UCM's music department offers a band camp to help high school students with their playing. (Submitted Photos)

WARRENSBURG, Mo. – There are big things happening in the University of Central Missouri’s music department that includes adding technology aspects to its camps, audition process, department website, music website and marketing tools.

Mike Sekelsky, professor of music, says the department is trying to get its website up and going again with all its new technological additions.

“We have put up a calendar that I don’t think any other department is using,” Sekelsky said. “The calendar lets professors add events to any day of the month, and then that gets sent out to our email list.”

The calendar was set up by Seklesky’s son, Matt, a 2006 UCM alumnus.

Another technology aspect Sekelsky has added to the department’s website is a blog. The blog is used to write posts about what is going on in the music world or reviews about recent performances or concerts in the area. Seklesky is the primary writer for the blog, but all items are posted anonymously.

“I had a student e-mail me once about a review on the percussion ensemble and wanted me to check it out,” Sekleskey said. “I smiled, because it is nice knowing my students are reading what we are putting out there for them and taking advantage of it.”

The music department has the option of doing online auditions via skype, but only has done it once.

“The problems that come with trying to do a skype audition is the student not having the technology on their end,” Sekleskey said.

The student would need a webcam, computer connection and e-mail with printer or fax machine to receive their sight-reading music.

“The plus side to doing a skype audition or a skype lesson is that you get feedback in real time; there’s no taping and waiting for feedback,” Sekleskey said.

Because of the uncertainty in technology-based auditions, the music department still does its auditions on campus and three other sites. However, all applications and audition pieces are online.

Another way the music department is utilizing technology is through the music camp held for 6 days each summer by Scott Lubaroff, director of bands.

High school students practice a show number at the UCM music camp. (Submitted Photos)

The music camp just finished its 51st year, and has become well-established, attracting campers from primarily Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Illinois. Campers are 7th to 12th graders.

“The camp provides a great opportunity for the students to work with teachers and instructors, and provides them with a chance to be a part of a concert band, mixed ensemble, jazz ensemble and orchestra,” Lubaroff said.

The campers also take part in enrichment classes. These enrichment classes range anywhere from conducting to jazz listening, to music technology, to private music lessons, and to music theory.

Lubaroff promotes this camp 359 days a year on Facebook. During the six days of camps, the Facebook page is used to let parents know what is going on at the camp, with pictures and videos.

“About two years ago, a few of my staffers and I came up with a standard set of interview questions to ask the campers. My staffers then went out and interviewed the campers, and then I edited the footage before putting it on the camp’s website,” Lubaroff said.

Before extracurricular activities were hit with the recession, the music camp had about 200 to 250 campers a summer. This summer, the camp had about 100 campers.

“I think if we can survive when the economy is down, then I believe we will be even stronger when the economy recovers,” Lubaroff said. “Kids have more opportunities these days and they have to start making choices and we have to evolve with them to keep up.”

Lubaroff is very passionate about his camp, and is thinking about adding a jazz/rock band starting next summer.

“We would bring in staff to teach the campers how to do jazz/rock music, and then we would have a rock concert at the end of the camp,” Lubaroff said. “We could also align this new concept with the music technology enrichment classes, so the students have something new and unique to learn.”

Lubaroff will start sending out promotional tools for next summer’s camp in November and hopes to have the new jazz/rock band information on all of the printed material.

“I really believe in this camp, and I am extremely grateful for the additional support. It is a great community builder that continues to evolve,” Lubaroff said. “It really is something excited to be a part of.”