Youngchurch:

Heading for boot camp

Minnesota congregation nurtures musical talents

Josh Rosenbush (left) leads Rachel Cummings, Caroline Pete and other students in a jam session at the music boot camp held by Hosanna! Lutheran Church, Lakeville, Minn.

In Lakeville, Minn., kids want their parents to send them to summer boot camp — at least the one started by Hosanna! Lutheran Church. This boot camp isn’t a punishment. Instead of calisthenics and obstacle courses, youth are put through the paces of scales, tempo and chords.

About 110 third- through sixth-graders participated in a “crazy, intensive, overnight, music extravaganza” July 10-11 to teach them about the joys of playing an instrument and being part of a worship team.

About 29 teachers — the congregation’s worship leaders and/or others who have taught music lessons — lead the youth in guitar, bass, keyboard, drum or vocal classes. The youth learned theory, composition, chords, soloing, arranging and more with their teacher. They were also assigned to one of 10 bands to rehearse together.

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