Instead of kicking back on spring break, a group of students honed their skills at Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.
By JONATHAN MILTON
Published April 2, 2004
While many students spent spring break soaking up the sun, one group spent their vacation soaking up music.
Last week, 15 junior and high school students discovered and honed their musical talents during the Spring Break Musical Workshop '04 led by Pamela Leslie at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.
"Are you all familiar with the keyboard?" she asked while seated at a baby grand piano in a rehearsal hall.
"Come on up to the piano and show us the major scale," she said to Donise Scott, 16.
Leslie created the program this year to help young people appreciate the diverse qualities of music. A mother of three who lives in Valrico and works in health care, she learned how to play the piano a year ago.
"My son taught me the how to play basic music over the phone," she said. "You can teach anybody how to play any chord or any harmonic scale in five minutes. Anybody, even a 5-year-old, can learn music."
Throughout the weeklong workshop, students learned basic music theory through voice, piano and exercises. Leslie played a few phrases from Beethoven's Fur Elise, then asked a student who had never read music or played the piece to replay what she had heard. With a boost of confidence from Leslie, the student was able to play a short excerpt. During an alphabet exercise, Leslie showed students how music is a universal language based on a series of common symbols.
Parents applauded the free workshop, which began March 22 and ended Saturday. "I grew up with music. Music is a part of our household," said Donise's mother, Tammi Scott, who is director of music at the Word of His Grace Christian Fellowship in Seffner. "What I'm trying to do is allow my kids to be more well-rounded. I think that music and art is a significant part of that."
Leslie designed the program as an alternative to the party-oriented spring break. She wanted to expose children to music who otherwise might not have the opportunity.
"Many of the students in the program are foster kids, underprivileged, or from single-parent families," she said. "I figure if I can make anybody's childhood better, regardless of what they are going through, I want to give them the vision that they can choose a good lifestyle as an adult."
Leslie, with the help of friend Zenobia Cann, donated money for the supplies. The Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center donated the rehearsal hall, and former Detroit Lions cornerback Kevin Abrams gave his studio for the recording.
"Music is so influential in good and bad. I am just trying to create more positive influences," Leslie said. "I believe that music penetrates the soul."
The students ended the week by making a professional recording of a traditional hymnal that they rewrote. The recording is scheduled to be aired on a radio and television network in Los Angeles starting about Easter, Leslie said.
Leslie would like to continue the program in the summer and include college students.
"This is my heart. This is what I want to do," she said. "These are going to be the kids that will be taking care of us."
