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COLLABORATIVE PIANO STUDIES AT VISI 2010
June 4 – 23
The VISI 2010 Daily Schedule of Events
Tuition: $1300
($1200 if paid before May 1, 2010)
Welcome to the Collaborative Piano site for VISI 2010. There are two options for Collaborative Piano Studies at VISI 2010. We strongly recommend Option One as the most comprehensive opportunity for the full range of courses and experiences, and maximum access to our array of renowned pianists, singers, and scholars. However, if you are not able to attend our full program, or would like to concentrate on a smaller range of activities, you may wish to create a customized VISI visit to suit your schedule and needs. Please read the Option Two section carefully to apprise yourself of its framework and limitations on access to faculty and activities.
OPTION ONE: THE THEATRE OF OF ART SONG/COLLABORATIVE PIANO STUDIES JUNE 4-23
A dedicated course of studies for Collaborative Pianists is merged as a specialized component to the Theatre of Art Song (TAS) program. Pianists participate in all aspects of the TAS program, which includes lectures in poetic analysis, dramatic recitation, and theatrical staging, coachings and masterclasses with assigned vocal/piano student partnerships, and public performances.
Please click here to see the full description of the Theatre of Art Song program for all singers and pianists.
HOW THE COLLABORATIVE PIANO COURSE WORKS:
- Within the daily schedule of classes for TAS, there will be classes and coachings specifically designed to address aspects of pianists’ craft, focusing on the unique skills of the art and profession such as coaching techniques, dramatic diction, techniques of collaboration.
- Pianists will also partner with Faculty singers in coachings and concerts, and will be coached by internationally renowned collaborative pianists on the interpretation of the piano parts of the songs and on collaborative issues. Please see our Faculty page for bios of all our artists. All participants will have opportunity to be coached by all visiting artist faculty.
- Professor CAMERON STOWE (New England Conservatory, Juilliard) will be teaching from June 7-18, and Professor KEN GRIFFITHS (Cincinnati Conservatory) will visit for several days within that period. The entire Faculty of renowned VISI pianists will be accessible for the duration of the course for classes and private coachings. Additional private coaching sessions in addition to the assigned schedule are generally available by request at the discretion of the individual faculty. Sign-up sheets for extra coachings are posted daily by most of the faculty.
Our teaching and interpretive philosophy is founded on the notion of a partnership of equals, and our program assists singers and pianists in developing skills for dynamically creative collaboration. In addition to the classes for pianists, VISI 2010 will offer some classes on collaborative rehearsal skills for vocal-piano duos. These will be conducted by faculty artists as well as experts in collaborative dialogue.
THE NEW TRIAD FOR COLLABORATIVE ARTS is in residency at VISI from June 6-14 with facilitators Dr. Arlene Shrut and Adam Marks, who are both renowned Collaborative Pianists. They will offer special classes for pianists in creating spoken presentations in recital, career-development, and creative recital programming.
OPTION TWO: CUSTOMIZED STUDIES FOR COLLABORATIVE PIANISTS
If the full calendar of study is not feasible for your schedule, VISI can accommodate a small number of pianists for customized studies throughout the program. The studies would include partnerships with faculty singers, private coachings with piano faculty, and auditing of all classes at your personal discretion, depending on the availability of the visiting faculty. You may also come with your own vocal partner for special studies in partnership and interpretation.
Please note that our faculty are not all in residence for the full dates of VISI, and will have limited time for extra teaching. This Option is only recommended if you have limited time for your VISI experience, since there may be limited space and access to faculty. If you have an interest in working with a specific artist you must ascertain their VISI dates and availability in consultation with VISI’s Artistic Director, Prof. Rena Sharon. Fees will be determined on the range of your activities and duration of stay. Please click here for inquiries.
OTHER VISI ACTIVITIES OF INTEREST FOR PIANISTS:
Musicology Mentorship program – June 7-12, with continuing access in the 2nd week of the program. Conducted by Dr. Benjamin Binder a musicologist at Duquesne University who also enjoys a performance career as collaborative pianist, the course will also include renowned scholars in music history, translation, poetry analysis, and music theory. A special focus of the course is the creation of informative and accessible lecture-recitals for Art Song appreciation. Dr. Binder will be available for private consultations with pianists interested in creative programming and researching of historical and poetical content. He will present some lectures to the general VISI community. Please click here for more information about the Mentorship program.
Art Song Pedagogy Retreat – June 11-15. If you are already active as a teacher you are welcome to attend the special program of lectures and forums. Please click here to learn more about the Pedagogy Retreat. A full schedule of events will be available in May.
Diverse workshops, research projects, and symposia will take place throughout VISI. Please check our program site over the next few months to learn about the options for tangential studies.
Full access to auditing all lectures, workshops, and classes is available throughout VISI for artists currently enrolled or 2010 graduates from university programs at a drop-in fee of $10 per day. Professional pianists are warmly invited to attend. Please see our fee schedule for information about daily rates.
The piano lid is always open at VISI, as is the atmosphere of community, collaboration, and conversation!
Application Criteria and Deadline:
First: submit your online application and pay the $50 application fee here.
Next: compile the following support materials. After receipt of your online application, you will be contacted with instructions to send your application materials through e-mail ONLY to info@songinstitute.ca:
1. A resumé of your training and performance experience.
2. A signed pdf letter of recommendation from your most recent teacher
3. A jpg photo
4. A recording or video of two contrasting songs in any language. Arias are not accepted. Pianists should also include a solo piano work or an instrumental sonata of your own choice. Recordings should be sent as mp3s, YouTube links, or other electronic form.
5. A comprehensive list of song repertoire you have performed
6. A list of 8 songs you would like to study and perform at VISI, with emphasis on songs of Schumann and other German Romantic composers, English songs set to Romantic poetry, songs of Samuel Barber, French late 19th and early 20th century, songs of Wolf, Mahler.
Please submit your online application form and payment of an application fee of $50 (through PayPal on the fees page) first, and you will be contacted immediately regarding further submissions. Applications will be accepted until programs maximums are filled, with a closing date of March 1st. We strongly advise early application.
Tuition: $1300 ($1200 if paid by May 1, 2010)
For immediate inquiries please click here to e-mail.→
Once your application has been approved, please pay tuition fees here.
In the event of a cancellation, a full refund will be granted for cancellations up to 2 weeks prior to the Institute. Should the need to cancel arise less than 2 weeks prior to the event, a 50% refund will be granted.
Note: For students with alternate payment options please go to the INCREMENTAL PAYMENT page