Why Go to a Summer Workshop?

Summer workshop season is around the corner, and as usual, I’m excited!  There are some workshops I teach every year and there are other workshops I rotate through, but I enjoy them all, and I can’t imagine my year without these weeks devoted to learning and growing with students and colleagues.

But if you’re new to recorder world, or new to idea of week-long workshops, you might be wondering what’s in it for you. Why carve a whole week out of your life to attend? Is it worth the time, travel, and cost?

My answer is an enthusiastic yes. Summer workshops, by dint of their structure, size, and length, offer opportunities that are tough to come by during day-to-day music-making or shorter workshops Here are a few:

Perspective

No matter how much you love your local teacher, there are limits to each person’s knowledge, abilities, and time.  Summer workshops almost always offer a slate of faculty, and interacting with multiple teachers can open you up to new ways of thinking and playing, expose you to new repertoire, or give you a different angle on something you’ve been working toward.  I reliably find that my own students benefit from this broader exposure.

Depth

During a shorter workshop, it’s simply not possible to delve deeply into techniques, repertoire, or concepts.  Summer workshops tend to be longer, somewhere around a week, and this allows you more time to deepen your understanding, build skills, and reinforce new habits.

Connections 

Summer workshops draw regionally and nationally, so you’re able to make connections with other players outside your local sphere. Peer-to-peer learning at workshops is real and invaluable. Maybe you’ve always wanted to try out a comfort tenor, or talk to someone who has put together a school concert. Now’s your chance!

Focus

Do you dream of a class devoted entirely to the hurdy gurdy?  Are you keen to try out crumhorn or play with a harpsichordist? How about a class devoted to music for bass recorders?  Summer workshops, with their larger student and faculty pools, are the place to do this.

Time 

For those of us with many commitments outside of playing the recorder, the most precious gift summer workshops offer is time.  Think about how much time you spend each day working, cooking, cleaning, caretaking, commuting, etc.  Now sweep all of that away and replace it with large blocks of time devoted to music. Sound good?  (EDITOR’S NOTE: IT’S GLORIOUS!)

Are you interested in giving a summer workshop a try? Come join me this year– I’m teaching at four!

Virginia Baroque Performance Academy: June 9-15, 2024

***FULL FOR RECORDERS IN 2024****. Unique, intimate workshop in the Shenandoah Valley offering recorder masterclass and baroque chamber ensembles.  Relaxed schedule, supportive environment, smaller enrollment; ideal for more advanced amateur players.

Oberlin Baroque Performance Institute: June 16-29, 2024

You can attend either one or both weeks of this storied Baroque summer program!  This is my first year teaching at BPI, and I'm excited! All recorder players will have masterclass and technique with me in the morning.  In the afternoon, recorder players can choose from coached recorder consort (with an opportunity to use some of Oberlin's wonderful instruments!) or mixed-instrument baroque ensembles.  Suitable for high-intermediate players and above (all players should be able to hold your own line in an ensemble).  Optional extras include beginning viol, baroque dance, and more. Northern Ohio is beautiful in summer!  Application deadline is April 5.

 Mountain Collegium: June 30-July 6, 2024

Exceptionally well-run early music and folk workshop in the North Carolina Mountains.  I’ve taught many times at this workshop and am always impressed by its friendliness.  It’s also a great place to try something new. 

SFEMS Recorder Week: July 21-July 27, 2024

Fun with recorder in the Bay Area!  SFEMS is a well-established recorder workshop suitable for players of all levels. It features diverse classes with multiple faculty members, as well as large group playing opportunities.

I hope to see you there!