Since 1996, Music Warehouse has given the youth of our community the chance to experience the arts through dance, vocals, and drama. Music Warehouse is an eight-week summer learning and performance experience. Area youth from third grade through college are eligible to participate. The kids are taught the fundamentals of music, dance, drama/staging, set and costume, orchestration and performance. After a seven-week rehearsal period, the group puts on two free performances for the community.

Music Warehouse was founded in 1996 by Tom Westfall. He had a vision for a community-sponsored organization to promote the arts. The first adventure was a summer program for the youth with 75 participants. The performance was a huge success with approximately 1500 people attending. Due to our success, youth participation has more than tripled. An additional performance has been added with over 1000 people attending each performance.

The purpose of Music Warehouse is to give children and the community a chance to participate in and experience the arts through vocals, dance, and drama. Six areas of instruction are covered in the eight-week program.

Music

This involves teaching participants the fundamentals of choral music, pitch, rhythm, dynamics, and tone quality; working on a variety of literature from all style periods: music theatre, pop, multicultural, and operatic; rehearsing music weekly to prepare for performance.

Dance

Students learn fundamental dance steps from a variety of styles: tap, jazz, ballet, modern, and hip-hop. Students will be rehearsing dances to coordinate with musical numbers planned for the show.

Drama/Staging

Students learn the fundamentals of dramatics and staging through instruction of the inner workings of a full-scale show. This will provide them with experience from solo and duet staging to musical numbers, drama and staging to full-scale chorus numbers, how to enter and exit the stage, and detailed work on freeze positions.

Set and Costume

Students will assist in erecting a set for our performances. They will work closely with a group of parents on this project. Students will also work on creating costumes and props for the show.

Orchestration

Students will provide a small pit orchestra for the final rehearsal week and performance. They will be instructed closely on ensemble accompaniment and will work with the director. They will rehearse outside the allotted practice times and come together with the full group the last week before the performance.

Performance

Participants rehearse for seven weeks during a given period of time. The performances are held at a community location and are open to the general public free of charge.