Join us for our virtual Music Discovery Workshop & Youth Collegium — a new, fun-filled musical experience for children of all ages!
online on Zoom
June 15–19, 2020
Morning Session (9:00AM–12:00PM): Music Discovery Workshop (grades 1–5)
Afternoon Session (1:00PM–4:00PM): Youth Collegium (grades 6–12, or ages 10-18)
Yuko Tanaka, director
Both the morning and afternoon sessions will be organized by skill level and age range, and will consist of four 30-minute class periods, with a 15-minute supervised “recess” in between.
Class options include offerings for music, theater, dance, and art. Learn more below!
Morning Session: Music Discovery Workshop (grades 1–5)—Baroque Spain and ¡Zarzuela!
This year, we are excited to embark on a virtual tour of Renaissance and Baroque Spain! We will explore Spain’s history through music, theater, dance, and art, getting a glimpse of what everyday life might have been like.
We will offer semi-private instruction for voice students and those studying the following instruments: violin, viola, cello, double bass, viola da gamba, flute, recorder, ukulele, guitar, piano, and harpsichord.
Click here for more information about individual class periods!
Afternoon Session: Youth Collegium (grades 6–12, or ages 10-18)
The Youth Collegium provides older and more advanced students an in-depth opportunity to explore Spanish music. It will be split into a Vocal Collegium and Instrumental Collegium.
Vocal Collegium: Intermediate and advanced voice students will explore a wide repertoire, with an emphasis on how to become better sight-singers. Interested students who have not participated before will need approval from Vocal Collegium director Jonathon Hampton.
Instrumental Collegium: The collegium is intended for intermediate and advanced students of the following instruments (violin, viola, cello, double bass, viola da gamba, flute, recorder, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, ukulele, and classical guitar). Interested students who have not participated before will need to submit a short, 1–2 minute video of a solo piece which best displays their current ability to Instrumental Collegium director David Sego.
This year, the instrumental collegium will explore the music of Luigi Boccherini (1743–1805), an Italian-Spanish cellist who became one of the most famous composers of his time. The Instrumental Collegium will dive deep into one of his exciting, quirky chamber compositions, working from a facsimile of the original manuscript. Guided by Instrumental Collegium David Sego, students will collaborate to produce a multi-track video performance using the free Acapella app. The final product of our week’s work will be shared in a virtual concert on Friday afternoon. Let’s level up our bowtie game and shred some Boccherini!
Faculty
Jonathon Hampton Vocal Collegium Director
Jennifer Hobbs arts and crafts
Vicki Melin recorder and flute
Jennifer Meller Baroque dance
Farley Pearce cello, viola da gamba and guitar
David Sego Instrumental Collegium Director, violin and viola
Adam Sussman theater
Yuko Tanaka, D.M.A. artistic director, harpsichord
Dates, Deadlines, and Fee Information
$550 for each session
Sibling discount: $50 per additional sibling enrolled
Additional questions regarding payment? Contact Stacey Helley at workshops@sfems.org.
Limited scholarships available. For more information about scholarships about the workshops in general, contact director Yuko Tanaka at discoveryworkshop@sfems.org.
About the Workshop
SFEMS’s Music Discovery Workshop & Youth Collegium is a premier workshop for the kids in grades 1–12. Originally founded by Lee McRae in 1994, it has established itself as a unique gem among music workshops for children, not only here in the Bay Area, but in the nation.
The Music Discovery Workshop is for younger children, in grades 1–6, who are looking for a fun and artistic introduction to the music of 1500–1800. The focus of the workshop is to introduce and immerse children in early music from the Middle Ages to the Classical period, while providing historical and cultural context, all in a fun, hands on way through instrumental and vocal music, theater and arts and crafts.
The Youth Collegium is a concurrent program designed for older, more experienced students, in grades 7–12, who want to explore early music in greater depth. Students round out their day by having semi-private lessons, and elective options of drama, art and period dance.
We request all Youth Collegium applicants to submit a brief, casual video so we may better assess their musical level. This video does not have to be a performance. It may be a brief recording of a piece or a work in progress and may be filmed on a mobile device. Please send the video to the director, Yuko Tanaka at discoveryworkshop@sfems.org.
About the Classes:
Our workshop provides semi-private instruction for all students. We are proud to keep a very low teacher-to-student ratio, between 1:2 to 1:5. All classes are taught in rotation: music, chamber ensemble, musicianship, dance, arts and crafts, choir, and theater. During the assembly period, we will have visits from special guests and early music specialists.
Snapshot from a typical day at the Music Discovery Workshop & Youth Collegium:
