Adelante Arts Camp students learn to play guitar
Angelica Gomez and Daisy Raymundo are learning to play chords on their new guitars.
Tuscarawas Arts Partnership has created a fresh concept for this year’s Adelante Arts Camp. Latino students in Tuscarawas County are learning to play guitar, and also to create and perform their own compositions. The summer camp from June through July is in partnership with Off The Wall Ministry and its music store, Off the Wall Music in New Philadelphia.
“We put out a call for music instructors who could help us make this happen,” said Wilma Mullet, executive director at TAP, “someone who could handle guitar instruction but also how to write songs. Partnering with Off the Wall Music just came together well. We had initial conversations talking about what we needed things to look like for the summer. From my end I wanted to make sure we provide a safe environment for the kids to explore their creativity and really be who they are and celebrate their culture.”
A structure for the guitar summer camp came together, with room to adapt as needed.
Mullet said guitar was chosen as a learning instrument because it’s an instrument many kids express interest in playing at some point.
Aqua Blue Inc., an Adelante Arts Camp sponsor, came through with a donation covering the purchase of guitars that would be needed.
“Acoustic guitar is something that can go anywhere. Acoustic guitar is portable and versatile, making it a good choice,” Mullet said.
The camp is open to sixth grade through 12th grade Central American students. Ten are enrolled in the program for this summer. “It’s a really good representation,” Mullet said.
Mullet said the other element of the camp is to build their confidence so they can learn to write their own songs and get to the point of playing in front of an audience.
“But the main goal of the camp is helping the students build their confidence in their creativity and ability. They can take what they’ve learned and apply it to their everyday creative life. Some may not get to the point of performing comfortably, and that’s OK. We just want to provide the support they need so that if they’re ready to take it to the next level and perform before a crowd, we’re going to support that too,” Mullet said.
There will be a final concert on Thursday, July 27 at the Branch Church in downtown New Philadelphia at 6 p.m. The concert will be recorded to be shared with the public.
Four languages will be spoken during the evening, helping to be as inclusive as possible with both students and their audience.
“K’iche, lxil, Spanish and English will be spoken — spoken, not written — so everyone can understand and participate,” Mullet said.
Translators Sherrel Rieger and Ernesto Ajanel will be available to handle all four languages. Mullet said she and her colleagues realized not all of the adult Latino population in the county is able to easily read their written language. TAP ensures spoken communication is always offered.
Instructors for the camp are Erin Troyer, who helped facilitate the curriculum, and Jeff Kaufman, both with Off the Wall Music.
Further information for the concert will be released July 7. Tickets will be by donation, and all funds will go toward helping the students continue their education in learning guitar.
Other sponsors for this year’s Adelante Arts Camp include Dover Phila Federal Credit Union, The Hugh A. Fraser Fund, ProVia and TravelTusc.
Adelante Arts Camp was created as a partnership between the Tuscarawas Arts Council and the Tuscarawas County Library System to provide a variety of artistic cultural forms to celebrate the Latino and Hispanic culture in Tuscarawas County. Visit www.tuscarawasartspartnership.org.