Nescafe Soundskool’s Summer Camp gives budding music careers a great headstart

HIGH school and college students completed their first step towards music greatness at the recently concluded NESCAFE Soundskool’s Summer Camp in Ateneo de Manila University.

Started in 2005, Nescafe Soundskool Battle of the Bands is an annual, nationwide search for the country's best college bands.

While the Battle of the Bands gathers topnotch bands, the Soundskool Summer Camp is aimed at helping mold aspiring musicians into becoming well-rounded performers.

The two-day summer camp was composed of several modules, with a series of lectures mixed with workshops that helped arm campers with the basic knowledge they need to succeed in the music industry.

Just halfway through the summer camp, the participants already considered it a success. "The mentors were great. We learned a lot, and we really enjoyed what we're doing here," said one camper.

The mentors were just as delighted by the creativity and progress of the campers. "Very impressive," Sandwich lead singer Raymund Marasigan said to them, "considering your young age and the relatively short time you stayed here". The other mentors were full of praises for them as well

The Summer Camp began with the "Industry Sound Check." Max Speed, Magic 89.9's Program Director, introduced the participants to the basics of forming a band. In his position as Artist and Repertoire Manager at Sony BMG Music Entertainment Philippines, Vic Valenciano shared to campers some of the ins and outs of the local recording industry.

A music summer camp won't be complete without some skills-training and the campers had time to hone their skills here.

The workshop on proper voice techniques greatly improved the young campers' skills in just a short period of time. Their mentors, Dr. Raul Navarro, Chairman of Conducting and Chorale Ensemble of the University of the Philippines College of Music, Joel Alinsunurin, classical singer and vocal coach and Lemuel dela Cruz, one of the country’s top tenors whose next opera will be this August in Singapore for Puccini’s Turandot. This was followed by a crash course on playing different musical instruments, where the encouraging mentors also instilled in them the right mindset and attitude as future performers.

The last day of the camp started with a personality enhancement workshop. Fashion columnist Ana Kalaw and former Cosmopolitan magazine fashion editor Donna-Cuna Pita discussed how much their image onstage matters as much as their music. At the end of the talk, the campers were made to dress up their fellow participants in show-worthy fashion.

After being taught how to ‘Make A Statement’ via fashion, the still hyperactive campers were immersed in an intense acting workshop. This aimed to improve their stage projection and stage presence. Artpetron Grand Prize winner and acting coach James de Loyola and Naty Crame-Rogers Philippine Drama Company resident actor June “Matt” Hebrew spearheaded the Act The Part sessions.

The final module of the summer camp was also one of the most awaited. South Border main man and gifted songwriter Jay Durias and Marasigan, discussed the important creative and technical aspects of songwriting composition. The two talked about the power of words in making your music the true artistic expression that it should be.

After that, the campers had to compose their own songs impromptu. The best performing group had the privilege of playing with Jay Durias for their class recital at the end of the summer camp at Ateneo’s Henry Lee Irwin Theater.

The excitement of the summer camp also led to newfound friendships among the campers. They were unknowingly practicing one of the vital elements of music that many of the mentors underscored: having fun.

Who knows, the bonds they formed there could lead to the country's next top bands.

The next Nescafe Soundskool Summer Camp will be held at the University of Cebu Banilad Campus on May 27 and 28.

Recruitment for the next college band who is ready to shine will start on June 15-September 5, 2008. For more details about NESCAFE Soundskool 2008, log on to www.nescafe3in1.com.ph.

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