Local percussion camp a hit with Alaska’s youth

PALMER — If the growth of Dr. Meggie Aube’s percussion camp is any indication, the Mat-Su will soon be booming with students marching to the beat of their own drums.

When Aube started the summer camp four years ago, just 18 students gathered in her parents’ garage to learn from the professional Palmer-grown percussionist, who was at the time recently returned from a years-long pursuit of her passion at the University of Iowa.

“When I moved back here, nothing was happening,” Aube said.

Now she has her own studio back in her hometown, and this week she and her team taught 40 elementary through high school aged students at Colony Middle School at the annual camp.

Her co-teachers included Taiko instructor and Central Middle School band director Erika Ninoyu, Ursa Major Elementary School music teacher Kyle Drake and University of Iowa music professor and percussion head Dan Moore, who had Aube as a graduate and doctoral student.

Aube said she invites a different guest instructor from out of state to the camp every year.

“Having the ability to bring them up here to teach … that’s a big reward for me,” she said.

Moore said it’s been rewarding for him as well, watching one of his star pupils succeed in spreading her love of percussion in her hometown.

“It’s just very impressive to me, to see the things she’s doing,” he said. “She could go anywhere but she chooses to stay in Alaska.”

Aube’s commitment to her craft shows in the enthusiasm of her students, many of whom attended the camp last year as well.

“It’s awesome!” gushed Palmer Junior Middle School student Shelby Wellington at the camp on Wednesday.

The middle school student said she turned to percussion early on in her school band career as an alternative to things like wind instruments, for which she didn’t think she had adequate “breath ability,” she said.

Colony Middle School student Jillian Cappa said she was inspired to pick up percussion from her older brother, 2016 Colony High graduate Ben Cappa, and has grown to enjoy the diversity of that particular musical field.

“You can learn so many new things every day,” she said.

Likewise, Colony Middle School student Peter Venema said, “It’s all really fun.”

Moore said that’s something that appealed to him, too, as a budding musician.

“You never get bored as a percussionist,” he said.

Moore wasn’t just referring to the kinds of instruments available to percussionists, but also the complexity of being a professional. He said each day, for him, is jam-packed with teaching, playing gigs and calling around to set up future performances.

“It’s a very challenging lifestyle, and not usually financially rewarding,” Moore said.

However, following one’s passion doesn’t mean a person has to do that, and only that to make a living.

“If you’re lucky enough to get paid for your passion, great,” he said.

Dimond High School student Ethan Combs, who came out to the Valley from Anchorage for the camp, said he’s not necessarily setting out to be a rock star, but hopes he’ll have a future in percussion.

“Being in a rock band would be awesome and stuff but being in an ensemble, that’s what I would probably do,” Combs said.

As for the littlest campers in attendance this week, just hanging out with friends was enough reason to get some of them playing the drums.

Seven-year-old Josie Condie said “being able to be with someone I know” — in this case, fellow 7-year-old Gaelen Swigart — was her favorite part of the camp.

That fellowship was a plus for Ninoyu, too, who went to college with Aube and now works in Anchorage.

“It’s kind of like a little reunion,” Ninoyu said.

All the campers will come together for a final concert open to the public beginning at 4 p.m. on Friday, June 10 at Colony Middle School.

For more information about courses and camps with Percussion in the Valley, visit www.percussioninthevalley.com or contact Dr. Meggie Aube at 907-631-8079.

Contact reporter Caitlin Skvorc at 352-2266 or caitlin.skvorc@frontiersman.com.