Ted Sweeney

Review of Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp

I really wish that my 12 days at BLFAC would be en...

I really wish that my 12 days at BLFAC would be enjoyable, I was wrong.
Let's start off by saying that not all of BLFAC was horrible, but in my major (choir), I wanted to die.
I was 12 years old when I went to BLFAC, and I was very excited to learn more to advance my already extensive music theory knowledge. (I had private training) When I first arrived, my "audition" that all choir majors do when they first arrive. My voice hadn't changed yet, so, I was still a soprano. My judge attempted to mark my vocal status as a tenor. After inquiring about it, he responded "Most young men are put as tenors." I said that my range goes higher than most sopranos, and I should sing at my normal pitch. He tested my range (up to E-5) and did not like my tone, and marked it down as a 2 of 5. After sight reading a piece of music, he marked my sight reading the same thing. I was quickly dismissed. After the afternoon was over, I had my first rehearsal. I was glad to be a soprano, but I was anxious about what we were to sing. Bach? Mozart? Byrd? Howells? Britten? Yeah, more like contemporary crap. The music that was chosen was made for an elementary choir. The next day, after the tedious choir class, we had our first "tech" class. "Tech" was actually music theory, I was finally looking forward to something, but, of course, when I got there, we started learning about how to draw the treble clef. I was furious, luckily, my tech teacher allowed me to go on to the end of the theory packet, to continue learning about tetrachords. I found my only instructor friend in my tech teacher. He saw through my little boy facade, and really brought out my musical talent. He gave me top marks in everything. Later, I found out that the "Better" choir, was singing a piece, that my church sings when we have no other music, easiest piece ever. I was disgusted.

Forward to now (two years)

I have just finished singing as a soloist with two symphonies, and still have a 3+ octave range. I still hate BLFAC, and I do not recommend it to any decently talented musician.

P.S. I can deal with camp food, but this food gave me food poisoning.