Seminole Mobile Camp
At Grace Mennonite Fellowship
Music Camp is coming to Seminole, TX!
When and Where
September 8-11, 2022
Grace Mennonite Fellowship
154 County Rd 209 A-1
Seminole, TX 79360
Who
Children: ages 7-14
Adults: age 15+
The community is welcome to attend chapel and evening sessions.
Thursday & Friday @ 7:00 PM
Final Program
Sunday, September 11
at the old Junior High Auditorium
801 Southwest Ave B
Seminole, TX
4:00 PM
Meet the 3 C’s of your learning experience:
Classes. Choirs. Chapel.
Biblical Challenge. Musical understanding. Choral training.
Classes
Rudiments
Rudiments 1: Notation – a study of the elements of basic notation, simple time signatures, note and rest values, and accidentals.
Rudiments 2: Scales & Keys – a study of major scales, major key signatures, and compound time signatures.
Sight-Singing
Sight-Singing aims to help you read new music. Students learn various tips to help in sight reading, and have opportunities to practice skills through class exercises.
Sight-Singing is divided into Levels 1–2. You should choose the Sight-Singing level that corresponds to your Rudiments class level. If at camp you find this is too high or low for you, you can switch classes.
Leading Group Singing
This class is an introduction to basic elements of leading group singing. It provides a foundation and skills development applicable to both congregational song leading and choral conducting, while highlighting some uniqueness of both. Students will learn to lead with clarity, interpretive sensitivity, and appropriate command. Participants will conduct hymnbook-level music in class for instructor and peer review. Both men and women are welcome.
Extended Homework Time
This will be a tutorial class for those who have questions that come up in their other classes, but find there isn’t time to answer them during class OR for questions that come up while doing homework for other classes. Questions will be presented to the instructor, with everyone in the room able to listen to the answer that’s given.
Congregational Workshop
These workshops involve practicing singing skills as a congregation. They will strengthen your congregation’s singing ability while introducing important musical concepts and hymn book skills that will help grow your church singing. All students will attend congregational workshops, which are also open to the public.
Learning Healthy Singing
This workshop gives pointers for singing with freedom and vitality, learning to use the voice in a healthy way. Some drill will be used, but much instruction happens in the context of singing hymns. This might be thought of as an “instructional hymn sing”.
Rediscovering the Music of the Hymnal
The way we say something (eg. tone of voice) changes the meaning. The way we sing something also impacts its meaning. This workshop gives congregations specific ways to sing hymns interpretively to help the words come off the page and into minds and hearts.
Children's Musical Skills
When we first start school, we learn about letters, how letters form words, and how words form sentences. In musical skills class, we do the same thing – only with music. Students will learn about notes, rhythms, rest, pitches, and how they all fit together to form a song. Learning how music works will strengthen their choir experience as they get skills to help them read unfamiliar music.
Join the choir and experience the joy of singing in a group.
Students say it’s their favorite part of camp!
Choir is a fun way to put the things you’re learning in class into practice.
Two Adult Mixed Choirs
These are choirs with men’s and women’s voice parts. Each student will be assigned to a mixed choir.
Adult Mass Choir
All students can participate in the mass choir, as well as community members who aren’t taking other classes.
Children & Youth Choir
ages 7-14
Choir
Chapel
Chapel is both a time of worship and a time to strengthen your ability to worship in singing.
In chapel, we reflect on the meaning of worship as it is taught in Scripture and we respond to God in love and obedience. At the same time we practice worshiping God. Chapels help to orient the focus of camp around what really matters: God’s presence and his kingdom.
These sessions are open to the public – all are welcome!
Thursday, September 8, 7:00 PM
Friday, September 9, 7:00 PM
Schedules
Dress Code
Men: Please wear full-button shirts, tails tucked in, with dressy/casual pants. Keep hair neatly trimmed.
Women: Wear loose-fitting dresses or dressy tops and skirts (no slits, please) with sleeve lengths at least halfway between shoulder and elbow and skirt length below knees. Necklines should be near the base of your neck. Cover your hair with your church-prescribed veiling.
Program Attire: Women, please wear black dress with black shoes. Men, please wear black pants, white long-sleeved dress shirt, and black shoes.
