Drama Skits For Children

Camp at Buddy Holly Center helps kids gain an appreciation for art

Thanks to the Buddy Holly Center, this week, children in Lubbock have begun to connect with music and the fine arts.

Thirty children from ages 8 to 12 registered for the Music, Art and Drama Camp and began their journey into the arts Monday.

The camp provides a way for children to interact with the fine arts for the first time or to continue that connection, said Lisa Howe, education coordinator at the Buddy Holly Center.

"Music is obviously important because of the Buddy Holly Center," said Howe.

Howe has organized the camp since its debut last year.

"A big part of our mission is to foster in the music and art in the community," she said.

On Monday, Joseph Zuniga painted a canvas with dots, squares and animals, using an Australian aboriginal painting style he had learned at camp.

"I think it's fun, and I would like to do this every day," said Zuniga.

The 8-year-old said he doesn't have many opportunities to paint on a canvas. So far, Zuniga likes painting best at camp.

Camp art instructor Sarah Collins appreciates the children's enthusiasm for learning.

She taught Zuniga and other campers about the Australian art, part of the overall big theme this summer focused on art from other cultures.

"I try not to give them too many restrictions," Collins said, "but I do have to balance it out to keep the children in track."

Some of the campers have more experience with the arts.

"I paint a lot with my grandmother," said Maddy Sudduth. "She used to be an art teacher."

Sudduth attends art festivals with her parents.

Collins want all the campers to earn an appreciation, a love for art.

But camp lasts just a week, enough to teach children how to learn more about art and music.

Music instructor Jake Farr wants his campers to learn to read tablatures and chord charts.

"With those two tools they can learn on their own," said Farr.

Despite the difficulty with group music lessons, Farr said, "They're all doing really great."

Farr's goal: For the campers to perform about five songs in less than a week.

"It could be a little far-fetched," said Farr. "But it is doable."

In drama, campers have learned how to make up a story and use their imaginations to write skits, said Landon Lauderdale, 8.

They also have learned to change their voices as they portray different characters, added Milla Grimes, 8.

The times they are a-changin'!

Secondly, Team Joy is absolutely on FIRE!! The work we are doing in this tiny little mountain school is revolutionary in all ways. Culturally it is relevant and based in the Swazi Arts. The intention to empower all the children, regardless of HIV status or background is a huge success. It is using a child- driven and child centric curriculum where child participation is 100%!! And finally, I just finished buying the small school Mabheleni supplies for each of the seven classrooms. This donation will be presented tomorrow at our community show. Costumes, face paint, sets, songs, dances and drama skits will be presented. The topic is playful, imaginative and age appropriate for young children. I feel blessed that I can contribute in this way. All of our fundraising back in Toronto is payed forward in the hope that we empower as many children possible! Child spirit is what enables children to walk into any space and instantly see a detail that our adult eyes, often conditioned by habit or distracted by other thoughts, no longer see. Child spirit is what propels children to ask so many extraordinary questions about the world they live in and people around them – like “do our toys die when we die?” and “where does wind come from?” Child spirit is what enables a child to play and connect and feel joy, even though one or both of their parents has left their lives so early and isn’t there to nurture, guide, love and bear witness to their lives. And child spirit doesn’t only reside in children. All of us have child spirit inside of us – we are all born with it. I see it everyday as we are doing this work. Every single teacher that we are working with delights in using the same materials as the children do. They sing the songs, dance the dances with a huge smiles on their faces. For many adults, they have put it away, or had it taken away, consciously or unconsciously. Maybe it’s tucked away in a little box or hidden behind some trees over there - but make no mistake, it’s there in everyone of us, in all of us! Play is vital. It is an intrinsic and irreplaceable medium that helps children understand the world around them. All of us are born with the ability to play and create. It is one of our greatest gifts. You only have to observe these bright Swazi children while they play and create in this school to see the wonder and power of this gift in its most effervescent and spirited form. This is a gift.

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