[HANASHIR:11103] Exciting Songleading Fellowship Opportunity!

[Joanna Selznick Dulkin <joanna...>]

Hi all,

Speaking of songleader training, this summer at Camp Ramah Darom (a 
6-year old facility in beautiful north Georgia), I will be running 
the first-ever summer-long training program for songleaders for the 
Conservative camping movement.  Would love your help in publicizing 
this, and giving me leads on people (or if you are interested 
yourself!).  So print it out, post it, tell your friends, etc.

Thanks a lot, I invite you to contact me for details and any answers 
to questions.

Joanna Selznick Dulkin
Rosh Shira, Ramah Darom
Cantorial student, Jewish Theological Seminary of America
Studying in Israel for the year:
Rashba 26/6
Jerusalem 92265
972-2-563-1182
Joanna (at) stanfordalumni(dot)org

ANNOUNCING THE ZAMARIM-JEWISH MUSIC EDUCATORS FELLOWSHIP
RAMAH DAROM, SUMMER 2002

The goal of the Zamarim-Jewish Music Educators Fellowship is 
2-pronged: to enrich the existing Shira/Music program at Ramah Darom 
while training promising beginning and experienced songleaders to a 
competitive level both Judaically and administratively.  

A little background on me and the need for this program:
I grew up in NFTY and in UAHC camps, where music and songleading are 
essential to building positive Jewish identity and Jewish leadership, 
and am now studying at JTS to be a Cantor within the Conservative 
movement.  This will my fourth summer as the Music Director at Ramah 
Darom, and my 8th summer directing camp music program programming. 
During my journeys in Ramah, I have found that there is no comparable 
"songleading culture" within the Conservative camping movement. 
Because songleading is what planted the seeds of Jewish leadership 
within me and ultimately defined who I am and what I do today, I now 
strive to bring this model of Jewish identity and leadership to the 
community I will eventually serve as a Cantor.   

Ramah has been the flagship institute in the Conservative movement 
for educational and spiritual innovation, and the training ground for 
its leaders.  I hope to use the dynamic environment of Ramah to grow 
a songleading population from within the movement, establishing a 
distinct repertoire, reputation, and set of musical goals for Ramah 
Camps.

Over the past 3 summers at Darom, I have had the unique experience to 
build a music program from the ground up.  Because the camp that was 
two summers old when I arrived, it was the perfect place to build 
traditions and repertoire that are both reflective of my training 
(Kutz, Swig, Newman, Hava Nashira), and unique to Ramah.  Music and 
song sessions have the power to create powerful memories of community 
and Jewish togetherness that imprint upon a camper for life.  We 
learn songs at camp that are based on Jewish text, gleaned from our 
tradition and translated by our composers into the contemporary, 
immediately accessible language of music, which, when sung as a 
community, has the power to transform one's spirit.

What distinguishes this program from any other like it?
Firstly, the Zamarim-JME program is distinguished by its level of 
commitment.  Candidates will spend the entire summer (approx. June 
5-August 5) at Ramah Darom as full members of the camp staff, 
participating with their assigned age groups by running and/or 
enhancing activities such as Shira, chugim, and tefillot; while also 
taking part in daily professional development workshops. They will 
receive fellowship money as determined by education and experience, 
as incentive to participate. 

With this extraordinary level of committment comes deeper and more 
detailed knowledge.  In order to truly prepare for a job as 
songleader, music teacher, or music director, an individual must 
navigate the intensive ups and downs of the summer camp environment. 
Crucial experiences include building a curriculum and modifying it, 
effective communication and quick decision making, experiencing the 
highs that comes from leading a successful song session-and learning 
the lessons from song sessions less successful.  By investing their 
time in a summer at Ramah in a supportive, professional learning 
environment, candidates will see the fruits of their labor by the end 
of a session or summer, and be able to effectively (and continually) 
evaluate their progress. 

Outline of the Program:
We are looking for up to four participants, who will work intensively 
with at least two eidot (age groups) to enhance their musical 
programming.  Duties include: teaching or coordinating chuggim (music 
classes), song sessions for the age group and for the entire camp, 
facilitating Shabbat Shira, adding a musical presence to tefillot, 
campfires, evening and cabin programming, and whatever else they 
choose to innovate!  The Zamarim Fellow will aim through these ends 
to build memorable connections with the campers and to inspire them 
to become future songleaders.

During camp, in addition to their duties, the group would meet daily 
for "Songleading Labs," facilitated by the musical director.  These 
labs touch on a variety of topics to build educational skills, 
confidence, leadership skills, poise, and musicality.  Finally, we 
hope to embark on a second camp CD recording.  

Requirements for candidates:
-Minimum education: completion of high school or equivalent
-Some camp counseling and/or informal education experience preferable.
-Musical ability (pleasant singing voice) with ability to accompany 
themselves (guitar, piano preferable)
-Charisma and presence to carry a room of 500+ kids.
-A commitment to the Jewish community and to Jewish education.
-Experience working with children, Jewish context preferable.
-Flexibility, patience, and openness.
-Independently motivated and enterprising, yet also a team player.

To potential candidates: By Mar. 31, please send contact info, letter 
of interest and resume via email to: Joanna (at) stanfordalumni(dot)org
NOTE: Attached documents must be formatted in Microsoft Word, or 
included within the body of the email.

Joanna Selznick Dulkin
Rosh Shira, Ramah Darom
Cantorial student, Jewish Theological Seminary of America
Studying in Israel for the year:
Rashba 26/6
Jerusalem 92265
972-2-563-1182