Salina Summer Strings is a one-week small ensemble (chamber music) camp for string players ages 12 and up. If you or your child are under 12, you must get a recommendation from your teacher and submit a video of your playing. Contact us here if you have any questions.
Participants are grouped into string quartets, quintets trios or other chamber ensembles, and assignments and music will be available by mid-May. While each group may work on several pieces, the coach selects one or two for the final performance. Chamber music coaching will help the students’ musicianship and effective rehearsal techniques and show how Chamber music can be fun and enjoyable as the groups prepare for the final concert on Saturday afternoon.
Designed to educate the total musician, the camp combines the study of Chamber music with the opportunity to explore parallel disciplines such as developing leadership and interpersonal (team player) skills.
Camp Dates: Sunday, June 23 to Saturday, June 29, 2024
Class Descriptions
Ensemble Demo Class
The first class for all students each day which will be interactive and fun. The instructors meet and rehearse a piece they have never played together before! This will be a real life presentation of rehearsal and performance techniques for small ensembles. Students will hear discussions between the players and learn the art of compromise. Students are free to ask questions and will see all what is involved with learning a new piece as a small ensemble and use that knowledge to help their own group. Since many of the students will have limited experience playing in small ensembles, this class is geared to help them learn the rehearsal techniques needed throughout the week.
Chamber Music Concepts Class
Many of the concepts presented in the Ensemble Demo Class will be explored in this class with much more detail and with student participation. Geared for the younger students, they will learn how fun it is to play together in small groups and it will help them in their rehearsals throughout the week and in the final performance.
Masterclass
The Masterclass is a coaching but with an audience. It will give the ensembles a chance to perform in front of a live audience and have a practice performance before the concert at the end of the week. All groups will attend but only 3 or 4 groups will play each day. Masterclasses will give each ensemble the opportunity to perform and receive feedback prior to the final concert.
Supervised Rehearsal
Although each ensemble will rehearse on their own, there will be supervisors monitoring as they rehearse to answer questions and to make sure rehearsal time is used to rehearse!
Ensemble Private Coachings
Ensemble coaching is the private lesson for the ensemble. Coaches help the students put all they are learning in the other classes into use. The coaches will see where the ensembles are having difficulty and help them find solutions. This is where the students learn to use their leadership skills and their team player skills. The private coaching and rehearsals are what the students will use to polish the piece of music for the final performance.
Daily Schedule
All groups will have 45 minutes of Ensemble Demo Class, 1 hour coaching per day and 1 hour of Masterclass attendance, either performing or spectating.
Level 1 chamber groups will have 1 3/4 hours of supervised rehearsal per day.
Level 2 groups will have 1 1/4 hours of supervised rehearsal per day and 1 hour of Chamber Music Concepts Class.
Level 3 groups will have 45 minutes of supervised rehearsal each day and 1 hour of Chamber Music Concepts Class.
Here is sample daily schedule (subject to change). It will vary slightly depending on the ensemble placement.
Sunday
3:00pm – 4:00pm Orientation, ensemble greeting and refreshments.
Monday
9:00am Arrival /Sign in and Daily Orientation
9:15am Ensemble Demo Class
10:00am Break
10:15am Chamber Music Concepts Class
11:00am Break
11:15pm Supervised Ensemble Rehearsals and Ensemble Private Coachings
12:00pm Lunch
12:45 – 2:45pm Supervised Ensemble Rehearsals, Ensemble Private Coachings and Concepts Coaching.
2:45pm Conclusion Meeting
3:00pm Sign out and Depart
Tuesday – Friday
9:00am Arrival /Sign in and Daily Orientation
9:15am Ensemble Demo Class
10:00am Break – Level 1 Ensemble Private Coachings begin
10:15am Chamber Music Concepts Class for Level 2 and 3
11:00am Break
11:15pm Supervised Ensemble Rehearsals and Level 1 Ensemble Private Coachings
12:00pm Lunch
12:45pm Supervised Ensemble Rehearsals and Level 3 Ensemble Private Coachings.
1:45pm Break
2:00pm Masterclass
3:00pm Sign out and Depart
Saturday
2:00pm Performance
After performance reception
Optional Private Lessons
Monday – Friday 3:15pm 5:00pm
After group assignments, detailed schedules will be made available.
Tuition
2024 Tuition: $350.00
Scholarships based on Need & Merit may be available to students who apply to the camp. We are able to offer these through anonymous donations. Funds may be limited so please send in your application early. Please go here for more information.