Stay tuned for our April-June project; or sign up for our summer Baroque Strings Festival!
Now with TWO Ensembles … choose Renaissance or Baroque Music
Programs for varying ages & levels
~ Rehearsals begin in September; performance October 29 ~
Discover the thrill of historical performance style in small chamber ensembles where everyone's sound matters.
Age 10-14: Renaissance Consorts
Early Autumn 2023: English country dance & Shakespeare tunes
Presented in conjunction with Seattle Fiddlesticks
Some of the catchiest music ever comes from Shakespeare's time — joyful dance tunes that are adaptable to almost any ensemble sizes and playing levels. Join SHAK director Shulamit Kleinerman for a six-week adventure exploring this rich and satisfying repertoire together!
Who can participate: This program is open to players of bowed strings, plucked strings, and winds, typically from minimum two years' experience through high intermediate level, with ability to read music at their playing level. Players will receive repertoire in small groups suited to their levels. (Advanced musicians may wish to participate as new viola da gamba players — please inquire!)
Tentative readers age 10-12: Full
Advanced reading/phrasing ability, age 12-14: One space may be available
Classes:
Saturday afternoons Sept 16, 23, Oct 7, 14, 21, 28. Students will be assigned a 75- to 90-min slot between 2-6pm. Held at director's studio in the Lake City neighborhood of Seattle; address given upon enrollment.
Performance:
Sunday October 29, 4pm at Faith Lutheran Church, 8208 18th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98115. Student arrival times begin at 1:30.
Age 13-18: Baroque Chamber Music
Early Autumn 2023: Chamber music from the 17th century
Enjoy the fanciful and sophisticated delights of early Baroque chamber music, with a real Baroque bow in your hand! Older than all the repertoire you usually play, this fun and expressive material is one of music history's best-kept secrets. Coachings with SHAK instructors lead to a final performance with continuo accompaniment by SHAK guest artist John Lenti, theorbo.
Who can participate: Students of violin and viola, usually age 13-18.* All participants must have strong basics: excellent intonation, good reading and rhythm, the ability to use all parts of the bow effectively, and productive practice habits. Players will receive repertoire in small groups suited to their levels:
- Early-intermediate students (only one space left, violin or viola only): Those who are still be discovering the rewards and responsibilities of true chamber music, where everyone needs to master their own part during their at-home practice time. There's no hiding in a big section! Please be sure that your private lesson teacher will be available to assist you with learning your notes and rhythms if needed. For the most part, you won't be cramming difficult notes here, just building a higher standard of accuracy and confidence. By learning to contribute in this way, you'll discover the thrill of being a constructive force in any ensemble. (In terms of the well-known Suzuki repertoire, students at this musical level might be around Book 4-6 or might even be strong readers in Book 3, but please take careful note of the requirement above for strong basics.)
- Late-intermediate to advanced students (only one space left): Those who are experienced with solo, orchestra, and one-on-a-part chamber music will love what they can accomplish here! If the notes are easy for you, you can experience the repertoire like professionals do, focusing on the joy and intellectual richness of the music and on exploring sophisticated stylistic details of sound, articulation, ensemble, and phrasing. Learning how to use a Baroque bow will give you new agility and power in your bow arm.
*If slightly younger but you think you are musically and socially ready, or if you're interested but play a different instrument, please contact us to inquire.)
Rehearsals and coachings:
Between mid-September and late October, you'll be assigned near-weekly rehearsals with your level-matched ensemble. (For advanced, independent musicians, some rehearsals may be uncoached practice sessions.) Students who are new to the Baroque bow will also receive 2-3 individual or small-group coachings with a SHAK teacher of their instrument. These can begin as soon as you sign up! When you register, you'll provide availability information that makes all this possible.
Performance:
Sunday October 29, 4pm at Faith Lutheran Church, 8208 18th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98115. Student arrival times begin at 1:30.
Above: EMYA 8th-9th graders play Renaissance music from Spain (live video shows after the opening)
Below: EMYA high schoolers play Baroque chamber music
Cost
All of SHAK's programs operate on a sliding-fee model.
Above local median household income / net worth: Please pay $250-325, which usually covers about 75%-90% of the program's actual cost. NOTE: Baroque chamber music newcomers will be asked to make an additional payment for indiividual coachings.
Near local median household income / net worth: Please pay $150-225, which usually covers around half of the program's actual cost. NOTE: Baroque chamber music newcomers will be asked to make an additional payment for indiividual coachings.
Below local median household income / net worth: No one turned away for lack of funds. Please pay what you can, in line with what you pay for your student's other extracurricular activities.
Payment
Your registration is not complete until we receive your payment. Tuition is typically nonrefundable; exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis. How to pay:
- By credit card below
- By check to SHAK, PO Box 27472, Seattle WA 98165
- Or request a Venmo link
