Line Spinning with Josh Horowitz: Monday, 1:45 – 3:00 PM: July 7, 14, 21, 28, Aug 4
Monday, 1:45 – 3:00 PM: July 7, 14, 21, 28, Aug 4
This is a crash course in ear training and muscle memory that will help students internalize the details of klezmer style on the spot. Rather than learning a tune from a chart followed by adding variations, we will explore an exhaustive array of motives, varying them piece by piece, bit by bit, using stock phrases found in klezmer tunes over and over again. Students usually find it to be a very relaxed way of learning because they aren’t faced with memorizing a melody but rather develop a complete idea of each motive’s potential through multiple ways of playing it. One participant even described the class as an improvisational “warm bath.” We will “spin lines” from various melodies, approaching each melodic fragment in a variety of ways. In this way, students absorb the style while automatically gaining an improvisation vocabulary immediately and directly. This technique was first developed by Josh years ago in Vienna and has been used at Klez Kamp, Klez Kanada, Weimar and many other camps for over 35 years. Although this is a melody-oriented workshop, we will also deal with some accompaniment figuration as well, applicable to all instruments.
Additional Info: For intermediate to advanced students. No previous klezmer experience is required, but knowledge of instrument and intermediate music reading ability is required for reading simple lead sheets. Basic theory knowledge of scales, triads, and intervals is helpful but not necessary.
Monday, 1:45 – 3:00 PM: July 7, 14, 21, 28, Aug 4
This is a crash course in ear training and muscle memory that will help students internalize the details of klezmer style on the spot. Rather than learning a tune from a chart followed by adding variations, we will explore an exhaustive array of motives, varying them piece by piece, bit by bit, using stock phrases found in klezmer tunes over and over again. Students usually find it to be a very relaxed way of learning because they aren’t faced with memorizing a melody but rather develop a complete idea of each motive’s potential through multiple ways of playing it. One participant even described the class as an improvisational “warm bath.” We will “spin lines” from various melodies, approaching each melodic fragment in a variety of ways. In this way, students absorb the style while automatically gaining an improvisation vocabulary immediately and directly. This technique was first developed by Josh years ago in Vienna and has been used at Klez Kamp, Klez Kanada, Weimar and many other camps for over 35 years. Although this is a melody-oriented workshop, we will also deal with some accompaniment figuration as well, applicable to all instruments.
Additional Info: For intermediate to advanced students. No previous klezmer experience is required, but knowledge of instrument and intermediate music reading ability is required for reading simple lead sheets. Basic theory knowledge of scales, triads, and intervals is helpful but not necessary.
Monday, 1:45 – 3:00 PM: July 7, 14, 21, 28, Aug 4
This is a crash course in ear training and muscle memory that will help students internalize the details of klezmer style on the spot. Rather than learning a tune from a chart followed by adding variations, we will explore an exhaustive array of motives, varying them piece by piece, bit by bit, using stock phrases found in klezmer tunes over and over again. Students usually find it to be a very relaxed way of learning because they aren’t faced with memorizing a melody but rather develop a complete idea of each motive’s potential through multiple ways of playing it. One participant even described the class as an improvisational “warm bath.” We will “spin lines” from various melodies, approaching each melodic fragment in a variety of ways. In this way, students absorb the style while automatically gaining an improvisation vocabulary immediately and directly. This technique was first developed by Josh years ago in Vienna and has been used at Klez Kamp, Klez Kanada, Weimar and many other camps for over 35 years. Although this is a melody-oriented workshop, we will also deal with some accompaniment figuration as well, applicable to all instruments.
Additional Info: For intermediate to advanced students. No previous klezmer experience is required, but knowledge of instrument and intermediate music reading ability is required for reading simple lead sheets. Basic theory knowledge of scales, triads, and intervals is helpful but not necessary.