NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — More students are getting into the swing with BAAMS' Summer Jazz Band Day Camp, which returned this week for its sixth session.

Berkshires Academy of Advanced Musical Studies founder and Director Richard Boulger said this year 35 students attended the camp, and although the majority are from Berkshire County, students from the Boston area and New York State were participating.

"I think the word is getting out about BAAMS in Berkshire County and beyond," he said. "... I would say that what makes us very special is that we really are student-specific. We focus on each of our kids, and we do not use the cookie-cutter approach to teaching."

The camp ran this week, from Aug. 12 to 16, and students ages 12 to 18 studied alongside world-class musicians including drummer Tony Lewis, bassist Alex Blake, saxophonist and woodwinds artist Ada Rovatti, vocalist Jim Taft, pianist Dario Boente and Boulger himself who plays trumpet.

 

"We've got a really nice, really wonderful, faculty. For our kids this year. This is the most kids we've had to date," Boulger said. "We bring the very best musicians in so students don't have to go to New York City, Boston, or wherever. They can learn from the best right here in Berkshire County. You can really have this amazing experience and it is really transformational."

Rovatti added that along with new students, she is happy to see returning students allowing musical relationships to continue to grow.

"The relationships that they create at BAAMS are amazing. I am happy to see that a lot of the same students are back so that means we are doing something good," she said. "They are coming back for more."

In past iterations of the camp, Boulger said they really focused on playing and understanding music aurally. But this year, he added, you'll notice music stands set up.

"We're expanding the experience for our kids, where we certainly still emphasize the ear and the ability to hear music, we want our kids to really have a full experience in terms of reading music," he said. "...So we have written arrangements, and we also have created some original music, based on the kids themselves. so we're sort of like adding on another component, which is reading music and still at the same time creating original music."

Rovatt who is also an accomplished arranger said with more students it is important to have notation in front of the students so they are all working from the same reference.

"We still go with the flow with what you hear because ultimately it should hear and feel good, but as a school you also want to give students the tools. If they want to take it to another level they need to have music," she said. "They have to have an idea of how to expand the vocabulary and the fact there are so many students, you need some kind of structure."

Rovatti added that they meet students at all levels helping new musicians navigate the basics while showing more advanced students barrier-breaking tools and a stage to find their voice and sound.

She added that they teach more than just jazz theory and improvisation. They also teach students a universal language that can open many doors for them.

"Music is a safe environment … a spot where kids can open their hearts and minds and enjoy alone or socially," she said. "It is crazy that you can play with someone from Kazakhstan and you can communicate with that player through the music."

A typical day at camp starts off with some music theory. The group will work on different scales and study different chords that are later applied to an arrangement where students can improvise.

Boulger said Building 6, BAAMS' headquarters, is split up into multiple studios allowing for instrument-specific breakout sessions

"The way this building is set up there are several smaller studio spaces where our faculty can work with the kids," he said. "They can go over things more specific to their instrument. It really allows us to give the kids the most positive experience in a more isolated musical experience.

The camp ended Friday with a private gala performance at Waubeeka Golf Links where BAAMS faculty played along with students.

Taft said the experience is also nourishing to the faculty as it allows them to share the knowledge they have gained over the years.

"I hope to inspire these young musicians the way I was inspired by my elders," he said. "... And we are all still learning. We are just further ahead in our musical development."

Taft, who like Boulger is a North Adams native, said he is happy to come home and share some of what he has learned over the years with students.

"There is nothing like it,  to educate, inspire, and pass that knowledge on," he said. "We have all gained knowledge out in the world and to come home and teach the kids growing up in the same area I grew up in is an amazing thing."