They’ve Got Rhythm

Danette Goulet

* SCHOOL’S OUT is a weekly feature in which Daily Pilot education

writer Danette Goulet visits a summer camp within the Newport-Mesa area

and writes about her experience.

Clutching colorful sheer scarves, toddlers flit around the bright

music room like a swarm of pastel butterflies.

It was the first day of a weeklong camp at the Pacific School for

Music and the Arts in Costa Mesa. The camp is designed to introduce young

children to the arts.

Each day, campers visit with music, drama and art teachers in

preparation for a performance they will give Friday -- the last day of

camp.

Starting with the basics, music teacher Janet Kerce taught a group of

3- to 5-year-old children about rhythm.

Sitting cross-legged in a circle on the carpet, campers clapped along

with Kerce as she chanted “bees and butterflies.” The lesson is meant to

allow children to distinguish beats in music.

When they got that down, the children stood up and marched around,

still chanting their mantra about bees and butterflies.

After a few more educational and entertaining games and sing-alongs,

Kerce picked up a tub of shimmering scarves, turning it upside down to

let the sheer bits of fabric flutter over the waiting children.

Children giggled and grinned as the bright scarves floated into their

eagerly outstretched hands.

“Mine is big,” said 4-year-old Jillian Weber, her voice filled with

awe.

They twirled away with their silken treasures -- each with a different

idea of what to do with the scarf.

Melissa Cohen, a 4-year-old from Newport Beach, immediately draped a

red scarf around her neck, throwing one end over her shoulder.

Robby Maldonda, also 4, put a baby blue scarf over his head and

proceeded to proudly prance around.

Others tied the scarves around their waists, or balled them up and

tossed them in the air.

Because the theme for this class is “Pocahontas,” children danced

about to the haunting melody “Colors of the Wind,” from the popular

Disney movie.

Robby’s twin sister, Adriana Maldonda, held her scarf in one hand and

the hem of her little pink dress in the other and spun round and round.

By the end of the week, Kerce hopes to have the miniature Pocahontases

and John Smiths somewhat synchronized as they move to the music.

FYI

WHO: Children ages 3 to 5

WHAT: Discovery arts camps

WHERE: Pacific School of Music and the Arts, Costa Mesa

INFO: (714) 545-1217