After four days of practice, 30 high school bassoon players are preparing to perform a recital at Sursa Hall on Saturday.
The bassoon, a low-pitched woodwind instrument, is tenor in the oboe family.
Susan Stokdyk, Ball State University alumna and fourth-year teacher at the camp, has played the bassoon for 15 years.
"[The bassoon] is slightly more technically difficult than some of the other woodwind instruments and I like the challenge," Stokdyk said.
Stokdyk is teaching the quartet an ensemble they will perform at the camp's recital this Saturday. She said she encourages Ball State students to attend.
"This recital is probably the longest program of all bassoon music in the Midwest this year," Stokdyk said. "We're gonna make a bold statement."
Ball State music professor Keith Sweger started this camp 10 years ago. Sweger said most of his students at Ball State had never heard of the university but heard of this camp, and after attending, decided to come to Ball State.
Ian Hoy, a former camper, is now a teacher at the camp.
"I didn't really have any direction before the camp, but Dr. Sweger gave me the direction I needed," Hoy said.
Hoy said the kids are great and believes that bassoonists have more interest in music and are more serious and focused.Mark Ortwein and Andrew Gott, the two guest musicians for the camp this year, help with the private lessons and teach classes.
"I try to get the kids not to make the same mistakes I made," Gott said.
Ortwein said the kids make him think more and come up with different ways of teaching and playing music.
The campers' schedule includes three rehearsals and classes a day. The students say they're hoping the hard work pays off when they perform a recital this Saturday at Sursa Hall.
Tom English, a student in the camp, said he feels well-prepared for the show.
"The rehearsals help you a lot with your technique and give you things to think about," English said.
Student Emma Morone said she thinks people should come see the show because it's a chance to see a group of bassoons, which is rare to find.
The recital will be held from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
Sweger said the performance is more for the people on the stage than the people in the audience because they get to experience performing together and showing a little bit of what they've learned.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
