June 20-26, 2010
Chamber Camp: (Gr. 9-12)
June 23-July 3, 2010
Senior Camp: (Gr. 9-12)
June 27-July 3, 2010
Composers: (Gr. 9-12)
June 27-July 3
2. If there is no audition recording required, how good should I be to make the most of my experience?
3. What do students in the Piano Sessions do all day?
4. How do the masterclass-style lessons work?
6. Is it also possible to get private lessons during the Piano Session?
7. How much practice time will I have?
8. What kind of pianos are available?
9. What are the other classes in piano literature and keyboard skills about?
10. What are the elective classes, and how do you sign up?
11. I like chamber music. How can I be considered for the Chamber Music Session?
12. What music should I have prepared to bring for the Piano Session?
14. What about other aspects of camp life? Evening activities? Dorm life?
1. Do I have to submit an audition recording to participate in the Piano Sessions?
No. Students for the Piano Sessions need only submit an application form and the session fee to sign up for camp.
2. If there is no audition recording required, how good should I be to make the most of my experience?
There is typically a variety of performance levels among students in the piano sessions, but most students range from the intermediate to the very advanced level. For example, a student participating in the Junior session might want to be experienced enough to play music at least as difficult as Bach’s Anna Magdalena Notebook or from Schumann’s Album for the Young. A student participating in the Senior session might want to be at least experienced enough to play music at least as difficult as Bach Inventions or Chopin Waltzes.
3. What do students in the Piano Sessions do all day?
Students in the Piano Sessions divide their time each day between practice, masterclass-style lessons, classes in piano literature, keyboard skills, elective classes, and duet practice, as well as fun and relaxation during the lunch break and in the evenings. If you look at the sample daily schedule below, you’ll get a pretty good idea of what an average day is like.
Piano Session Sample Daily Schedule MONDAY-THURSDAY
(friday & saturday slightly different because of
concerts)
7:15 BREAKFAST
8:00-8:50 Individual piano practice (practice rooms and available classrooms)
9:00-9:50 Piano Literature (M-46)
10:00-10:50 Elective A
11:00-12:00 Piano Lessons (M-3A and M-46) and/or individual practice (practice rooms and available classrooms)
12:10-1:50 LUNCH/SWIM/RELAX
2:00-2:50 Elective B
3:00-4:00 Piano Lessons (M-3A and M-46) and/or individual Practice (practice rooms and available classrooms)
4:00-4:15 BREAK
4:15-5:00 Keyboard Harmony/Technique (M-46)
5:10-6:00 Duet practice/coaching (practice rooms and available classrooms)
6:00-7:00 DINNER
7:15-10:00 ORGANIZED RECREATION
10:15 IN ROOMS
4. How do the masterclass-style lessons work?
Students are divided into classes of 3-4 students which meet for one hour each day. The teacher gives a lesson for each student for 15-20 minutes of the lesson period while the other students in the class listen and participate in discussion. Everyone learns from listening to and commenting on the performances.
5. Who teaches the lessons?
Dr. Stephen Thomas, Coordinator of Keyboard Studies at CSU Stanislaus, teaches the majority of the classes. A biography can be found on the faculty bios page. Depending upon the number of students enrolled, other highly qualified pianists teach as well.
6. Is it also possible to get private lessons during the Piano Session?
Yes, for a small additional fee, students can receive a private lesson which is usually scheduled during the lunch break. However, the lessons are provided on a first-come, first-served basis and there is a limited number of lesson times available.
7. How much practice time will I have?
There are two hours scheduled for practice each day. You are welcome to practice during lunch and at other open times as well if you wish. Keep in mind that there may be times when other activities are scheduled for everyone in the evening and you may not be allowed to be in the music building without supervision.
8. What kind of pianos are available?
Nearly all of the pianos in the music facility are new Steinway or Mason and Hamlin grand pianos. There are also Steinway and Boston uprights. The piano in the Snider Recital Hall is a new Steinway concert grand.
9. What are the other classes in piano literature and keyboard skills about?
Piano literature is a class designed to get students thinking about the amazing range of music written for the piano. Classes cover specific works by specific composers and consider general questions of the history and style of piano music. Keyboard skills class is for developing technical skills, harmonization and transposition skills, practice ideas, and so forth.
10. What are the elective classes, and how do you sign up?
There are many different elective courses offered, and they vary somewhat from year to year, but some examples include conducting, music history, music theory, recreational chorale, jazz improvisation, jazz ensemble, music technology, and so on. During the first day of camp, students are given a list of elective class options and are asked to give their top three choices. Camp counselors then organize the classes and attempt to give students their top choice where possible.
11. I like chamber music. How can I be considered for the Chamber Music Session?
The Chamber Music Session is for very advanced and promising young musicians who are selected for the session generally via audition recordings. In the case of piano, the First Prize winner in the Senior Division of the Sylvia M. Ghiglieri Piano Competition is given the option to attend the Chamber Music Session on full scholarship. If the First Prize winner is unavailable, another prizewinner will be offered the opportunity. Depending upon the repertoire chosen for the session, sometimes two pianists are selected from among the prizewinners at the competition. Students selected for the Chamber Music Session perform an evening concert at the end of the session.
12. What music should I have prepared to bring for the Piano Session?
You should be prepared with a variety of pieces at different stages of development. Usually, you should bring one or two pieces that are near performance level, one or two that are started, but not necessarily ready to perform in concert, and finally one or two pieces to start working on. This range of music should give you plenty to work on during your practice time.
13. Will I be performing?
Yes. There are two concerts for piano students. The first one is a Friday afternoon concert and is for the duets that students learn during the week of camp—other camp students will play ensemble pieces for that concert as well. The second concert is Saturday afternoon and is for the solos that the piano students have been refining all week.
14. What about other aspects of camp life? Evening activities? Dorm life?
Many other questions about the camp are answered on the camp FAQs page. If you still have questions, feel free to contact Dr. Stephen Thomas (SThomas@csustan.edu; (209) 667-3429), who coordinates the piano sessions, or Dr. Daniel Davies (DDavies@csustan.edu; (209) 664-6654), who is the Camp Director.
California State University Stanislaus
Music Department
One University Circle, Turlock, CA 95382
Summer Music at Stanislaus - Dedicated to encouraging young musicians to reach their highest potential