DOWAGIAC — Six area bands will come together for a day of music and learning at Southwestern Michigan College.

On Friday, six school bands, including the Dowagiac Union High School Chieftain Concert Band, will attend SMC’s first inaugural clinic day.

“It’s a little bit unique in the fact that sometimes colleges will host honor groups or one-day events for individual students to come around and play at their colleges,” said SMC Director of Bands Mark Hollandsworth. “This is a little bit different. We’ve invited any bands that wanted to attend to bring their band in its entirety to come out to campus.”

Berrien Springs High School Concert Band, Berrien Springs High School Wind Symphony, Brandywine High School Band, Bridgman High School Band, Dowagiac Union High School Chieftain Concert Band and Eau Claire High School Band each accepted the invitations.

The idea for the clinic day came from a conversation between Hollandsworth and Quinlan and Fabish Music Co., which has locations in both Mishawaka and Stevensville. The music company decided to collaborate with SMC and help sponsor the event.

Also in attendance will be guest clinician Alex Kaminsky, the music director of bands at VanderCook College of Music in Chicago. In 2019, Kaminsky was appointed as director following a tenure at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. He has a 30-year career as a high school band director.

“I was happy to bring in somebody from outside of the area that most of our directors and kids wouldn’t have necessarily interacted with before,” Hollandsworth said. “This is kind of some new blood, a new perspective, new teaching style and new conducting style. I would imagine that everybody is going to have a unique experience and not something that they’ve done before. “

Every band will have an hour on stage to perform. With the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association’s District VI festival coming up in March, Hollandsworth said the clinic is scheduled at an ideal time.

“They are going to use that hour in however they feel fit,” he said. “Most of the groups will play all three pieces that they’ve been working on. Some might choose to do just two, but the remaining time of their hour they will spend in a live clinic with the director.”

The open classroom environment will allow Kaminsky to work with the band members and rehearse their pieces for about 25 to 30 minutes.

“They will get some real-time feedback on their performance, and the hope for them is they learn something, and they make it better for their real performance at the festival,” Hollandsworth said.

The performances will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Friday, as about 350 to 400 students will turn up to perform. Hollandsworth said the event allows SMC to showcase its music program and campus while outreaching to local schools. His hope is for the event to take place annually.

“There is a lot of music going around the area,” he said. “I hope the spirit is we are all in this together, even though we come from different schools.  I hope there is a bit of a buzz in the air because it is a new thing.”

The performances are open to the public and will take place at the following times:

• 8:30 a.m. — Eau Claire High School Band, directed by Marc Hartman.

• 9:30 a.m. — Bridgman High School Band, directed by Cliff Reppart.

• 10:30 a.m. — Brandywine High School Band, directed by Ruth Livengood.

• 11:30 a.m. — SMC Symphonic Band, directed by Mark Hollandsworth.

• 1:15 p.m. — Dowagiac Union High School Chieftain Concert Band, directed by Shane Oakley and Keith Klan.

• 2:15 p.m. — Berrien Springs High School Concert Band, directed by Kelly Rosselit.

• 3:15 p.m. — Berrien Springs High School Wind Symphony, directed by Kelly Rosselit and assistant director Adam Emeigh.