Summer Keyboard Institute. Furman University

Summer Keyboard Institute
June 21 - 26, 2009

Sponsors: Furman Music with assistance from Case Brothers of Spartanburg.

WHO MAY ATTEND
Piano students 12 - 18 years of age with a traditional piano repertoire level of intermediate to advanced.  Students select one primary area of study and one secondary area of study.  Primary area small group sessions meet daily (five one hour sessions); secondary area small group sessions meet two days.  Piano master classes are offered daily for all participants. Students may board on campus or elect to commute; standard day runs from 8:30 am - 8:30 pm with social events planned each evening.

PRIMARY AREAS OF STUDY

  • Piano: traditional studio piano repertoire, performance and technique
  • Organ: pipe organ performance, repertoire, technique
  • Technology: composition, digital creativity

SECONDARY AREAS OF STUDY

  • Piano
  • Organ
  • Technology
  • Ensemble Piano (four hand)
  • Improvisation

REPERTOIRE
Students should come prepared with two traditional piano or organ works at performance level. Students should also bring with them two works in progress for further study during the week.  Piano master class participation is available and encouraged. For repertoire questions, please contact Dr. Derek Parsons.

Primary study is for intermediate or advanced students only. In order to elect Organ as your primary area of study, your organ skill level should meet the criteria listed below.  If seeking an introduction to organ, you may select organ as your secondary area of study, but should come prepared with appropriate shoes.

Criteria if selecting Organ as Primary or requesting Organ Lessons:

  • You must currently be taking organ lessons and have an intermediate knowledge of the instrument
  • You must have reached a level of advancement in order to play one of the 8 Little Preludes and Fugues of J.S. Bach, as well as repertory of similar difficulty from other historical periods
  • You must be able to perform some of the easier hymns
  • You must have at least 3 organ works in contrasting styles which are performance-ready
  • Organ Shoes  All students wishing to study Organ – either as a primary or a secondary area – must bring shoes which allow them to play the pedals properly. “Organ shoes” are essentially tap dance shoes (e.g. Capezios) without taps: they fit snugly, and have both leather heels and soles. (Rubber heels and/or soles make pivoting on the pedals very difficult.)  If students do not possess such shoes, the best substitute is a snug-fitting loafer. Instruction will not be provided if students only have available sneakers, flip-flops, or other inappropriate shoes.
  • Questions?  Contact Dr. Charles Tompkins.

MUSICAL EVENTS
Nightly recitals are presented by the institute faculty and staff.  Parents and friends are welcome to attend.  All musical events take place on the Furman campus, utilizing state-of-the-art facilities within the Daniel Music Building and the acoustically resplendent Daniel Memorial Chapel.  The opening faculty recital is Sunday evening at 7:30 pm.  Monday - Thursday the nightly faculty recitals begin at 7:30 pm and are open to the public.  Students culminate the week with Friday recitals, displaying the skills on which they focused during their week-long primary sessions.  All recitals are open to the public.

Daily schedules include: breakfast meeting, Adventures in Music sessions, lesson time, practice time, lunch, piano master class, recreation, dinner meeting, faculty recital and a social event.  Students are welcome to bring board games or cards for recreation time.  Swimming is available.

Primary and secondary group assignments are made once a follow-up questionnaire is completed and returned to the department.  The questionnaire and additional information will be mailed approximately a month before the institute. Duet/ensemble piano literature will be loaned to students during the week.  If taking ensemble piano, you are welcome to bring your own selections as well.

PRIVATE LESSONS
Private lessons with the institute faculty are available in each of the five disciplines, $25 per half hour lesson, paid at registration check-in, not with application. Before arriving, students should memorize two works on their primary instrument at performance level. They are also encouraged to bring two additional recently started selections for practice and lesson focus during the week. Just as with piano, organ lessons are not an introduction to the instrument, but are geared for intermediate students that meet the criteria listed above.

HOUSING AND MEALS
Dorms are 2-room air conditioned suites with shared bath, double occupancy, two single beds per room.  Linens are not provided unless selected on the fee schedule.  Boarding students receive a meal band for access to all meals.  Lunch is included in the commuter cost. Commuters may elect to return home during afternoon recreation and evening dinner times, though evening recital and social activity attendance is expected.  Additional information...

COMING AND GOING
Access to Furman by air is available through the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP).  Visit their web site. For directions to the campus or local hotel information, CLICK HERE.

LEARN MORE
About Furman University:  www.EngageFurman.edu
About Furman Music:  www.MusicAtFurman.com
About Greenville: www.greenvilleon-line.com