NOTE: Eastman’s Student Living Center will be completely closed for renovations during Summer 2024; on-campus housing and dining will not be available. All participants will need to make their own arrangements for housing and meals.
INS 467
Eastman Viola Institute
July 1-6, 2024 / Monday-Saturday 8:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m.
Room: MC-311 and MC-306
Faculty: George Taylor, Eastman School of Music
Katie Dey, South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts & Humanities
Roberta Zalkind, Eastman Community Music School, former Associate Principal Violist, Utah Symphony
Designed for collegiate students, professional players, teachers, as well as advanced amateurs, this 6-day workshop will offer a variety of opportunities for growth and learning in a supportive and collaborative setting.
Morning sessions will feature a daily Technique Boot Camp: numerous skills classes to develop and expand fluency and facility on the instrument. Using scales, etudes and exercises specifically tailored for the 21st-century violist, all participants will develop problem-solving skills to add consistency and solidity to their playing. Highlights of the morning sessions include daily scales classes, a five-part bow-stroke series, sessions on left-hand function and facility, and a final Etude Showcase.
Each afternoon, Performance Intensive Sessions will offer a deep dive into the skills and strategies necessary for authentic and imaginative musical interpretation. Topics will include tools for creating meaningful personal narratives, phrase shaping through emphasis and rubato, and tension versus dynamics, among others. Daily seminars and masterclasses offer numerous performance opportunities for each participant, with a culminating Final Recital in Eastman’s spectacular Kilbourn Hall. Mindfulness and yoga sessions will also be offered.
HOW TO APPLY:
This institute is designed for collegiate and postgraduate players age 18+ (our high school institute is planned to return in 2025). No audition is required; admission is by résumé review only (use this template if you need help putting a résumé together). To apply, contact Professor Taylor at gtaylor@esm.rochester.edu; include your music résumé with your message. Registration deadline: May 1, 2024.
Orientation: Sunday, June 30, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. in ESM 320
Technique Boot Camp Final Etude Showcase Saturday, June 6, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. in ESM 320
Performance Intensive Final Recital, Saturday, July 6, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. in Kilbourn Hall
Professional Development Hours: 65
Tuition:
$910 / noncredit
“An intensive workshop that explores both the technical aspects (bowing, fingering, mechanics) as well as integrating with a musical group, including nonverbal communication between players.” — 2023 Viola Workshop student
