Conservatory Program: Everyone can be part of a band
Elise Maloney
Issue date: 10/13/09 Section: Arts & Life
Everyone can be part of a band.
Through the Augusta State University Conservatory program all students can learn how to play an instrument or refine their forgotten talents. What began as the ACCCA (Augusta College Center for Creative Arts) in the 1980s, has now become a place of outreach to the community.
In addition to the many students who are involved in the conservatory program, according to J. Quentin Kuyper, director of the conservatory program, more and more adults from the community are joining in.
"There was a retired judge who was in his 80s who had always wanted to play a particular piece on piano and never had done it and he came and took the piano class," Kuyper said. "He asked the teacher during the class if he could learn that particular piece while he was there and she taught it to him and he satisfied a lifelong dream."
According to Kuyper, the conservatory program is a joint partnership between the music department and continuing education. The program provides a wide variety of classes. There are several music ensembles geared towards the youth of Augusta.
"This is a very important thing because it provides an opportunity for kids in the area," Kuyper said. "Neither Colombia country or Aiken country have full fledged string programs so you have kids taking violin lesson and they don't have any orchestra to play with and we provide that."
Laura Tomlin, assistant professor, works closely with the youth orchestras.
"The kids are really enjoyable to work with," said Tomlin, who has worked with the conservatory program since 1995.
Another opportunity for the youth is the summer camps. While there are many programs for middle and high school kids, there are also things available for Augusta State students.
"The conservatory program specifically offers music opportunities," Kuyper said. "There are private lessons in voice and guitar and we have a few classes which are like group lessons and can have anywhere between five to 15 people."
Through the Augusta State University Conservatory program all students can learn how to play an instrument or refine their forgotten talents. What began as the ACCCA (Augusta College Center for Creative Arts) in the 1980s, has now become a place of outreach to the community.
In addition to the many students who are involved in the conservatory program, according to J. Quentin Kuyper, director of the conservatory program, more and more adults from the community are joining in.
"There was a retired judge who was in his 80s who had always wanted to play a particular piece on piano and never had done it and he came and took the piano class," Kuyper said. "He asked the teacher during the class if he could learn that particular piece while he was there and she taught it to him and he satisfied a lifelong dream."
According to Kuyper, the conservatory program is a joint partnership between the music department and continuing education. The program provides a wide variety of classes. There are several music ensembles geared towards the youth of Augusta.
"This is a very important thing because it provides an opportunity for kids in the area," Kuyper said. "Neither Colombia country or Aiken country have full fledged string programs so you have kids taking violin lesson and they don't have any orchestra to play with and we provide that."
Laura Tomlin, assistant professor, works closely with the youth orchestras.
"The kids are really enjoyable to work with," said Tomlin, who has worked with the conservatory program since 1995.
Another opportunity for the youth is the summer camps. While there are many programs for middle and high school kids, there are also things available for Augusta State students.
"The conservatory program specifically offers music opportunities," Kuyper said. "There are private lessons in voice and guitar and we have a few classes which are like group lessons and can have anywhere between five to 15 people."
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