Students return year after year (more than 90% of students have attended more than one year) for the extraordinary American Youth Harp Ensemble Summer Institutes! These programs not only nurture musical ability but provide the camaraderie of a summer camp experience where students form lasting friendships. The combination of outstanding faculty, a rich musical environment, and the company of talented students makes for an exciting, memorable, and rewarding summer experience.
Your AYHE Summer Harp Institute Customized Daily Schedule Offers:
– Daily schedule of ensemble rehearsals, classes, workshops, practice and individual attention
– One private harp lesson per day affording you an opportunity to work with each one of our world-class teachers!
– A supportive and inspiring environment for students at all levels – from beginners to advanced
– Repertoire selections tailored to student abilities and placement determined by age and skill level
– Attention to individual needs, learning style, and physiology
– Emphasis on developing effective practice skills, memorization techniques, and performance etiquette
– An exhilarating and challenging musical experience
– Performance opportunities, including solo and ensemble concerts
– Harps available for use at in-person Institutes
– Fun social activities, and more!
WORKSHOPS & SEMINARS
Arts Management
As a professional musician or arts entrepreneur, success depends on your ability to connect and engage diverse communities through marketing, fundraising, strategic planning, leadership, and so much more. In this class, you will gain practical skills to support your artistic endeavors and insight into what it takes to become a visionary leader in arts and culture.
Conducting:
Learn basic skills of conducting and leading an ensemble. Students will prepare a short score while conducting with their peers. Students also have an opportunity to conduct in the final performance.
Composition and Arranging with Chris Marshall:
Chris’ compositions have been played by many of the world’s leading orchestras. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, and London Mozart Players, to name a few. In the class, students will explore new harmonic textures, structures for melody, and new rhythmic ideas. Each student will write their own piece based on the skills learned in the class.
The Gig Musician:
A realistic exploration of the business aspects of a career in music, including its joys and its realities. Students develop a wedding repertoire list and book, create individualized contracts, learn marketing strategies, and acquire other practical knowledge about the life of a professional musician.
Introduction to Dalcroze Eurhythmics:
Founded by Swiss music educator Emile Jaques Dalcroze, Eurhythmics is a unique approach to developing musicianship through movement, ear training, and improvisation activities.
Introduction to Improvisation and Jazz for Classical Musicians:
A brief lecture on the history of jazz. Students learn the basics of improvisation.
Music History
Each daily session explores Western music history in a broad fashion. The class introduces the music of the Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionist, and Modern periods. The course focuses on listening but covers history, society, architecture, and other art forms as well.
Music Theory
All students take a theory placement test to be placed appropriately in a beginner, intermediate, or advanced theory class. Students learn the language, terminology, and mechanics of music, plus the fundamentals of sound, notation, intervals, chords, musical forms, and analysis.
Music Therapy Overview:
Learn about music therapy, including the emerging field of harp therapy. Exciting new research, applications, and possibilities will be explored.
The Orchestral Harpist:
Students gain insights into orchestral playing from orchestral harpists and a professional symphony conductor during this informative session.
Practical Seminar for the Music Student:
This class guides careers in music, competitions, and places to further musical study. Guest faculty include professors from conservatories and music schools.
Practice Like a Pro!
Explore tips, tricks, and techniques for efficient and effective practice. “The habits of greatness” make all the difference. Year after year, students (and their teachers) say this seminar inspires the most profound growth.
World Music and Rhythm
Take your rhythm to the next level with this fun and engaging class. Chris Marshall will take all pupils, whatever their level, and start at the beginning. What is Rhythm? You will learn how to internalize and develop your rhythmic skills through a series of exercises and fun games. As we develop our rhythm, we will start exploring new, exciting, and more advanced concepts as we look at music from around the world. Music from Cuba, Africa, and the Balkan countries of Eastern Europe will be just some of what we will cover. This class is a must for all students, teachers, and interested instrumentalists.
Masterclasses with guest artist faculty, performances and so much more… visit www.greenspringmusic.org/summer for more information.
Quotes from students:
“Intensely rewarding and intensely fun! I made more progress in two weeks than I did in one year of private study. Plus, I made incredible new friends!” — L. W.
“A motivating, inspirational, and life-changing experience [and] a musician’s dream come true.” — L. B.
“The AYHE Summer Harp Institute helped me decide that I wanted to pursue harp as my career. I have a deeper appreciation of music because of the music history and theory classes, which were incredibly inspirational. It was truly an amazing and life-changing experience for me!” — A. M.
