and talent of its music program.
Of course, they never went. For the remainder of that year and the next, all in-person music events were paused indefinitely.
This year, however, the bands have made their comeback. Now, Symphonic Winds, Jazz Band, Wind and Strings Ensemble, Choir, and all music endeavours have returned and are back to playing together in person. Still, something was missing.
Those two years without band stripped students of a fundamental aspect of the music community: the connection and socialization between musicians.
That was until this year, when March 31st, 2022 marked the day music students across all grades reunited for the highly anticipated and missed annual band camp trip.
Walking towards the campfire for singing and sweets.
At 9:00 am, two lively busloads filled with music students left T.A. Blakelock and headed to Circle Square Ranch in Brantford to strengthen their skills not only as musicians but as a community.
Students went off in groups, meeting music members from various grades and
bands, and set off to do a variety of different activities.
Mrs. Abbott, Head of Blakelock’s Music Department, spoke on the importance of bonding trips like The Circle Square band trip:
"Band trip is a really great opportunity to force [students] to get out of their comfort zone and to speak to somebody that they didn't necessarily know, which then trickles down into how it affects us as musicians. If you know the person... you're much more likely to empathize and perform better with them as a musician because you want to protect and support them as a human being and therefore it comes out in a much better musical way."
Music Department watches in awe as Mazen Fawzy kicks the ball "as high as he possibly can."
Throughout the day, music students connected through a variety of team-building activities, including races and challenges, rock climbing, archery, and rope courses. Grade barriers disappeared as the students bonded throughout the day with lighthearted and carefree fun. An essential value of the music department - connectivity - began to shine through.
“That culture of togetherness and hanging out with each other and being silly and being teenagers in a safe and protected environment [is] so important,” says Mrs. Abbott. “In the past years it’s been a team-building thing at the beginning of the year… we need to have that culture of supporting each other and being part of one another's lives as soon as possible in the music department."
Band camp was a breath of fresh air.
For many students, this was the final year taking part in this trip. For some, that meant leaving the family that shaped their high school experience and reflecting on all the positive memories they created.
“[The music department] is sort of is its own community and bubble, and you meet a lot of like-minded people, so it’s good for finding your friends and kind of your place at the school,” said twelfth grader Will Blenkhorne, who has been in the music program since ninth grade.
He further commented, “It’s very communal, and it’s a really tight-knit community so the atmosphere is always generally friendly. I think we were all happy to actually do things again.”
The final and most beloved time of the day comes at the end, with guitar playing, cookies being passed around, and a campfire. Nostalgic traditions shape the memories of the musicians who take part in this campfire, where songs are played and laughs are shared.
The music community is one where students discover their place and confidence through their shared passion for music, and where growth as both a musician and human being is recognized and celebrated. Mrs. Abbott reflected on the positive community-building outcome of these trips, stating: “It’s really great for them to be able to go ‘woah' and think about where [they] started and how far [they] came, in, with [their] friends, who [they] know on some kind of level because we ate cookies off our face at band camp.’”
The music community is reunited and ready to emerge in a new era where the love of music and its boundless value can regain its place at T.A Blakelock.
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