There's only one cure for the red ring that Laura Stamp and her fellow jazz band classmates get around their mouths after playing trumpets and trombones all day long.

"Chap Stick," said Caleb Romsa, as he pulled a cherry-red tube out of his pants pocket.

Laura and Caleb, both eighth-graders at Dean Morgan Junior High, are joining other Natrona County students at the annual Junior High Music Clinic, held at Natrona County High School on Wednesday and Thursday.

Band, orchestra and choir groups come together for two days of rehearsal with specially selected music clinicians. Each group prepares up to five pieces to perform in a concert at the end of the clinic.

Overseeing the orchestra is Jim Prygocki from the University of Wyoming. The choir clinics are led by Roy Dahlinger from Rawlins High School and Brent Rose from Buffalo High School leads the bands.

Laura and Caleb both attended the clinic last year, along with classmate Jamie Mothersbaugh.

"It's hard to play for six hours a day," Jamie, also an eighth-grader, said.

Laura agreed.

"Your lips hurt so bad at the end of the day," she said.

Dean Morgan band instructor Greg Paulson said students are chosen to take part in the clinic, and many Dean Morgan students chosen take part in jazz band. The students learn jazz pieces, in addition to pieces the symphonic band practices.

"These are the cream of the crop," Paulson said the students going to the clinic."It is an extremely prestigious honor for our student musicians to be selected."

Eighth-grader and jazz band member Mario Feraud admitted that it takes a lot of hard work to be ready for the clinic and for class.

"I seriously practice for an hour a day," Mario said.

This year's clinic is band student Stephanie Lee's first. The ninth-grader at CY Junior High said learning all the music for first clarinet, her role in the band, has been challenging. She's looking forward to playing in the clinic.

"I had to take (the clarinet) home and practice it, and practice it and practice it," Stephanie said. "Since we've been working on all this music for so long, it's going to be fun."

CY choir instructor Susan Thompson said the pieces students learn in preparation for the clinic are often much harder than what they learn in class.

"The music is really at the top of difficulty for kids this age," she said. "We've worked really, really hard to bring the best of what we have."

Thompson also said students come back from the clinic with a deeper respect for music.

"Just being around other kids committed to music and being in a big choir changes their perspective," Thompson said. "It really is a motivational tool."

Reach Jasa Santos at (307) 266-0593 or at Jasa.Santos@casperstartribune.net.