Lesson Enhancement

Lesson Enhancements

Making the Most of Your Musical Training!

PIANO

Piano Performance Workshops All Ages & Levels (some classes are level-specific)

This class offers regular performance practice for piano students who are preparing for recitals, auditions, or juries. This is an excellent way to gain experience on stage for students of all levels, including: students who have never been on stage; students with newly memorized pieces to try out before a recital; students who repeatedly experience nervousness or insecurity about performing under pressure; or experienced students who play well, but need to practice their stage presence and carry off a performance with better confidence and poise. Special attention is given to the important difference between day-to-day practice and performance practice. Classes will be held in Camilla Blackman Hall on the Steinway grand piano to simulate a "real" performance. Students will be coached on preparation, confidence, composure, and the elements of giving a musical performance. Related issues such as stage etiquette, performance anxiety and memorization will be discussed. Parents are encouraged to be present so they may support further performance practice at home. Registered students may attend as many classes as they like, and play the same piece or new pieces each time - or just come to watch! Classes may accommodate a maximum of 10 performers per date, and students must sign up in advance through the office for each class date they wish to play on. Because space is limited, early sign-ups are recommended. Students of all ages and levels are welcome to attend any of the class dates, however, please note that some dates are reserved for adult students only.

Instructor: Heather Riley

Wednesdays, 7:30 - 9:00 pm
Saturdays 5:00 - 6:30 pm

IHM STUDENTS: $8 per session OR $50 fall semester/$75 spring semester
NON-IHM STUDENTS: $12 per session

FALL TERM - 8 Workshops
October

SPRING TERM - 12 Workshops
February

ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE

Develop healthy practice habits at Indian Hill and at home! The study of music requires many hours of disciplined and repetitive practice. Musicians do some of the most complex and demanding physical movements of any profession. So, it’s essential that students do everything possible to prevent excess muscular tension and stress while practicing or performing.

Here at Indian Hill Music School, we support the healthy study of music by

offering the Alexander Technique, a program with a long history of helping
instrumentalists perform with less stress and the likelihood of injury. Lessons
in this technique can greatly enhance the enjoyment and fulfillment of being
a musician.

Experiencing excess tension while practicing or performing can lead to
problems like backache, stiff neck and shoulders, or in the extreme, carpal
tunnel syndrome or repetitive strain injury. Due to the pain and limitation that
these conditions cause, free coordinated movement is reduced significantly
and affects the musician adversely in all areas of life: physically, emotionally,
psychologically and spiritually.

Lessons in the Alexander Technique involve sensitive hands-on guidance and
simple conversation where students learn how to make changes in patterns of movement during practice time. They will also learn skills to reduce physical, emotional and mental tension, and fatigue during practice and performance as well as in everyday life.

Improvements are noted in:

- Coordination
- Eyesight
- Listening ability
- Posture
- Voice resonance
- Breathing
- Mental alertness
- Performance
- Creativity

A number of prominent musicians have publicly endorsed the Alexander Technique: Yehudi Menuhin, Paul McCartney, Sting, Julian Bream, James Galway and the conductor Sir Adrian Boult, to name but a few. Besides Indian Hill, you’ll find Alexander Technique instructors at many other schools, including The Boston Conservatory of Music, the Juilliard School of Performing Arts in New York, The Royal College of Music in London, and The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.

About our IHM Alexander Technique Instructor -- Jamee Culbertson is a graduate of Berklee College of Music and teaches musicians, performers, athletes, martial artists and people recovering from injuries. A former Board Chair of ATI (Alexander Technique International), she currently serves as Chair of the ATI Vision Mission Team. Jamee also teaches at The Ninth House Holistic Center in Arlington.

For more information or to sign up for individual instruction in the technique, call (978) 486-9524.

PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES

Acoustic Cafés – The Guitar and Jazz Department presents several open mic performances for adults each year. The 09/10 Cafés are scheduled on October 16, February 5 (Feb 12 snow date) and May 21 starting at 7:00 pm. Artists 18+ years of age (non-IHM students too!) are invited to get on stage and share their music in a relaxed, cabaret-style setting in Blackman Hall. The Music School provides a sound system for the Cafés. Musicians can sign up by contacting Nancy Brulé (tulula4pele@yahoo.com). There is a $10 suggested donation at the door for the Acoustic Cafés which are open to everyone.

Jazz Jams – Jazz musicians of all ages and levels can get together once each semester for the opportunity to play in a fun, casual setting. Assisted by a faculty rhythm section, students can play their favorite tunes or learn new charts with their fellow musicians. Instrumental and vocal musicians are welcome. The Jams take place in Blackman Hall which is set up cabaret-style. There is a $5 suggested donation at the door, and participants are encouraged to bring snacks to share. Jazz Jam dates this year are Friday, January 15 and Friday, June 4 from 7:00 to 10:00 pm.

Performathon– Each year Indian Hill Music hosts a Performathon, a marathon series of concerts by students and faculty to raise money for the Scholarship Fund. Students enlist family, friends, neighbors, etc. to sponsor their performance. Donations can be secured in person or online through the FirstGiving website. The performances are meant to be casual, fun opportunities for students to play a favorite composition, or to try out a piece in progress. By sharing their time and music at the Performathon, students are giving the gift of music education to someone else. The Performathon will be held March 19 and 20, with other fundraising concerts being scheduled throughout the month. Information for students is distributed several months in advance.

Recitals – The Music School offers numerous opportunities for performance. In addition to recitals scheduled specifically for each department, a formal recital time is held at the end of both the Fall and Spring semesters. In January teachers schedule studio recitals and in June students may perform in combination recitals (various studios or instruments or musical styles). Studio recitals may also be scheduled anytime throughout the year. The faculty receives schedule options several months in advance of the January and June recital periods, and they will inform students of the recitals they have scheduled. The faculty will also take care of gathering and submitting information for recital programs. Students are encouraged to dress nicely for these public performances, and should plan to arrive at least 10-15 minutes early to check in and take care of tuning and other necessary preparations. Student families should bring treats to share for the recital reception. While recitals are not required, we encourage every student to perform at least once per semester.

Voice Department Soirees – Four times a year the Voice Department hosts cabaret-style concert opportunities for voice students. The audience sits at tables and enjoys drinks and snacks provided by the faculty and students. The concerts are coordinated by the voice faculty and fashioned around various themes, for example songs about water, life or love, or works of a particular composer or musical period. There are a limited number of openings for each soiree, and sign-up is done through the faculty. Dates for this year are: October 30, December 18 and March 26. The Friday soirees run from 7:30 to 9:30 pm in Blackman Hall. Admission is a $5 suggested donation.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Pizza with Bruce – Join us before the Open Rehearsals for a pizza dinner and pre-rehearsal talk with Maestro Bruce Hangen. Dinner is $7 per person and includes pizza, salad and beverage. The Maestro will share interesting facts about the orchestra, composers, and rehearsal process to make the Open Rehearsal an exciting and dynamic experience. Watch for flyers at IHMS and announcements on our Home Page. Call the School Office to make your reservations at (978) 486-9524.

Open Rehearsals – The Orchestra of Indian Hill, conducted by Maestro Bruce Hangen, invites all students of Indian Hill Music School to attend selected rehearsals free of charge. Come see the musicians in action as they work through the process of creating a concert! The orchestra practices and performs in the auditorium of the Littleton High School which is adjacent to Indian Hill. Open Rehearsal dates this year are: October 15, January 23, March 11, and April 8. Rehearsals start at 7:30 pm, so please plan to arrive by 7:15 pm to receive information about the concert which the orchestra is preparing and instructions about etiquette at the rehearsals.

Music Exploration for Scouts – Scouts (Daisies, Brownies, Junior Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts) who attend Pizza with Bruce and an Open Rehearsal qualify for a music badge. Contact the School Manager for more information at (978) 486-9524 x-115.

MISCELLANEOUS PROGRAMS

Competitions – Students age 8-18 are eligible for our two annual competitions – the Side-By-Side Competition which allows students of orchestral instruments to play along with the professional musicians of the Indian Hill Chamber Orchestra; and the Concerto Competition which provides an opportunity to solo with the Orchestra of Indian Hill. Details and forms for these competitions are available at the beginning of the Fall semester. This year the Concerto Competition will be held the week of December 7, and the winner will play at the January 24 OIH concert. The Side-By-Side will be held October 19, and students will play on the November 22 OIH program.

Ensemble Program – In addition to regularly scheduled ensembles like the Big Band, A Cappella choir and Jazz Standards Band (visit our website for info on these groups), we also offer custom ensembles for students interested in learning and playing in a group setting. Ensembles run from 8-15 weeks once each week. Students interested in this opportunity should fill out the Ensemble Program Questionnaire which is available from the Music School Office prior to each semester. Each group works with a faculty coach at a mutually agreed upon day and time. Some of the group possibilities include brass quintets, string quartets, Baroque trios, piano trios, voice and instruments, and mixed ensembles of all kinds.

Open Studios Program – Twice a year the faculty is encouraged to think outside the box, and open their studio doors to allow other students, faculty and families in for collaboration and sharing. This year the weeks of November 16 and March 22 have been designated as Open Studios Weeks, although teachers may create activities and opportunities throughout each of these months. While schedules will mostly remain the same, students will be encouraged to interact with others in a variety of ways. Students may work with others in the same studio, perhaps in an over-lapping 15 minutes of two lessons; or they may be taken to visit the studio of a different teacher or an entirely different instrument. The idea is to take advantage of what we can offer as a community, to break down the barriers and work together to make music. Many exciting ideas have already come out of past Open Studios sessions, and new ensembles and partnerships have been formed to aid in the music education experience. Watch for the red and green signs on the studio doors! Green means GO!

Student-Teacher-Parent Sessions - STEPS are held annually for private lesson students in the Spring semester. The main purpose of these conferences is to give students the opportunity to describe and evaluate their own music learning process. Students are encouraged to talk about their music, technical abilities and challenges, practice habits, goals and successes. The secondary purpose is for students, teachers and parents to form an on-going, communicative, working relationship. Prior to the conferences, parents receive basic information and a STEPS schedule card (sessions take place during the regular lesson time) to help in preparation. Teachers are also given a support packet to aide this process, particularly to help students feel comfortable about their role in the session.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Indian Hill Music School reserves the right at any time to cancel a class due to insufficient enrollment. We will make every effort to hold all classes offered. In the case of a cancellation, those effected will be notified as soon as possible and a full refund will be issued if another suitable class is not available.

QUESTIONS? CALL THE OFFICE AT (978) 486-9524.