Ball State University's campus will be turned into a music education haven for about 1,200 students, teachers and faculty members this week.
About 900 students and 300 faculty, staff and teachers will be taking over Emens Auditorium this week for the Music for All Summer Symposium.
Students and teachers will attend workshops during the day, and each evening, Music for All is bringing performers of all musical genres for campus as well as the public.
Debbie Laferty Asbill, director of marketing and communications at Music for All, said the symposium is simply meant to help students grow musically over the week.
"We believe that music arts education is vital to a well rounded education for young people," she said. "This summer camp allows high school age students to participate in a national level music camp to increase their skills as musicians and performers."
The 1,200 guests will be staying in Park Hall, Kinghorn Hall and Dehority Complex, Monday through Friday.
The performances each evening are meant to demonstrate a different genre of music, Laferty Asbill said. Jon McLaughlin, singer-songwriter from Anderson, will be performing Wednesday at 8 p.m.
This will be McLaughlin's second year performing at the Music For All Summer Symposium. He said Music For All's purpose hits close to home for him.
"I grew up doing band and choir and stuff like that in school," he said. "I can't imagine those programs not being there when I was in school."
McLaughlin said he played music in Muncie a lot during his time at Anderson University.
"When I was in college, I used to play in this place called the Living Room," he said. "I'm not sure if it is still opened anymore. I played way more in Muncie than I ever did in Anderson, so it will be great."
Other performers include Yamaha Young Performing Artists, Volunteers of the United States Army Field Band, Uncommon Time and Drum Corps International Central Indiana.
The camp has been held at Illinois State University every year since 1992. This is the first year the symposium has been held at Ball State, and Music For All plans on bringing the symposium back annually for quite some time, Laferty Asbill said.
Even though Music for All reaches participants nationwide, their headquarters are in Indianapolis, so Ball State is a convenient choice for the camp's venue.
She said the camp is for more than just students. It is a way for middle and high school band directors across the country to get new ideas to bring into their own classrooms and bands.
"Our teacher training for high school and middle school band directors is really vital from a professional development stand point," she said. "It gives them an opportunity to learn what the newest trends that are in teaching and resources and they can network with each other."
Ball State music professors Tom Caneva, Tim Lautzenheiser, Gene Berger, Elizabeth Crawford, Erwin Mueller, Keith Sweger, Shawn Vondran and John Seidel will be participating in the symposium.
Iconic band directors from all over come to show the way of new music techniques and trends. They lead seminars for students and teachers alike.
McLaughlin said he looks forward to performing for the Summer Symposium once again.
"It is fun to play a show, but I've been doing nothing but recording for this new record lately, so it will be great to just get out and play live for an hour or two," he said. "Obviously, the fact that we are supporting a good cause is great."
SYMPOSIUM PERFORMERS:
Monday
Yamaha Young Performing Artists - 8 p.m. at Emens Auditorium
Tuesday
Volunteers of the United States Army Field Band - 8 p.m. at Emens Auditorium
Wednesday
Jon McLaughlin - 8 p.m. at Emens Auditorium
Thursday
Uncommon Time with Time for Three's Nick and Ranaan - 8 p.m. at Emens Auditorium
Friday
Drum Core International Central Indiana - 7 p.m. Scheumann Stadium
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