Why Go to a Summer Workshop?
Trying out crumhorn at Mountain Collegium. Keeping my day job.
Where I live, late February is a sorry time of year. The appeal of Winter faded back in December, but Spring is still weeks away. Sometimes there’s snow. Sometimes there’s mud. Sometimes there’s an unholy cross between snow and mud!
But you know what late February *is* great for? Dreaming of Summer workshops! I love a Summer workshop, and now is a great time to get one on your calendar!
Why? Well, if you’ve been, you already know!
But if you haven’t, you might be wondering if attending a weeklong Summer workshop is worth the time, effort, and cost.
My answer is an enthusiastic yes! Because of their size and length, Summer workshops offer benefits that are difficult to come by anywhere else. Here are a few:
Perspective
No matter how much you love your local teacher, there are limits to each person’s knowledge. 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, 2025
Unique, intimate workshop in the Shenandoah Valley offering recorder masterclass and baroque chamber ensembles. Relaxed schedule (few evening events), supportive environment, smaller enrollment; ideal for high intermediate to advanced amateur players.
Oberlin Baroque Performance Institute: June 15-29, 2025
BPI is a large-scale, Baroque-focused summer program that makes use of Oberlin Conservatory’s fabulous musical facilities. Come for one week or stay for two! All recorder players will have masterclass and technique with me in the morning. In the afternoon, recorder players can choose from one-to-a-part Baroque consort (Locke and Purcell this year!) or mixed-instrument Baroque ensembles. Suitable for high-intermediate players and above (players should be able to confidently hold your own line in ensemble; mixed chamber applicants should be comfortable at A=415.) Optional extras include beginning viol, baroque dance, and more. Northern Ohio is beautiful in summer!
Mountain Collegium: June 29-July 5, 2025
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 features a special track for Emerging players and is a fabulous place to try something new.
Mideast Early Music Week: July 20-26, 2025
Friendly, multi-instrument, multi-era workshop in Pennsylvania! I taught several times at this workshop in pre-pandemic times and am delighted to be returning this year alongside a stellar faculty!
I hope to see you there!