Instrumental Music Program  

We have expanded our offerings in both theory and performance. For guidance in selecting courses for your experience level, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section. We recommend that each of you take no more than one offering in each of the following three areas:

I: THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE

Intro to Klezmer Theory/AM1 Sherry Mayrent

This class will include an overview of the Jewish vocal sources of klezmer style, in-depth discussion of the modes that comprise traditional melody, as well as harmonic and rhythmic elements in traditional Yiddish instrumental music. The class is appropriate both for musicians and for nonmusicians wishing to listen to the music with a more educated ear.

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Klezmer Dissonance: Unlocking the Mysteries of Musical Energy/AM1 Josh Horowitz

This new hands-on class will cover specific techniques of creating musical energy for both performers and arrangers. Topics include how certain harmonies and stylistic gestures tend to weaken the momentum of a tune and how to remedy the 10 most common performance maladies, ways of delaying harmonic changes, jumping and staggering entrances, creating intentional clashes between melody and accompaniment, superimposing foreign modal cells, using cross-rhythmic phrasing and much more. The overall aim will be for students to meet a tune’s specific energy demands intuitively with a thorough knowledge of its dissonant potential. The class is geared toward advanced and intermediate players, but will benefit beginners as well.

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II: FOCUSED PRACTICAL LEARNING

Players should submit a recording representing their current skill level with their registration so that they can be placed appropriately.

Beginning Instruments/PM1 Dena Ressler

This class, open to all instrumentalists, is aimed at those students who have been playing for only a short time, whose proficiency on the instrument is not yet sufficient for them to benefit from instruction in the elements of klezmer style. Instead, this class will introduce, through listening to old recordings and playing simplified melodies, the basic modes from which klezmer tunes are constructed and how to learn tunes by ear. It will also introduce students to melodic improvisation in the context of traditional style and provide helpful hints about the mechanics of practicing this kind of music.

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Instruments/PM1

These classes, grouped by specific instrument, are aimed at the intermediate or advanced player who seeks instruction in the specific techniques of klezmer style and an understanding of how that instrument functions in a klezmer band.

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Meetings With Our Masters: Music/PM1 Ray Musiker

One of the strengths of KlezKamp has been creating opportunities for younger players to spend time with, listen to and play for the older masters of the tradition. This class, for advanced students, will be conducted like a graduate seminar. The idea is for each student to present to the class something that best represents his/her style. The instructors, who change from year to year so as to provide the greatest breadth of stylistic perspectives over time, provide direct feedback as well as elicit comments from the class; the objective is to guide the student to areas that need work.

This year, we are pleased to present a class featuring the legendary Ray Musiker. Students should submit a recording of one or two selections they plan to present before KlezKamp begins. This class is for advanced players only; the instructors reserve the right to suggest more appropriate placement based on the taped auditions. Open to all instrumentalists.

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Make Them Dance!/PM1 Jim Guttman

This is a workshop to help rhythm instrumentalists focus on the function of the rhythm section. The class will look at traditional dance styles - bulgar, slow hora, terkish as well as Dixieland and swing styles - in order to develop a deeper understanding of each instrument’s role in the rhythm section and its interaction with the rest of the section. For those who have taken their instrument class several times already, this is the perfect opportunity to gain additional knowledge and insights. For intermediate/advanced players with some ensemble playing experience and a functional knowledge of harmony.

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III: PLAYING/PERFORMANCE

By offering a wide variety of coached playing/performance options geared for all levels of playing ability, we hope to provide an interesting and varied experience that will continue to help students grow year after year.

Beginners‘ Ensemble/AM2 Pete Rushefsky

Based on the popular Slow Jam idea, this group will concentrate on playing through a relatively large number of tunes over the course of the week, to give beginning students an opportunity to gain some experience playing tunes in all genres without having to worry about performing. It will also give beginners a chance to try out what they have learned in their instrument class and start learning repertoire.

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Traditional Ensembles/AM2 & PM2

These ensembles will generally work toward preparing an instrumental tune/suite and possibly a vocal piece for presentation at the student concert on the last night. We will group students by level of proficiency into groups representing the type of instrumentation usually found in klezmer ensembles. Suitable for any level.

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Mandolin Orchestra/AM2 Jeff Warschauer

This ensemble is designed for intermediate/advanced players of any plucked or struck string instrument (mandolin, guitar, string bass, tsimbl, etc.), as well as for singers. The group will work partly by ear and partly from written arrangements created especially for this year’s students.

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Youth Orchestra/AM2 Christian Dawid

Klezmorim ages 8-17 are invited to join this lively and popular ensemble. Students should play an instrument in their school band or community orchestra or be studying privately. Music will be learned by ear.

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Modern Klezmer Repertoire/AM2 Susan Watts

This ensemble will play today’s newest klezmer repertoire. Both instrumentalists and vocalists are welcome. Ability to read music helpful. Students may bring charts of their own compositions (written out for both C and Bb instruments) for the group’s consideration.

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The Funky Side/PM2 Frank London

This ensemble will focus on deep rhythmic grooves and on Eastern European Jewish ensemble interaction. The group will learn and perform Hasidic and klezmer tunes with an emphasis on group grooves.

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Intermediate Dance Bands

The objective of these ensembles will be to prepare a 15-20 minute dance set to be performed as part of the student concert. Teaching will be geared toward intermediate players, but advanced players wanting to learn new repertoire without the pressure of performing every evening are also welcome. Two options will be offered:

• Intermediate Ear Band/PM2 Sherry Mayrent
  This ensemble will learn tunes by ear. This is a good opportunity for players who have never learned by ear before to give it a try and learn how it‘s done.
• Fidl Kapelye/AM1 Cookie Segelstein
  This year, the ever popular Fidl Kapelye takes on a new role: to play dance music that will bring the oylem (mob) to their feet. This will be a working ensemble, focusing on the musical and social skills necessary on the bandstand to facilitate communication and energy between the musicians, and between musicians and dancers. Open to players of all bowed stringed instruments.

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Advanced Dance Bands

These bands are a great way for advanced students to learn staples of the klezmer repertoire; in past years some of the hottest music at KlezKamp has been made by these groups. Each band will play a short dance set during the evening dance parties held after the formal evening program. Those who sign up for the band are making a commitment to perform every evening, often quite late at night. Three advanced bands will be offered:

• Reading Band /AM2 Pete Sokolow
  This group will work from printed music provided by the instructor. This is your opportunity to channel the great Yiddish theater orchestras of old.
• Advanced Ear Band/PM2 Merlin Shepherd
  This ensemble will learn tunes dance tunes entirely by ear.
• Hasidic Dance Band/AM2 Ken Maltz
  This group will work from written music of contemporary Hasidic repertoire.

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Jam Rooms

Throughout the day and evening, a number of rooms will be designated as jam rooms. Use of these rooms will be left totally to the initiative of the students. No enrollment is required.

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Slow Jam

The now-traditional slow jam will again take place during the free hour before dinner. The purpose of this session will be for beginners to get additional practice playing with other musicians, for those who are already accomplished at their main instrument to have an opportunity to practice second or third instruments, or for those who would just enjoy playing a body of different material. A collection of tunes with simplified melody lines will be provided for those who choose to read music; a CD of source materials is also available for those who prefer to learn by ear. No enrollment is required.