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National Summer Cello Institute
Next program: June 2010

Two intensive weeks of experiential exploration that will help you reach your next level of artistic and cellistic freedom and redefine your approach to teaching

Institute Director: Uri Vardi

The information below pertains to the 2008 Institute.

For more information

Write: Uri Vardi, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 455 N Park St., Madison, WI 53705
Phone: (608) 262-9298
E-mail: uvardi@wisc.edu

Program overview

We invite you to expand and enrich your world of cello playing and teaching at the new Madison Summer Cello Institute!  World-class faculty will guide performers and studio teachers into new dimensions of playing and teaching through private lessons, master classes, seminars, panel discussions, pedagogy classes, body awareness classes, ensemble playing, and performing. 

Institute goals

For cello performers the primary goal of this Institute is to explore new ways of communicating while performing, and to apply learning to their current repertoire.  For studio cello teachers the purpose of this Institute is to provide an intimate setting where teachers of varying levels of experience can exchange ideas and benefit from the guidance and expertise of world-class faculty.  Through participation in this Institute, we hope that all cellists will become more creative players and teachers.

Due to the intense nature of the Institute, only ten cello performers will be accepted.  Those accepted must attend for the entire duration of the Institute (June 1-13).  The application deadline for cello performers was March 1; while this track has been closed to new applicants, we hope that people interested in this unique experience will join us in the Studio Teacher Track. It is not necessary to have teaching experience to benefit from the rich experiences offered to those participating in this track.

Studio cello teachers of all experience levels are invited to participate in the Institute. Participants in the studio teacher track will have classes focusing on teaching and ensemble playing rather than individual lessons. However, the many opportunities for learning with the world-class faculty are shared by all participants in the Feldenkrais sessions, seminars, panel discussions, forums, and pedagogy seminars. Teachers may attend both weeks, or they may elect to attend just the first or the second week of the Institute.   Studio cello teachers enrolling by May 1 will receive a reduced enrollment fee.

Both groups of participants will engage in separate sessions designed for their specific needs and interests, and they will also share sessions to explore new ways of communicating while teaching and performing. 

If you would enjoy participating in this workshop but cannot commit to the entire workshop, we invite you to enroll as a partial participant, where you will be able to enjoy all late-afternoon and evening sessions (see the Partial Participant schedule, available for download in "Schedules" below). You may enroll for either or both weeks as a partial participant, and you will have the advantage of learning from Master Teachers in the seminars, forums, panel discussions, master class observations, and Awareness Through Movement sessions.

Institute activities include the following (*Teachers; +Performers):

• Weekly seminar on a special topic related to cello playing by a guest master teacher *+
• Weekly panel discussion between faculty and participants*+
• Weekly guided exploration of basic principles in cello playing and teaching (pedagogy seminar) *+
• Cello forum guided by participant questions, concerns, and observations *+
• Two weekly private lessons with Uri Vardi+1
• Two weekly master classes+
• Discussions of topics related to cello teaching*2
• Rehearsals of cello ensembles *
• Two weekly Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement (ATM) group lessons*+3
• Weekly private Feldenkrais Functional Integration lesson+4
• Body-focused master class helping to transfer the awareness gained in Feldenkrais to cello playing *+
• Baroque dance workshop focusing on dances of the movements of the Bach suites *+
• Two cello ensemble concerts by studio teachers *
• Two final concerts by performing participants+5
  
  NOTES:
  
  
  1. Private cello lessons and the option to play in master classes with Timothy Eddy, Laurence Lesser, and Uri Vardi are available to the performing participants only.  Teachers are encouraged and expected to observe these activities and discuss their observations with the faculty.
  2. Teachers will be asked to submit two topics of interest prior to the Institute, but prepared topics include:  elements of solid foundations in cello playing; the meaning of “being musical”; encouraging student imagination; the creativity of teaching; repertoire for different ages and ability levels; technique vs. music making; and technique/method/style development resources.
  3. Awareness Through Movement (ATM) is a model for discovering new possibilities for the use of self, which can expand the options for musical expression.
  4. Functional Integration is a hands-on session tailored to each participant’s unique needs, which enhances the learning gained from the group lessons (ATM).  Both modalities are part of the Feldenkrais Method of somatic education.  For more information on the Method, visit www.harmoniousmovement.com.
  5. The objective of the concert is for performing participants to consolidate the learning gained during the Institute in a live performance setting. On the first day of the Institute, performing participants will record five minutes of a piece they wish to perform on the final concert, and they will receive a DVD of their performance in the final concert for comparison.