When Kennedy Djimpe was in third grade, he decided to become a musician and started playing the guitar.

“I failed miserably,” said Djimpe, who is an incoming freshman from Little Rock planning to study percussion performance at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

So he gave up the guitar and started playing the trumpet instead in the fourth grade. When the trumpet didn’t work out, he tried again.

“In sixth grade, I picked up a drum,” Djimpe said. “My friend and I thought it was cool, and I’ve been playing since then.”

While looking for a way to improve his musical skills, Djimpe discovered UALR’s Percussion Ensemble Camp. Led by Charles Law, UALR director of the Trojan Pep Band and percussion studies, the camp is a free four-day intensive workshop for junior high and high school percussionists in Arkansas.

“I am always looking to be better,” Djimpe said. “This camp was a great way to brush up on my skills and to meet up with other percussionists. The people here are people who want to be here and care about making the music as great as possible. That’s the difference between playing with musicians who care and those who just take band for a class credit.”

Law started the camp five years ago as an outreach program with Dr. Karen Bryant, former chair of the UALR Department of Music.

“It’s the only camp of its kind in the state,” Law said. “There are more traditional camps for entire bands and marching bands, but these students are exposed to clinics on specific percussion instruments. We try to improve their basic music reading, music interpretation, and cognitive skills. The kids have a lot of fun, and I have a lot of fun.”

This year, the camp ran June 15-18 in the UALR Fine Arts Building and ended with a special percussion ensemble performance.

The participants included Djimpe, a recent graduate of Pulaski Academy; Cristopher Fennessee, a student at Parkview Arts and Science Magnet; Micaiah Roberts, a student at Maumelle High School; Kai Ditzig, a student at Central High School; and Christian Moore, a student at Blytheville High School.

The camp is unique since it allows the students a chance to play in a student ensemble band.

“It’s not something that is common,” Law said. “The students get used to playing in marching bands and concert bands, but they don’t get the chance to play in percussion ensembles.”

Law said that many of his camp participants have gone on to study music in college, including Djimpe, who he is looking forward to teaching in the fall.

“Kennedy Djimpe is smart, passionate, shows up on time, loves music, and is dedicated to his studies. He is exactly the kind of student we want at UALR,” Law said.

As for Djimpe, he decided to come to UALR in large part to the instruction he has received after two years of attending the Percussion Ensemble Camp and the encouragement he has received from Law, who decided to mentor Djimpe and has given him free music lessons.

“I know Chuck will be looking out for me, and it means a lot to know that your mentor is invested in you,” Djimpe said. “Clearly, he saw something in me.”