Summer Band Camp Recap

(Originally posted: September 10, 2022)

Progressive Manor's Fine Arts department is designed to encourage well-rounded development by providing exposure to different forms of art including music, dance, theater, etc.

During the month of August 2022, eight students participated in Progressive Manor's 3-week band intensive led by Dakarai Barclay. The band camp was an amazing preview of the kind of impact we hope to have through Progressive Manor programming.

Most of the participating students started band camp with no prior music experience. As camp progressed, sounds that filled the practice auditorium began to sound less like nails on a chalkboard and more like melodies that evoked an urge to sing along. The students were excited to learn and they practiced diligently.

The band instructors reported that "the students were naturally talented." The students, just like many other students across the City of Chicago, have talents that lie dormant, awaiting someone to come along and cultivate their gifts. The leadership and staff of Progressive Manor are grateful to be able to provide opportunities to help students flourish in their gifting.

Students who successfully completed band camp were provided a stipend to reward their commitment. The hope was to help students gain experience with financial management. With exposure to opportunities to manage personal finances, our belief is that students will learn from experience, the value of a dollar, the importance of budgeting, and the skill of delayed gratification. In the future, we hope to incorporate more financial management training in the form of workshops, seminars, and question/answer panel discussions with professional financial advisors.

Proud parents and members of the community joyfully came to watch our weekly concerts. At the close of the program, parents and students inquired about "what's next". We are excited to announce our plan to extend our music training program through the fall.

Stay tuned for additional information about registration for the 2022-2023 band program.