Friday June 8

WORKSHOPS I

11:30 - 12:30 Registration
1:00 - 2:00 Sera Smolen - Improvising Chamber Music
2:10 - 3:10 Water Bear – “Cameron” – jam session
3:20 - 4:20 Break of Reality – Rock 101
4:30 - 5:45 Cello Big Band

WORKSHOPS II

1:00 - 2:00 Corbin Keep – Speed Date Your Cello
2:10 - 3:10 Dana Leong – Jam session
3:20 - 4:20 Gideon Freudmann – strumming’ bowin’ pickin’ & grinnin’ - jam
4:30 - 5:45 Cello Big Band

Saturday June 9

WORKSHOPS I

9:00 - 10:00 Nancy Kulkarni - Music of India: Alap Improvisation
10:10 - 11:10 Gideon Freudmann - Blues
11:20 - 12:20 Break of Reality – jam session
12:30 - 1:00 lunch / exhibition
1:00 - 2:00 Blaise Kieler – How to be heard in an amplified setting
in the exhibition room
2:00 - 3:00 Zoe Keating – Rock out on the Cello
3:10 - 4:10 Corbin Keep – Applying the Icing

WORKSHOPS II

9:00 - 10:00 Water Bear – name music – a new way to compose and play
10:10 - 11:10 Chris White – Improvising on the Cello Big Band changes
11:20 - 12:20 Gideon Freudmann – Strumming the Night Away
12:30 - 1:00 lunch / exhibition
1:00 - 2:00 Blaise Kieler – How to be heard in an amplified setting (in the exhibition room)
2:00 - 3:00 Chris White – Latin Jam Session – Bossa and beyond
3:10 - 4:10 Sera Smolen – Open Discussion/Jam Session – Including improvisation in the classroom and in the private studio
4:20 - 5:45 Cello Big Band

Sunday June 10

10:00 – 1:30 Exhibition and store open

WORKSHOPS

9:30 - 10:45 Panel Discussion with Break of Reality, Zoe Keating & Jeffrey McFarland Johnson – Being a professional alternative cellist – Marketing, promotion and other tips.
10:55 - 11:55 Nancy Kulkarni - Music of India: Composition and Tala
10:55 - 11:55 Chris White - Playing chords on the cello
12:05 – 1:00 Cello Big Band rehearsal
1:00 - 1:45 lunch and final chance in exhibition and store

Descriptions of some of the workshops:

Break of Reality "Rock composition for celli and the synthesis of two genres."

Water Bear “Creating and Improvising Name Music” (beginning workshop)
We will experiment with creating Name Music motifs and develop short pieces based on the letter to pitch mapping scheme, using the pitches as melody or bass line, and then find several fun styles to apply to our playing and improvising on the piece. “Creating and Improvising Name Music” (intermediate/advanced) We will create several Name Music pieces based on the letter to pitch mapping scheme with more complex rhythms and faster tempos, using the series of pitches as melody or bass line or repeating ground or even building chords with the pitches. We will build a chord progression and experiment with possible arrangements, including improvised ones, making time for improvised solos for whomever would like that.
Water Bear “Cameron” (jam session)
A guided jam on Mer Boel's tune "Cameron" which appeared in the Spring/Summer issue of Cello City Ink. Learn how to create a spontaneous reading of this and other "name music" pieces (with any instrumentation) by working with the group.

Zoe Keating “Rockin' Out on the Cello” (beginning workshop)
Who needs guitars? Learn how to use your cello as a rock instrument. We'll cover rhythmic patterns, bow strokes, chords and riffs; along with and overview of amplification and signal processing techniques that get you the most powerful sound possible. Zoe Keating has made a career of non-classical cello. She has performed and recorded with many bands, including Rasputina, Imogen Heap, DJ Shadow, John Vanderslice, Belle and Sebastian, Robin Guthrie (Cocteau Twins) and Gordon Gano (Violent Femmes).

“How to be a Professional Alternative Cellist” (advanced)
More and more, bands want cellists on stage with them, or on their recordings. Good alternative cellists are in demand and it can be a rewarding career. So, what does it take to be a great cellist on stage and in the studio? We'll listen to a few popular songs and improvise along with them to come up with different cello parts that will enhance the song. Also, many audio engineers are not familiar with cellos, so you'll empower yourself by learning the sonic characteristics of a cello: what kind of microphones work, and their proper placement to reliably capture your sound. We'll also talk various aspects of the music biz, how to tour with a cello and how to market yourself. Zoe Keating has made a career of non-classical cello. She has performed and recorded with many bands, including Rasputina, Imogen Heap, DJ Shadow, John Vanderslice, Belle and Sebastian, Robin Guthrie (Cocteau Twins) and Gordon Gano (Violent Femmes). Dana Leong workshop(s) to be determined. May include working, composing and using electronics.

Corbin Keep "Speed Date your Cello"Co-write a tune, then jam on it, in one hour.

"Applying the Icing" Techniques for creating fresh colours in solos and accompaniment.

Nancy Kilkarni “Music of India: Alap Improvisation.” & “Music of India: Composition and Tala.”

Chris White “Latin Jazz Jam Session” (intermediate/advanced) Jam on some Bossa Nova and other Latin tunes

Gideon Freudman “Blues Cello for Beginners” simple blues bass lines, melodies and chords

“Strumming the Night Away” (advanced workshop) chord formation and patterns along with finger picking and strumming techniques

“Strumming, Bowing, Pickin' and Grinnin'” (jam session)

Sera Smolen “Improvising Chamber Music/Improvising String Quartets” (jam session) We will be examining some of the musical elements which make string quartet performances unforgettable, and applying these elements to improvised string quartets. Learn strategies to play instantaneous chamber music in an atmosphere where there are no mistakes, ever.

Blaise Kielar of Electric Violin Shop “Pickup on your present cello or solid body electric cello? How to be heard in an amplified setting” There are many ways to have your cello be heard over louder instruments. To de-mystify your choices in going electric with cello, we’ll compare approaches to amplification, from both technological and ease-of-use standpoints. Learn about different pickups for acoustic instruments, solid body instruments, effects processors, computer interfaces, etc. Equipment will be on hand from different makers for comparison. Bring your questions!

More Workshops to be Announced