Keiki enjoyed playing drums with the percussion instructors.

LAHAINA – Maui Music Mission recently hosted a nine-day free music camp at Lahaina Christian Fellowship for 70 keiki.

Students ages 5-13 participated in voice, piano, guitar, ukulele, hip-hop, hula and American Sign Language.

Parents and volunteers supported the camp by shopping, preparing and serving food, assisting in the classrooms, cleaning and contributing financial donations.

Students persevered through seven classes per day with no recess. They gained fundamental music skills (such as timing) in each area, and learned how those skills interact to create a body of music.

They had a prize store where they could redeem their reward tickets, which every student earned for participation daily.

The campers learned words in American Sign Language.

Five percussionist instructors brought in a drum line with instruments from many cultures. They were assisted by graduates of Sule Gordon’s drum line program. Percussion is the favorite class by far.

Maui Music Mission is inspiring hope through music, because a dream fulfilled is a tree of life!

After final performances last weekend, Maui Music Mission selected ten beginner musicians to receive a gift membership to the fall after-school program.

Each gift includes a concert-size ukulele from the Sophia DeLoria Foundation, a gig bag from Maui Surfboards and ten months of music instruction.

Students learn to play the piano.