Spain, home of the Paella and the Paso Doble, served as the backdrop for a week-long intensive arts camp where approximately sixty individuals from various communities in Madrid and Portugal came to sing, dance, learn, and play music to the Lord. The overnight camp was held in a facility nestled in the mountains and valleys of the area known as Castilla-La Mancha. It is in this region that the story and adventures of one of literature’s most well-known and beloved heroes take place. Of course, I am referring to the famous Spanish novel Don Quijote by Miguel de Cervantes.
At this year’s camp, aspiring musicians came marching in ready to demonstrate their musical abilities at audition time. Once the results were posted, we started heading out to our designated rooms to start the process of learning and improving our disciplines, which included singing in the choir, playing brass instruments and timbrels, experimenting with rhythm in a percussion class, learning to read music, and playing worship music. It was the moment participants had been anticipating for months—finally, the opportunity to advance their craft and hone their skills while experiencing the joy of praising God through music.
The Sights & Sounds of Madrid, Spain
Enjoy a short clip I have put together summarizing some of the highlights of a great summer music program in the land of Sancho Panza, Don Quijote, and Dulcinea.
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre – Psalm 150:3
This is the ministry of The Salvation Army, which offers year-round free music and arts classes to the community. This is the ministry of The Salvation Army, which offers year-round free music and arts classes to the community. This program affords children and adults the opportunity to learn how to incorporate music into their spiritual lives and how their talents and gifts can be utilized to praise the Lord!
As a guest artist, I was assigned to conduct the intermediate brass band and work with brass instrumentalists while Major John Martin took command of the advance band. There were rehearsals twice a day and time dedicated to small workshops, master classes, and private instruction. During private lessons, we mostly worked on correcting embouchure, breathing techniques, and tonging and attack exercises for brass players.
The camp concludes with a public performance, complete with the participation of all campers demonstrating their newly acquired skills and abilities. The program included a variety of worship performances in choreography, choir, timbrels, guitar, piano, bass, and brass band.
To learn more about The Salvation Army’s ministries and programs, please visit: http://easternusa.salvationarmy.org