A Personal Profile by Melissa Dinwiddie
It’s hard to put my feelings about Jazz Camp West into words, so they inevitably come out as tears every year when I thank Stacey at the end of the week – Jazz Camp West means that much to me.
It’s truly amazing how one week can have such a profound impact on the rest of my life. I don’t think a week goes by when I don’t reference JCW in a conversation. I’ve been a Jazz Camper since 2006, and the one time I missed camp I felt such a huge gap in my year that I made a vow to do everything in my power to get myself to camp from then on. I’m incredibly grateful for the generous scholarship fund, which has allowed me to attend more than once.
Not only do I always learn a ton from the classes, but being immersed in such a loving, supportive community for the week reminds me of how important my music is to me, and charges my batteries for the coming year. It can be hard to stay energized when the “regular world” is, shall we say, less than supportive. My week at JCW winds me up to keep the momentum going through the long months between camps.
Jazz Camp helped me develop the confidence to write my first songs, to produce my first CD, and to book my first comedy showcase. Every year my week at camp pushes me to a new level. And because I go every year, and the week is so branded on my memory, JCW acts an incredible marker, helping me see how far I’ve come as a performer and musician since previous years.
Thanks to Jazz Camp I’ve also developed a community of music friends outside of camp, which is a huge part of keeping the creative fires burning during the rest of the year.
I heard about Jazz Camp long before I ever registered as a camper. I remember feeling intimidated by the info on the website, afraid that the atmosphere would be competitive. It took years before I finally signed up. Now I wish I hadn’t waited. There’s no way a brochure or website can possibly communicate the family feeling at camp. It’s so much more than a place to work on your music chops – Jazz Camp West truly is a big, warm, loving family.
Thank you, Jazz Camp!
Melissa
Melissa Dinwiddie is an Artist, Musician and Inspirationalist, who helps people to live awesome, creative lives. She released her first CD, Online Dating Blues, in 2009, and is revving up for her second album of original tunes, performed with her ukulele.
To see Melissa’s art, see performance clips and learn about her coaching services, please visit melissadinwiddie.com
Save-the-date NEXT JAZZ CAMP WEST: June 23 – June 30 2012
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