Highlight: Chamber Music

Without a doubt, a class that students always love is chamber music!

A chamber group is a small ensemble of musicians who each play their own part.  A smaller group than an orchestra, and with less people on each part, chamber music gives students all the fun of playing together, but with the added responsibility of being a leader on their own part within the group.  Chamber groups, which can be comprised of any number of combinations of instruments, rehearse daily with a chamber coach, and perform at the end of the week without any help from the coach.  No conductor means students really take ownership of their note-reading, rhythm, and ensemble!  (Enjoy this performance of a cello chamber group from 2015):

Chamber music is part of a daily schedule for violin students in late book 4 and above, and viola and cello students in books 3 and above.  Students receive their music in the mail a few weeks before Institute starts, and should come with their part solidly prepared, so they can truly contribute to the group.

ISSI is truly fortunate to have an incredible partnership with the Fry Street Quartet (FSQ), quartet in residence at Utah State University.  The FSQ made their debut at Carnegie Hall, has been involved in numerous projects and performances throughout the country, and has been hailed as a "triumph of ensemble playing" by the New York Times.  This incredibly talented, dynamic group works with advanced string quartets in The Fry Street Days chamber program at ISSI; an intensive chamber music experience.  (For more information on Fry Street Days, visit this link here.)

It is always fun to see the friendships develop between members in chamber groups.  I know many friendships that started this way (as chamber groups at ISSI), and are going strong 25 years later!

Do any of you ISSI alumni have fond memories of, or keep in touch with, members in your string quartets?  Tell us about it in the comments!

Highlight: Orchestra

Another class that is always a hit with students is orchestra.
In fact, you might say it makes them all very Happy...

Michael McLean groovin' with the students in one of his orchestra classes

Orchestra class is a large group of mixed instruments who meets together to work on note-reading and prepare a piece or two for a final concert on the last day of class.

ISSI has orchestra classes available for students as young as 8 years old, and in books 2 and above.

Highlights of this class include getting to know students who play other instruments, learning note-reading, getting experience playing in an ensemble, and learning how to receive direction from a conductor.  Some conductors even let their students conduct and compose music!

Denise Willey works with one of our younger orchestras is 2011

One of ISSI's favorite conductors is Leo Kitajima (aka "Mr K"), who often writes music the week of institute that exactly fits the level of the students in each of his groups.  Last year during one of his class's sessions, he asked for a few volunteers to improvise a few measures of music.  He recorded the individual students as they played for their class, and then took those little nuggets of music to create an entire piece for them to perform at the end of the week!  What a magic moment for those students to perform something they had helped create!

Older students in the Advanced String Camp get the opportunity to work with the Fry Street Quartet for one hour of orchestra each day.  In this class, the Fry Street doesn't conduct: rather, they sit in the principal seats and lead the group as if it were just a giant chamber group.

Above: Gabe Bolkosky lets a student try conducting the orchestra

Another favorite conductor at ISSI is Connie Hadlock who dons a curly wig, thick black glasses, and fake teeth.  She speaks in a German accent and pulls in the funniest props and games (such as an Indian headdress and a Statue of Liberty costume) for the children to play with!  There is never a dull moment in her class; everyone should stop in and see how much fun she has with the students!

Whichever conductor a student gets the opportunity to work with, they will come away from their orchestra experience better note-readers, more sensitive ensemble players, and musicians with a better understanding of how their individual talent can contribute to a beautiful musical whole.

Highlight: Master Class

One of the most valuable classes in a student's day at Institute is Master Class.

In this class, a group of between 3-4 students meets with a master teacher each day.  Each student is given a short, individual lesson every day and receives a small, concentrated assignment to practice before returning to the master class the next day.  It's best to consult with your home teacher, prior to institute, to make sure you bring a polished piece to play for your masterclass at ISSI.

Working one-on-one with a teacher every day yields the opportunity to really delve into some details, and make tremendous, specific progress.  Students also learn so much by observing the mini-lessons of their peers.

