Daron Letts
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Aug 29/05) - About 100 students aged six to 13 participated in the week-long Iqaluit Music Society Music camp at Joamie school earlier this month.

A few students travelled in from the surrounding communities, but most were Iqaluit residents.

Each child chose two activities to focus on throughout the week.

They had a lot to choose from: throat singing, drum dancing, Inuit songs and dancing, band, electric and acoustic guitar, fiddle, choir, percussion group, hand bells.

Five- and six-year-olds chose either songs or games.

"The children have a good time and they want to bring their instruments home to practise, so it's a good feeling," said camp co-ordinator Joselyn Morrison.

Much of the camp involved practising for a concert at the end of the week that showcased all the children's various talents.

Seven instructors came up from the south to offer new faces and new experiences to the young musicians.

Eight local camp staff and 17 junior instructors - aged 14-18 and all former students of the program - also helped teach the lessons.

"Eventually we want these junior instructors to become the camp instructors so that we can have all local people teaching music of all kinds," Morrison said.

Morrison is a former student of the camp and a former junior instructor.

Her mom, Bev Browne, started the program more than 10 years ago with Darlene Nuqingaq and Judy Watts.