Summer Music Program
Summer Program
We know that ABMTA's 2020 Summer Program is the perfect one for you. Our skilled instructors are offering focused and paced courses for aspiring young musicians. With our various courses and electives, each student will build necessary skills in order to be successful musicians. Please read through our course descriptions below!
80% of our proceeds have been donated to Communities for Restorative Justice!
Program Details
Grades: 2-8
Dates and Times:
2020: July 6th to July 10th from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
2021: TBD
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Cost: $300*
Full refunds are offered until July 5th at 11:59 PM. Payment information will be emailed to you after you register. We accept payments through Paypal, Venmo, and mailing.
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*If this is a cost barrier for you or your family, we do grant a financial aid package. Please indicate this when you fill out the registration form.
Instruments:
We have dedicated instructors for all instruments.
Primary Courses
Flex Blocks
At the end of every day, the campers will have the chance to explore music in ways that they may have never done before. For the last hour of the day, camp organizers will run a class about what they love about music that changes every day. Such classes include Music History, Music Composition, Yoga for Musicians, Classical Music in Popular Music, and more. This is a great opportunity for campers to form a meaningful connection to their work while having a lot of fun in a relaxed, enrichment-based setting.
Music History
Students will learn how music has evolved over time. This elective's focus will be on how Renaissance themes and Baroque music has shaped all the music we have today.
Music Composition
Students will explore various ways of composition. Using some skills from theory and ear training classes, students will under the guidance of the teacher work with each other to form a group composition that will be presented.
Yoga for Musicians
This lesson will introduce Yoga as a means of relieving tension. In any instrument, it is important to understand where the tension is. Mindfulness and the Alexander Technique will be introduced as well.
Classical in Pop
Although popular music is often seen as unrelated to classical music, this class will explore the ideas and motifs in classical music that are borrowed and used widely in popular music. Students will also study the various differences between the two styles.
Music Theory
This class will give students the necessary tools for analyzing any piece of music. From looking at time signature to analyzing chord progressions, this class will focus on the aspect of compositional ideas and the fundamentals to understanding musical themes.
Private Lessons
The lessons will give students a one-on-one experience with ABMTA faculty. The students will be taught certain techniques and refine their skills.
Performance Class
This will be a group class in a workshop style. One student will be playing their instrument, and the instructor will be sharing valuable insight on performance skills with that student. Every student will have a chance to perform.
Ear Training
This class will delve into important aspects of rhythm, melodies, harmonies, tendencies, etc. Sight-reading techniques will be taught, and there is less focus on analysis than theory.
Dr. Bill Cutter
2020 Summer Program Guest Speaker
Dr. Bill Cutter joined the Boston Conservatory in 1999 as director of choral studies, a position he held until 2010. He is now a professor of core studies in theory and teaches theory and ear training courses. In 2001, Cutter founded Boston Conservatory's Vocal/Choral Intensive, a summer program for high-school singers, and he continues to serve as an artistic co-director, along with Patty Thom. In addition to his work at the Boston Conservatory, Cutter is director of choral programs at MIT, a position he assumed in 1997. He has also served on the faculties of the University of Lowell (1987–1988), Walnut Hill School (1988-1993), and Boston University's School for the Arts (1992-1997), where he was an assistant professor of music. From 2002 to 2007, Cutter was the chorus master of the Boston Lyric Opera company. Since 1993, he has been the assistant conductor of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, the official chorus of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. In this position, he has prepared the chorus for Maestros Bramwell Tovey, David Zinman, Andris Nelsons, Roger Norrington, Keith Lockhart, and John Williams. Cutter has also served as guest conductor of the Montreal Symphony Chorus, Boston Choral Ensemble, New England Conservatory Chamber Choir, and Massachusetts Intercollegiate Choral Festival, in addition to several high-school choral festivals around the United States. With degrees in composition, Cutter maintains an active career as a composer and arranger, with recent performances of his work by the Boston Pops, the MIT Concert Choir and Symphony, the Chatham Chorale, and the Illinois State University Orchestra. His music has been published by Alfred Educational Publishers, Walton Music Publishers, Roger Dean Publishing, Colla Voce Music, E. C. Schirmer, and Hinshaw Music.
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Showcase
There will be a showcase at the end of the program. All students will perform in the showcase. All friends, families, and teachers are welcome to watch!
Materials
Required Material:
Computer or Laptop
Instrument
Clean Score
Internet Connection
Acceptable Lighting
Suggested Material:
External Mic
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COVID-19 Updates
80% of our proceeds ($1000) have been donated to Communities for Restorative Justice
Communities for Restorative Justice (C4RJ) is a growing nonprofit that partners with 25 cities and towns, their police departments, and the District Attorneys of Middlesex and Suffolk counties to rebuild trust and offer a path forward in the wake of crime. We listen to victims, hold offenders accountable, and restore trust in communities. Our volunteer-led "circle" dialogue is called restorative justice. It's personal. It's powerful. And it's why C4RJ is a proven, effective option within the justice system.
Testimonials
“I really liked the yoga - I like to dance and now I know how to do stretches and its fun to do yoga and know how yoga can help music!” - Anna Urzua
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“I got to learn more about music and improve my instrument playing” - Victoria
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“Meghan taught me a better way to belt, a healthier belting -- floating and using head voice and chest voice.” - Shriya
“ABMTA provided me a broader view on how I can pursue music. For math it’s like-- If I do math, I’ll do math; or science -- If I do science Ill do that. I gained a broader perspective with ear training, theory, and various other informative, interesting classes.” - Shriya