Image Credit: CFJC Today / Jill Sperling

By Jill Sperling

KISSM

Youth learn to love music through the Kamloops Interior Summer School of Music

Jul 23, 2019 | 5:24 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Interior Summer School of Music is in its third and final week for 2019.

The summer camp, which is in its 41st year, sees kids of all ages and skill levels learn to sing, play instruments and perform.

In just a few weeks, these young musicians develop new skills and grow their talents.

“What I’ve seen is just incredible growth over that period of time,” said Kirk Wassmer, a conductor for some of the bands. “I mean, you get a bunch of kids who have a similar interest together and it is really amazing what they can accomplish.”

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Wassmer travels from the Calgary area every year to teach at KISSM. Here, he sees students of every skill level fall in love with music.

“Some kids have come in with private lessons, they’ve been studying privately with their teacher,” he said. “Some kids just have their school experience behind them, which is significant in this area, some very strong band programs in Kamloops. It’s a real range, but we offer a level of band that we feel is for everybody.”

Image Credit: CFJC Today / Jill Sperling

In Barbara Durno’s marimba class, the students get both a physical and mental workout.

“They just get so much out of it,” Durno said. “It does light up the whole brain so every process of their brain is actually working when they’re playing music and there’s no other activity known to man that does that.”

Many students are surprised by how much they begin to appreciate the music.

“I sometimes sang but I didn’t really do much that involved music,” said 10-year-old McKenna. “But, when I came here everything just came to life.”

Eleven-year-old Owen says his mother made him attend the camp last year. He now enjoys the program.

“I’ve learned a lot (more) than I had when I first came here, because I didn’t know anything really,” he said.

It was a similar story for music instructor Jordan Baker, who joined the camp as a student in 2002.

Image Credit: CFJC Today / Jill Sperling

“I didn’t want to come to camp at first,” Baker said. “My parents kind of made me. But, going there for four years, I made a lot of friendships, I learned a lot and I just kept coming back.” Baker returned to KISSM as an instructor in 2007.

He takes pride in training up the next generation of music teachers.

“KISSM is the best three-week experience for kids of any age,” Baker said. “I like to say that it’s changed my life, me going to camp is what inspired me to become a teacher and I actually teach music at a school here in town. I credit KISSM with all of that.”