Summer festivals (for violin)

September 29, 2007 at 02:23 AM · Pieter,

I assume you know about the original "practice prison" Meadowmount? You'd have to like bugs, though.

September 29, 2007 at 03:41 AM · I spent 2 years at Bowdoin. It's great for the reason that you can spend as little or as much time practicing as you want. Yes, they put you in chamber groups but even those are not necessarily too serious depending on your colleagues' opinions. Of course, if your cellist (or other colleague) wants to play in a stellar group that rehearses for 5 hours per day, you're out of luck!

September 29, 2007 at 04:15 AM · If you like the Czech Republic, my teacher Mr. Vitek runs a smallish three-week mastercourse in Litomysl in August...I've not been there yet (though I hope to go next year) but from my friends who have been there I gather that it's quite intense (three private lessons a week) and a fantastic experience. You also get to hang around in Litomysl Castle, which is a nice plus.

I forgot the website--just google "litomysl violin" and it should come right up.

September 29, 2007 at 04:46 PM · Yea I know the meadowmount thing. Maybe that where I'll be.

Maura, thanks for that suggestion. Unfortunately that's when Keshet Eilon is and I wouldn't miss that for all the hummus in Lebannon.

September 29, 2007 at 07:55 PM · Margess Festival (email: nanchu@mar-alba.ch)

and verbier festival (masterclass)

Music Academy of the West (santa barbara, CA)

September 30, 2007 at 07:33 AM · Another vote for Bowdoin International Music Festival in Maine - Learned a lot there 2 summers ago and also had a great time!

September 30, 2007 at 04:00 PM · Yea Bowdoin looks good. There's people from Keshet Eilon there, and faculty too (Ms. Schnarch and Mr. Rashkovsky).

I'll look into it.

September 30, 2007 at 07:28 PM · I would also like to cast my vote for Bowdoin. The chamber music aspect of the program is actually very minimal; there is A LOT of free time for practice and private lessons. I actually learned a lot there this summer, even though my chamber group was, shall we say, not the greatest. :D

January 19, 2008 at 06:11 AM · I'm going to go ahead and plug Bowdoin as well. Unlike the Meadowmounts of this world, the structure of Bowdoin (or lack thereof) requires a lot of self-motivation as far as practicing goes -- which is a good skill to develop anyway, right? Like those who have commented before me mentioned, chamber groups are as serious as you and your members want them to be, and the orchestra experience is minimal -- just a couple performances accompanying a soloist. There's also ample opportunities to perform in recitals -- in fact, during the last week of each session, it's not uncommon to have student recitals lasting all afternoon and on into the evening. Throw in the great faculty and a couple hundred musicians who are all intensely passionate about their music, and all and all I'd say the camp is great, especially if you're looking to put your emphasis on solo work.

January 19, 2008 at 03:04 PM · Hi Pieter, have you thought about the Wiener Meisterkurse held in Vienna. I did the conducting one years ago (in 1991 with Bruno Weil) and it was brilliant. The violin course held at the same time had an impressive standard of participants... I notice this year they have Pavel Vernikov and Christian Altenburger for violin. http://www.wiener-meisterkurse.at/ It definitely concentrates on solo repertoire.

January 19, 2008 at 08:01 PM · Rosalind, a few friends are Vernikov students and I think they'll be there this year. I will see about going, thanks a lot.

January 24, 2008 at 04:24 AM · I also went to Bowdoin last summer and would recommend it.

This summer I'm probably going to go to the International Music Academy at Pilsen in the Czech Republic - I'm going there to study with a teacher that I studied with last summer. There are a lot of good U.S. teachers and you get a minimum of 2 lessons a week (I don't know a TON about it, as I haven't been there yet, but everyone that I've talked to has enjoyed it, and I'm looking forward to it). The website is www.ima-pilsen.com.

January 25, 2008 at 03:28 AM · Hey Josh! Wow, small world...

January 27, 2008 at 11:17 PM · Hello, Elizabeth and Josh! :D

Josh, I don't know if we ever talked at Bowdoin this summer, but I saw you around a lot...that's not too creepy, is it? :P

I'm from Philadelphia, so maybe I'll see you around the Philly music scene if you end up at Curtis!

Elizabeth, it IS a small world! :) But we figured that out after we saw each other at Bowdoin for the first time in, what was it, two or three years? Wow. :)

March 4, 2008 at 05:18 PM · If anyone is still looking for a festival. I would recommend the ARIA international academy. I went a few years ago when it was still in Muncie, IN, but now it has moved to Mass. I really want to go this year if I don't have to take summer classes during that time. The festival is solo and chamber, and there is a lot of time to practice if one wishes to! I highly recommend it!

March 4, 2008 at 06:02 PM · Hi Pieter

Going back to Canada may not be what you have in mind, but Banff and Orford are pretty much all solo - I think it's all masterclasses.

Another possibility are the summer masterclasses at the Mozarteum in Salzburg - I don't know who teaches there these days.

Hope this helps.

Cheers!