Schedule
Weekly Events:
Monday 3pm Concerto Competition
Thursday 3pm Solo Recital
Friday 7pm Chamber Recital
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Daily Events:
Private instrumental lesson
Chamber Music coaching
Choir
Art Class
Tennis Class
Music Classes (jazz improv, theory, musicianship, others)
Informal Chess Games and Instruction
Water balloons, sprinklers, other games
Snacks (2) of fresh fruit provided
Bag Lunch
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Private Lesson
Students are grouped according to age and level, with four students per teacher in an hour. Students receive a 15-minute individual lesson each day with faculty. The remainder of the hour is spent in observation of their friends in the class, involved in a variety of ways. Master Suzuki teachers on faculty use everything in their toolbox to inspire the students-- we frequently hear that after a full day of music the students return home and ask to practice more. Really!
Chamber Music
Chamber Music is the heart of Midsummer Sound. In daily coachings, the faculty plays with students, allowing them to absorb musicality and interpretation directly. Sheet music is sent out a month in advance for students to learn individual parts, and students are grouped according to age and level. Friends may request to be placed in groups together, and we honour these requests in most if not all cases. Students work hard all week to prepare for the final concert on Friday evening, where they perform the chamber work along-side their friends and the faculty. String players (and some pianists) will also do a Chamber Orchestra with conductor. Choir is also considered to be a part of Chamber Music, since singing together is the essence of music. This daily vocal training lets students express themselves, develop their voice and pitch, and in some cases learn a new skill.
Tennis Class
Midsummer Sound students have gone on to study tennis throughout the year based on their experience with our tennis class. Led by an expert in teaching children, specifically, the students have fun with drills and learning the techniques. Martin always comments on how smart and disciplined our students are - they respond well to his instruction and are quick on their feet. Playing tennis as a team reinforces lessons learned in chamber music and choir. Students walk a short distance to tennis through a path in the woods.
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Other non-music instruction in chess is informal, and we provide boards around the church so that students can play during lunch, breaks, before the program begins, or other little moments.
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Art class allows students to be creative in a related way to music, and to have fun with different materials and techniques.
Music Classes
Our faculty creates new curriculum each year for classes, based on their current research and interests. In the past we have created classes on jazz piano, intro to musicianship/music games, modern music, advanced music theory, beginner music theory, musical symbols, composition, and others. Please let us know if you have any specific interests and we will consider how we can incorporate them.
