FULL OF PIZAZZ : WESTLAKE VILLAGE CHURCH GIVES KIDS A WEEKLONG ARTS ADVENTURE.Byline: R.A. Hutchinson Daily News Staff Writer Backed by the patter pat·ter 1 v. pat·tered, pat·ter·ing, pat·ters v.intr. 1. To make a quick succession of light soft tapping sounds: Rain pattered steadily against the glass. of a rain stick and melodic me·lod·ic adj. Of, relating to, or containing melody. me·lod  i·cal·ly adv. American Indian American Indianor Native American or Amerindian or indigenous American Any member of the various aboriginal peoples of the Western Hemisphere, with the exception of the Eskimos (Inuit) and the Aleuts. music, a dozen children lifted up their gifts to the Earth. The voice of choreography choreography Art of creating and arranging dances. The word is derived from the Greek for “dance” and “write,” reflecting its early meaning as a written record of dances. instructor Julia Felker kept the youngsters on the beat with quiet commands of ``Step, step.'' Another run-through, and the children were ready to take a break. ``I like the singing and the dancing; it's a lot of fun,'' said 11-year-old Nicole Benson, who had just finished the choreography class. ``I love music. I like pretty much all the classes, but I really like the hand bells and chimes.'' Benson is one of about 70 students taking part in the weeklong week·long adj. Continuing through the week: a weeklong conference. Adj. 1. weeklong - lasting through a week; "her weeklong vacation" seven-day ``Pizazz'' arts program at the United Methodist Church United Methodist Church, in the United States, religious body formed by the union in 1968 of the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church (see Methodism). in Westlake Village. This is the fourth year the church has sponsored the program for children from first through eighth grades. This year's theme is ``Celebrate the Earth.'' The youngsters, divided into four groups based on age and ability, spend parts of each morning learning songs, choreography and dance, musical history and theory, and playing hand chimes and bells. The groups - Staccatos, Crescendos, Fortissimos and Sforzandos - are named for musical terms as well. ``We thought Staccatos for the younger children - the notes are short, the children are young,'' said Lynn Dokken, co-director of the program. ``Crescendos are a little louder, Fortissimos are even louder and the Sforzandos are really loud.'' Dokken said the program began four years ago, when many school districts in the Conejo Valley The Conejo Valley is a region spanning both Southeastern Ventura County and Northwest Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States. It was discovered in 1542 by Spanish explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, and eventually became part of the Rancho El Conejo land grant by and elsewhere were trimming budgets and cutting back on arts programs. ``It grew out of time when there wasn't as much music being taught in the schools,'' she said. ``Our church has a large number of professional musicians in the congregation.'' So Dokken and her co-director, Carol Ames, began taking up the slack. Ames said typically they keep enrollment at just under 50, but this year accepted 67 students. Even then, she said there were children on waiting lists to get in. The lucky ones who made the program gave enthusiastic approval, however. ``We've been learning about the history of the different instruments,'' explained Jeff Dokken, 11. On Monday during the closing session of the day, a professional brass player came in and told the children about trombones, bass trombones, trumpets and bass trumpets The bass trumpet is a type of low trumpet which was first developed during the 1820s in Germany. It is usually pitched in 8' C or 9' B♭ today, but is sometimes built in E♭ and is treated as a transposing instrument sounding either an octave, a sixth or a ninth lower . Jeff said he particularly enjoyed that because he plays baritone baritone or barytone (both: băr`ĭtōn), male voice, in a lighter and higher range than a bass but lower than a tenor. , another member of the brass family Noun 1. brass family - (music) the family of brass instruments music - an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner . Tyler Shapiro, 10, is keenly interested in music, and plays the hand bells, violin and piano. But this week he's most excited about seeing his former instructor in the Amadeus Boys Choir, Allyson Kuechmann, return from her new home in Montana for a visit. ``I've been pretty excited because the singing teacher was my instructor in the Amadeus Boys Choir. I'm really glad to see her again,'' he said. THE FACTS WHAT: Pizazz Celebration, a musical program. WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday. WHERE: Westlake United Methodist Church, 1049 Westlake Blvd., Westlake Village. ADMISSION: Free. INFORMATION: (805) 497-7884. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos Photo: (1--color in CONEJO) Tamara Kuechman, 12, hits ascreechy note as she learns the violin at the weeklong ``Pizazz'' arts program in Westlake Village. (2) The choreography class has Jenny Conway, left, Elizabeth Herapes, Amy Siminiski and Melissa Barry moving in synch. Tina Gerson/Daily News |
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