Children: Please follow the adult dress code as closely as is reasonable. Do not wear t-shirts with logos or writing, please. For program attire, if black is unavailable, a dark solid is acceptable.
Contact
Any questions, please contact:
Aaron Bergen or Willy Bergen
(432) 955-8578
semmusiccamp22@gmail.com
FAQ
What ages can come to camp?
Children: ages 7-10
Youth: ages 11-14
Adults: age 15+
Can I come for part of the time?
You may sign up for Mass Choir only, with the option of staying for the Extended Homework Time or Leading Group Singing, or come for the entire camp experience. If you take only Mass Choir, you will be charged part-time student price.
How much does camp cost?
Children/Youth – $50
Full-time Adult Camper – $150
Part-time Adult Camper – $80
*All fees are nonrefundable.
How will I pay for camp?
You will pay right away in the application with credit/debit card.
What meals are provided at camp?
Full-time students have the option of including all meals or none at all. If choosing meals, Thursday – Saturday, lunch and supper will be provided as well as Sunday supper.
Part-time students may choose to include supper, if they wish.
Is any lodging provided?
Lodging is available in local homes. Contact Aaron Bergen or Willy Bergen (semmusiccamp22@gmail.com) for additional details.
Is childcare available?
Childcare is available for children ages 4-6 whose parents are students at camp.
NOTE: Childcare is also available for children & youth attending camp (age 7-14) whose parents are still in class after Children’s Camp ends at 2:45PM.
Can I get a refund?
No refunds will be given once your registration has been submitted.
Student Learning Files
Closing Program
All choirs will present the pieces they’ve learned.
Location: old Junior High Auditorium
801 Southwest Ave B, Seminole TX
Time: Sunday, September 11 @ 4:00 PM
Meet Your Instructors
Dwilyn Beiler
Paradise, PA
Dwilyn has been a music instructor at Faith Mennonite High School, Linville Hill Christian School, and Fair Haven Christian. He received a degree in music education from Millersville University and a master’s degree in Christian School Administration from Grace College. Currently, Dwilyn drives a delivery truck for Gap Power Rental Company in Gap, PA. He continues to direct Gap Male Chorus (a 40-voice men’s choir which has been singing every year since 1922) as well as Men With A Song which has its roots at music camp. Dwilyn and his wife, Bertie, live on a small farm with 2,000 pigs and a few cats. Their five grown children are active in church and ministry in the Lancaster area. Along with choral conducting and playing the accordian, Dwilyn enjoys the outdoors–hunting, hiking, caring for fruit trees and spending time with family at a mountain cabin. He and his family attend Life Mennonite Fellowship, Willow Street, PA.
Lloyd Kauffman
West Jefferson, OH
Lloyd has been a music instructor at Sarasota Christian School (Florida), Rosedale Bible Institute (Ohio) and Daystar University (Nairobi, Kenya). He holds a BA in Music Education (Eastern Mennonite College), and an MA in Music Education with a choral conducting / vocal concentration (Ohio State University). He directed the Rosedale Chorale and other community and touring choirs during his active teaching years, served as an itinerant music resource among Mennonite churches in Germany, and directed the Hope Singers (Poland) from 2004-2018. He continues periodic musical activity with teaching, choral events, and composition, and has an ongoing passion for significant congregational worship and singing. He is self-employed as a choral arranger and composer (lillychapelpress.com), painter, handyman and commercial driver. Lloyd enjoys a variety of historic and international music, private aviation, motorcycling, mechanical tinkering, travel, and continues seeking an accurate working definition of "retirement". He is married to Mary (Slabaugh), formerly from Hartville, OH.
Cameron Streicher
Listowel, ON
Cameron graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with a double degree in Music Education and Music Theory (2014). He is an active piano examiner with the Canadian National Conservatory of Music and has been on faculty at Renaissance School of the Arts and the Beckett School at Wilfrid Laurier University as a piano and music theory instructor. Cam is the founder and director of Village Voices Community Choir in Milverton, ON and Millbank Heritage and Arts Society. He has been a guest conductor for Laurier Singers, Laurier Alumni Choir, and Chor Amica. Cam has sung with many choirs including Laurier Singers, Da Capo Chamber Choir, and Oasis Chorale. As a registered respiratory therapist, Cam finds great satisfaction in helping patients “breathe easy” in a wide range of clinical situations.