Program Features
Where the Fine-tuning of Musicians Happens
Program Goals
Inspire positive music learning in a wholesome and supportive environment
Enhance performance skills, techniques, and overall musicianship
Cultivate musicians' intentions, awareness, wellbeing, and abilities to collaborate with others
The guitar program offers a rare opportunity of concentrated study with guitar virtuoso Alex de Grassi in an immersive setting. The curriculum includes:
A combination of lecture demonstrations, masterclasses, one-on-one lessons, daily practices, and performance opportunities
The guitar program encompasses styles as diverse as folk, jazz, and classical guitar and contemporary fingerstyle guitar
Participation in ensemble performances
Technical instructions on aspects such as improving tone production, timbre, and dynamics
How to make smooth transitions through challenging passages by utilizing position shift and guide finger techniques
Analyzing the rhythmic, harmonic, and overall compositional structure of selected excerpts
The saxophone program centers around the principles of inspiring and nurturing saxophonists' inherent, spontaneous, and creative nature. The curriculum includes:
- The Art of Warm-ups
Explore the benefits of physical, mental, and musical warm-ups through hands-on exercises
- Saxophone Fundamentals and Extended Techniques
Long tone, articulation, scales, arpeggios, patterns, and how to work through technical challenges
- The Musician and the Instrument
How to build a healthy relationship with your instruments, and how to mindfully take care of them
- Saxophone Repertoire
Various genres of solo, chamber, ensemble, and orchestral music
- Saxophone Improvisation Workshop
Improvisation and composition
Barbara Bogatin is a cellist with the San Francisco Symphony, chamber music player, and educator in the field of mindfulness training for musicians. In 35 years of practicing insight meditation, she has integrated the embodied knowledge this contemplative work nurtures into effective methods for improving instrumental practice and performance. She will present daily talks about how the skills we cultivate during meditation can be helpful in our music-making. Each day will feature a different topic of discussion and a related experiential workshop.
There will also be opportunities to have one-on-one sessions with Barbara and other faculty members.
This program is open for all musicians with different instruments.
- Day 1
Practice + Experiential Workshop
- Day 2
Focus and Calm + Experiential Workshop
- Day 3
Deepening Musical Expression + Experiential Workshop
with Dr. Cliff Saron
Research Scientist, University of California at Davis
- Theme 1
Neuroplasticity and Musicians' Brains - How musical training shapes our brains
- Theme 2
Brains in Concert - Brain-to-brain coupling during performance
- Theme 3
There's Something About Stillness - The effects of meditation on perception, attention, and emotion.
Dr. Alexander Kahn, Director of Orchestral Studies and Professor of Music at Sonoma State University, is a mindfulness practitioner and co-author of Caring for the Whole Musician, published by Routledge Press in 2022. This summer, Dr. Kahn will offer week-long workshops, serve on a panel of faculty during masterclasses, and engage in dialogues on mindfulness and music. The curriculum includes:
This program is open for all musicians with different instruments.
- Mindfulness in the Practice Room
The Art of Practicing: how to practice more effectively, efficiently, and joyfully
- Mindful Speech in the Rehearsal Hall
Is it the right time to say this?
Is it true?
Is it helpful?
Is it kind?
- Metta (Loving-kindness) Practice for Musicians
Metta practice can be effective in all types of situations, from a solo practice session to a full ensemble rehearsal to a performance in front of a large audience
- Mindful Performing and Strategies for Stage Fright and Anxiety
- One-on-one Consultation and Coaching
Daily contemplative and wellness practices rooted in meditation, Taiji, Yoga, Ayurvedic and Chinese medicines facilitated by serious practitioners of the fields are core of the daily curriculum that supports musicians' awareness, sensibility, and wellbeing. In addition, we offer a vegan diet, thoughtfully crafted by our holistic lifestyle counselor and chef, to nourish and care for the environment, other living beings, and ourselves.
- Guided and Silent Meditation
- Taiji for Harmony and Balance
- Personal Wellness Techniques
Curriculum Overview
Daily Contemplative and Wellness Practices
Meditation, Taiji, Yoga, Lifestyle Consultation, and vegan meals
Masterclasses
Perform pieces for the studio group and receive constructive feedback from a panel of faculty
One-on-one Classes
Weekly private lesson with the faculty
Concerts
A series of professional concerts offered by the music faculty and guest musicians
Performance Opportunities
Informal and formal performances during evening gatherings or student concerts
Guest Workshops
Workshops and performances by experts from the fields of music and contemplative practices
Recreational Activities
Nature, trails, redwoods, coasts
