Summer Institute : Music : Courses
After a brief orientation on the first day of classes, you will have an audition by the Music faculty for assessment purposes. That audition will determine your placement in small ensembles, big bands and large ensembles/big bands. Schedules and music will be provided upon placement in your various ensembles.
MASTER CLASSES
All students meet with a special guest artist, including a performance and lecture by the guest. You will also have the opportunity to perform for the artist and be critiqued by him.
PRIVATE LESSONS
You will receive one-on-one sessions with University faculty. Teachers work with you on style, technique, improvisation, reading, and your own areas of interest.
IMPROVISATION CLASS
Small classes specific to drummers, vocalists and other instruments, each class will work on jazz vocabulary, rhythm and ear training, as well as some elements of jazz theory. This class is designed to aid you in an overall understanding of jazz performance.
SMALL ENSEMBLES
These ensembles of various musical styles will be comprised of approximately four to six students. With the help of an experienced coach, you will work on interpreting and harmonizing melodies, improvising and group interplay. This will culminate in a performance at the end of the first week. Then, each ensemble will receive a new coach for the second week and perform again.
LARGE ENSEMBLES
All students will also have some form of a large ensemble, which may include big band, advanced small group, jazz singers, a Latin percussion ensemble, or a guitar ensemble. All of these groups will perform in a final concert on the last day of the program.
DEPARTMENTAL WORKSHOPS
Much like a group lesson, departmental workshops are instrumental/vocal-specific meetings with a working professional. You will be broken into groups by instrument to discuss topics from the heritage of the instrument to ensemble playing and career development.
The Show
STUDENT JAM SESSIONS + SMALL GROUP PERFORMANCES
You will have the opportunity to play in informal jam sessions with instructors and UArts undergraduate students for an audience compromised of Pre-College Summer Institute students on campus. Additionally, you will have the chance to play in the School of Music’s new Caplan Performance Hall. Friends and family are welcome to attend all performances. Notification of performances will be sent to parents at the start of the program.
FINAL PERFORMANCE
The final performance is a major part of the Summer Institute experience and gives you real-life experience performing in front of an audience. On the final Saturday of the program, parents and friends are invited to our School of Music’s Caplan Performance Hall. A recording of the final performance will be available for you in September.
