Band camp held at Century School

With less than two weeks before the beginning of the school year, the newly official music department at Century School at Ullin met for its first band camp in more than 15 years on Aug. 3-4. 

The band program returned to Century last November after music and science teacher Becca Yates gathered support from the school’s administration and community.

Yates’ elementary education allowed her to work with students up to the 8th grade. 

Thirty-seven 4th and 5th grade students and 22 in 6th through 8th grade worked with their instruments until they were ready to perform in the annual spring concert in May.

The hiring of a second band teacher, Katrina Walcyzk, will allow for a high school band to begin this year.

The two instructors, along with Luke Shaffer, a percussion volunteer from Southern Illinois University’s music education program, worked with 18 to 20 new and returning band students in sections to review basic skills and rhythms and learn two songs, “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Single Ladies.”

The camp concluded Friday, Aug. 4, with a mini-performance for the students’ parents.