In a master class with Helen Higa in 2015, she delved into the concept of space.  As Lao Tsu asked, why do we build buildings?  To use the space inside.  As Mozart put it, the music happens in the space between notes.  As one mother learned in this class last summer, a child's growth happens when a parent steps back to give the child space to discover on their own.

From a master class with Elizabeth Means in 2015, students learned the importance of telling a story through their music; getting past the technique and the correctness of it all, to expressing feelings and ideas that were in their hearts.  She had one student draw a story in pictures that represented the piece she was working on.  The best part: to represent a part in the piece that sounded angry, the student drew a picture of what her dad looked like when he was upset his children weren't going to bed!

Master class is magical because the students get both individual and group instruction, and are able to connect one-on-one with master teachers.  It is one of the highlights of the day!

Have you had any meaningful or memorable master class moments?  Share them with us in the comments!

Highlight: Performance Class

With so many classes offered each day, there is never a dull moment at ISSI!

Let's take a moment to highlight one of those wonderful classes: Performance Class.

In this class, students work together to polish a few pieces (typically two) in preparation for a concert at the end of the week.  Teachers use all kinds of fun games and ideas as they teach a high standard of technique and musicality through games and fun.

In this cello performance class in 2014, Elizabeth Means had the students sit in a circle facing outwards, so they couldn't easily see each other.  This required them to listen more carefully to each other in order to stay together.

What are some of your favorite performance class moments?  Leave a comment and share with us!

Stay tuned for future posts that will highlight other fun parts of a day at institute!

Want to know more about a typical day at ISSI?  Read this post here.

ISSI: A Day in the Life

All year long you hear the buzz about Institute.  Teachers, friends, fellow students talk about it and remember the fun times they had.

But for the family new to the Institute experience, it can be a bit overwhelming!  We get so many questions about what a day at Institute is like, that we thought we'd share one with you here.

Institute runs for an entire week, Monday-Saturday.  Monday has a slightly different schedule, to allow for registration and orientation, and Saturday's schedule is slightly different because of final concerts.  We can look at those special days at another time, but for today, I thought it would be nice to give you a glimpse of what a usual day was like for myself and my child at ISSI.

Please keep in mind that the following is a SAMPLE SCHEDULE and is not a guarantee that your child's schedule will be exactly the same.

830 am Arrive at Juan Diego high school
We like to get there early to make sure we find a good parking spot, and so that we don't feel hurried or rushed to get to class.  Starting the day off with a relaxed pace goes a long way in making sure your child enjoys the rest of their day!

9 am Repertoire Class
During this class, my child works in a large group of students to prepare a piece or two for a performance at the final concert on Saturday.  The teacher may go over other principles of string-playing through the week, but the main focus of this class is to prepare for that final performance.  I love seeing the growth during the week, as well as the polish that comes from really digging into the details of a piece.  And nothing beats the sound of a group of students playing a polished performance together; it is so exciting!

10 am Technique class
In this class, my child works in a large group of students who all play the same instrument and are at the same level.  The teacher guides the class in studying and growing different techniques needed to play their instrument well.  These classes can be quite a lot of fun, as many teachers bring games and different approaches to technique.

11 am Orchestra
Depending on what level your student is registered for, they may be placed in an orchestra class.  This class is fun because it combines different instruments together (violin, viola, cello, bass) and focuses on note-reading.  Students do not receive music ahead-of time, so it is a true sight-reading experience!  ISSI has some incredible orchestra conductors, and orchestra is often students' favorite class. Students give a performance of their work at the final class of the week.

12 pm Lunch
This is one of our favorite times of the day!  We get to connect with our friends and family, and see how their day is going.  We get to talk about all the things they've learned and how things are going.
You can pack your own lunch, buy individual items from the school cafeteria, or buy lunch at one of the many different restaurants close to campus.  We like to eat out at least once during the week, just because it's a fun way to make the week feel special.

