Making music your voice
The excellent ear and fine classical training provided by the Suzuki approach
+
improvisation, composition, arranging, and orchestration techniques
=
you playing music that is uniquely yours.
The Creative Ensemble Lab class is a class where we explore creativity, not just with music, but also with art and story. We create and perform an original piece in every class. Everyone who attends can make a contribution to the group project, even beginners who can’t play an instrument yet – we have a few percussion instruments and similar things that they can use.
CEL classes follow the mother-tongue method in the development of reading and writing skills. In the same way that children learn to speak before they learn to read and write, we begin with improvisation to develop fluency in the language of music. We gradually introduce notation and music theory in order to write down the improvisations.
When:
Saturday morning classes once a month, from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
- February 1 – Animal sounds
- February 29 – Music creates Design creates Music
- April 4 – Sound creates Movement creates Sound
- May 2 – Music at the Movies
download pdf of class schedule here
Where:
Schoen Duo Studio
Cost:
Free, for students who are registered for lessons through the Schoen Duo Studio. Other students can inquire about participating at [email protected]
How:
The improvisation process begins with the Creative Ability Development program of Alice Kanack, in which improvisation is used as a tool to develop the creative side of the brain.
We are looking forward to the publication of “Fun Improvisation for Flute” by Alice Kanack, which is in development as of spring 2018.
Improvisation is not limited to music, but also includes movement, drawing, storytelling, and other arts. Movement leads to dramatic staged performance, drawing leads to musical notation in many forms, and storytelling provides formal structure for longer compositions.
Working in small groups, we explore these ideas to create and transform music in a variety of styles to open the doors of possible musical expression beyond the traditional classics. CEL classes are multi-level and multi-instrument classes.
Why:
Students in Suzuki programs develop an excellent ear, and can learn things very easily just by listening. Thanks to a rigorous classical training, they can play anything they hear on their instruments. In this class we offer opportunities to use these skills for creative self-expression.
Participation:
This class is included as part of the course of instruction at the Schoen Duo Studio. If you study with another teacher, and would like to try out this class, ask your teacher’s permission first, and then contact us at [email protected].