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"Chamber Music Madness", our title program, refers to this series of Sight-reading & Repertoire Exploration Workshops.
Cellos in Chamber Orchestra
Photo: Irv Eisenberg
Monthly sessions of Chamber Music Madness programs enroll students from Bellingham to Port Angeles, from Issaquah to Eugene, Oregon. Come as an individual -you don't need a group!
Chamber music has allowed me to connect with my peers in profound ways. These programs have had a deepening affect upon my musicianship by providing me with immense opportunities for musical and personal challenges.
Emily Cole-violinist, Seattle, age 18 Camp Nirvana 2001, 2003; Chamber Madness 2000-04 |
FACULTY: Director Karen Iglitzin, and Irwin Eisenberg of Philadelphia String Quartet fame and Leslie Marckx, dynamic cellist. This is the core faculty who coach each time on a regular basis.
WORKSHOP LOCATION: Lake City Presbyterian Church • 3841 NE 123rd St • Seattle, WA 98125
WHEN: Four times per semester, Sunday afternoons from 2:00-5:00 pm
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
There are three divisions of the Madness Program:
"Mini Madness"
Sundays 2:00-5:00
Eligible: violin, viola, cello
Though this is our “entry level program” many of the students are quite experienced and almost all the groups are playing standard chamber music repertoire. This includes Haydn, the early Mozart and Beethoven quartets. Within this division there is one ensemble for first-timers in the program and those with less technical or chamber experience. That group usually plays arrangements and works gradually up to the standard repertoire. In Mini-Madness, coaches stay with their group the full time.
FACULTY: Karen Iglitzin, Irwin Eisenberg, Leslie Marckx, Tom Dziekonski, violinist, and Judy Beatie, violin and violist. We often have the extra benefit of high school teaching interns who sit in and play along with the students and can try out their teaching skills.
"Beyond Madness"
Sundays 2:00-5:00pm
Eligible: violin, viola and cello
This intermediate level includes students from mostly middle and high school ages, with an emphasis on the older group. They play standard repertoire such as Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Shostakovich quartets. Coaches generally stay with their group for most if not all of the period. Sometimes for brief periods the ensemble is assigned a mini-rehearsing project (5 or 10 minutes) to begin to develop their independent working ability. We often have the added benefit of being able to incorporate the most advanced of our high school players to play along with and assist the students
FACULTY: Karen Iglitzin, Irwin Eisenberg, Leslie Marckx, Tom Dziekonski, violinist, and Judy Beatie, violin and violist.
"Ultimate
Madness"
Sundays 2:00-5:00pm
Eligible: violin, viola and cello
This advanced level is comparable to the most advanced tier in local youth symphonies. Students are playing the gamut from Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Shostakovich and Bartok. The advanced Madness model has coaches helping for ½ the period for each hour assigned to a piece. In this way, students are given the opportunity to rehearse on their own and develop their working techniques. In this division students are expected to have a high level of the skills we have been developing: excellent ‘survival skills ‘ in terms of staying together while playing a difficult piece for the first time, but also to play with an immediate commitment to musicality and interpretation.
FACULTY: Karen Iglitzin, Irwin Eisenbergand Leslie Marckx, cellist. From time to time, guest teachers are invited to participate.
Guest teachers with the various Madness programs have included:
Alan Iglitzin, founding violist of Philadelphia String Quartet and director of Olympic Music Festival; Ingrid Matthews, Baroque violin specialist; Andrew Galos, violinist, Chautauqua Music Festival;; Eileen Swanson, Northwest Chamber Orchestra; Aviva Leonard, viola; Meg Brennand, cellist; Cecilia Pollein Buss, violinist, Seattle Symphony, Lawrence Fisher, violin; Ron Patterson, violin; Marjorie Kransberg-Talvi, concertmaster of Northwest Chamber Orchestra, Judy Geist, violist, Philadelphia Orchestra.
COME ON YOUR OWN- WE'LL BUILD YOU AN ENSEMBLE!
Students are grouped according to playing and maturity level for sight-reading and coaching of great works.
*Learn to rehearse and communicate
*Develop ensemble skills
*Play with expression and style
*Experience leadership training
Students have at least two different groupings each afternoon. Each group has a coach who guides in sight-reading survival skills, in-depth insights into the music, and plays along with students. Wonderful faculty/student ratio. We have a magnificent library encompassing the standard string quartet and chamber music repertoire.
ULTIMATE MADNESS SCHEDULE:
2:00- play in a small group with a coach to help give you insights into the piece and composer
3:00- play in a different small ensemble with a different coach
4:00 - Refreshments (parent volunteers!)
4:15 - Mystery Moment
Some sessions feature a mystery event- such as Baroque dance, fiddling, career discussion, American folk dance, singing, and more.
4:30-5 - Madness chamber orchestra- a student-led, non conducted group, to help incorporate ensemble skills and enjoy group bonding
BEYOND MADNESS AND MINI MADNESS SCHEDULE: (these divisions operate separately but meet on the same day)
2:00-small groups- string quartets, quintets, etc, with a coach to serve as your guide!
3:00-string quartet literature done as a chamber orchestra
4:00- snack break (parent volunteers); special “mystery” activities
4:30-5:00 In-house ‘sharing’ of groups or solos; master-classes or more ensembles
HOW TO ENROLL IN THE PROGRAM: Registration for first term is early June, for second term in mid-November. However, we have a waiting list for almost every instrument in every program. Because of that, we let new students audition at their convenience at any time of the year, and then they are placed on the wait list. At each registration period, those who we can fit in will be contacted to enroll in the program. Here are the steps:
1) Send in an application form with registration fee payable to Chamber Music Madness
2) Then arrange an informal, friendly placement audition with Mr. Irwin Eisenberg. This will help us assess which program and ensemble would be the best spot for you.
3)Your spot on the wait list will become official after your audition
4) You will be immediately contacted when a spot comes open for you.
Unfortunately, we cannot provide credit for missed workshops.
Upon registration, you will receive confirmation by e-mail or regular mail if email is not available to you.
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