1 pm Lunch time concert
Every day (except for Monday and Saturday....remember those days have special schedules) there is a lunch time concert.  And every one is always a treat!  These concerts feature ISSI students as soloists, or in chamber groups.  And sometimes the concerts even feature our own faculty.  Whatever is on the program, you will be inspired!  You do not want to miss these.

2 pm Enrichment Class
ISSI offers some extra classes, which you can sign up for if you like.  If you don't sign up for an enrichment class, you'd just have a free hour during that time.  There have been classes such as art, story-telling, Zumba for kids, juggling, Kodaly, fiddling, etc.  You'll want to check this year's registration flyer to see what will be offered.  These non-music classes can sometimes be the pick-me-up you need during a day full of concentrated music instruction!

3 pm Chamber
When I attended ISSI as a young student, this was always my favorite class!  Chamber groups are small groups of students playing together; usually comprised of 3-4 students.  Each student receives their music a few weeks before ISSI, and is expected to come with their music already learned and prepared (not memorized).  In this class, one teacher (a chamber coach) works with the group to help them polish their piece, which they play at a final concert on Saturday afternoon.  This performance is without a teacher leading them, so the students really grow in taking responsibility and ownership of the music they are creating.

4 pm Master Class

This class is comprised of a small group of 3 to 4 students, each playing the same instrument.  Every day in this class, each student gets a mini-lesson from the instructor, while the other students watch.  So much learning can take place when a child observes the learning of their peers!  It is also a special treat for students to get one-on-one time with their master teacher every single day.  I love the way the teacher can zero in on one or two particular concepts, and nurture the growth of those throughout the week.

515 pm Concert
Most days, there is a concert after classes end.  These are always such a treat, and a great way to unwind and relax from a long day of working.  In the past, these concerts have highlighted the week's Guest Artist, the fiddling classes, the Advanced Camp Students (ISSI students in the upper Suzuki books and beyond), etc.  You'll want to check the ISSI schedule you receive in your registration materials at the beginning of the week so you know what is happening each night.

Well, there you have it: A day in the life of ISSI!
We can't wait for you to join us in 2015

Staying Inspired

ISSI wrapped up just a short two and a half months ago, but it does seem like it's been forever sometimes!  Here are some tips to keep that motivation going:

1. Write down some of the important points you learned while at ISSI and keep them with your child's practice materials or on the wall in your practice area.
2. Post pictures of ISSI in your practice room or in your case
3. Wear your ISSI t-shirt often
4. Stay connected with your friends from ISSI via email and social media
5. Check out ISSI's Facebook page; there are always tips, photos, etc being posted
6. Start planning and saving now for ISSI next year (June 15-20, 2015).  Talk with your child often about it to get them excited.
7. Talk with your teacher and other students in your studio about next year's ISSI; see who is planning to come, and invite friends to come with you (especially those who may not have participated this year)

We look forward to seeing you in 2015!

Institute has started...what do I need to bring?

With classes going from 9 am till 5 pm, and concerts and events after that, Institute brings with it some very long days!

Arriving prepared with the essentials (and with a few little extras!) can make all the difference in keeping your energy and enthusiasm up during the week.

Here's what we recommend:

Essentials

• instrument and bow in a case labeled clearly with your name and phone number
• music stand
• rosin
• for cellos: small chair (if needed) and endpin strap
• notebook and pen (to record all the great things you learn this week!)
• Lunch (whether you pack your lunch, plan to purchase individual items from the school cafeteria, or plan to eat out at a nearby restaurant, know what your noon time plans are!)
• schedule (which you'll pick up at registration)
• name badge (which you'll pick up at registration)

Extras 

• water bottle
• light sweater (rooms can get cold)
• $1 bills to buy treats at the scholarship table
• a snack or two to get you through that mid-day slump 
• coloring books, magnet doodle boards, etc for children who have breaks
• camera (to record all the fun you have this week!)

What about you?  What things will you be bringing with you to ISSI this year?