August 14 - 21, 2010

Held during Early Music Week at Pinewoods

Up-to-date availability

2010 Camp Space Availability Update

No space at your favorite week?  Explore another!

American Dance & Music (Pinewoods)	Aug 28-Sep 4	All done, see you next year
Campers' (Pinewoods)	Aug 21-28	All done, see you next year
CDSS at Timber Ridge	Aug 15-22	All done, see you next year
Early Music (Pinewoods)	Aug 14-21	All done, see you next year
English & American Dance (Pinewoods)	Aug 7-14	All done, see you next year
English Dance (Pinewoods)	Jul 31-Aug 7	All done, see you next year
English Dance Leaders (Pinewoods)	Aug 7-14	All done, see you next year
English Dance Musicians (Pinewoods)	Aug 14-21	All done, see you next year
Family (Ogontz)	Jul 31-Aug 7	All done, see you next year
Family (Pinewoods)	Jul 17-24	All done, see you next year
Folk Music (Pinewoods)	Jul 24-31	All done, see you next year
Morris Intensive at Folk Music	Jul 24-31	All done, see you next year
Square Dance Callers (Pinewoods)	Aug 28-Sep 4	All done, see you next year
Teachers Training (Ogontz)	Jul 31-Aug 7	All done, see you next year
Viol Intensive at Early Music	Aug 14-21	All done, see you next year

To register              Costs

Program Description

Are you already playing for English country dancing but stuck on the proverbial plateau? Would you like to improvise with more confidence and passion? This English Dance Musicians Week is geared towards those already enjoying playing for dancers, who would like to further develop their playing, in a friendly, encouraging group. Possible topics include: playing with more rhythmic propulsion and kinetic energy, improvising on melodies and harmonies, playing in different musical styles, playing with more physical fluidly, and finding new musical lines for an ensemble. However, the main focus will be on the growth of each participant’s inner voice, one to enable each musician to confidently give the dancers clear signals about rhythm, tempo, phrasing and dance style, as well as to sing out one’s own joy in the music and dance.

This session is geared towards participants, who are already accompanying dancing and can play at a steady dance tempo. During the week, we will break up into smaller groups, which will be encouraged to play for the class. If time permitted, participants may be offered a one-time, private group or solo coaching, and pianists may get some piano-focused session time. As part of the course, participants may find themselves dancing, as well as singing, playing rhythm games and doing other (hopefully fun) activities to connect with the group and develop dance musician “chops” and elan.

-- Jacqueline Schwab, Program Director

For the first time, this course will be held concurrently with Early Music Week, an exciting new opportunity to be in a musician-focused environment, where others will be working on technique, period style and improvisation. This English Dance Musicians Week is designed and led by Jacqueline Schwab, a founding member of Bare Necessities and an English country dance musician for over 30 years.

The group will meet with Jacqueline for 90 minutes in the morning and in smaller ensembles for the afternoon class. As part of Early Music Week, English Dance Musicians Course participants will have a chance to join one of the three graded, daily English country dance classes, to be reminded of the music from the "user's end". Early Music Week offers a number of options for the rest of the afternoon (including practice time), as well as dancing and concerts in the evenings.

Materials

Small group ensembles will work with The Barnes Book of English Country Dance Tunes (both Volumes), available from CDSS and at the camp bookstore.

Registration

This course is limited to 15 participants to ensure plenty of opportunity for active participation. If it were oversubscribed on March 15, there would be a lottery, with preference given to musicians with experience playing for English country dance. Please clearly indicate if you would like to attend Early Music Week, if you did not get a space in the course. For musicians with less experience on their instruments or playing for dancing, let us know if you might be interested in this week, so a workshop may be designed for you for another time. Scholarships are available.