Introduction to Klezmer
July 12 - 17, 2024
10 a.m. – 1 p.m. & 3 – 6 p.m.

with Zilyin Biret, Deborah Strauss and Jeff Warschauer




Are you an instrumentalist who plays classical, jazz, folk, or some other kind of music and you find yourself drawn to klezmer music?  Then this workshop offers you a feast, not only of Yiddish instrumental music (klezmer) but also of its deep connections to Yiddish vocal music, dance, language and culture. It will be taught with a lively, holistic approach — a marriage of instruments, singing and movement that doesn’t just work with “the notes”  but leads  you into the world of Yiddish expression.
 
Daily topics will include Eastern European Jewish modality, klezmer phrasing, articulation and ornamentation, Yiddish song and Yiddish dance steps, gestures and movement, groove and more.

PLEASE NOTE! This workshop is for instrumentalists who want to explore Yiddish music, not for people who are just learning to play an instrument. If you’re comfortable on your instrument but newer to klezmer music or to learning by ear, then this workshop is for you!

Some teaching will be by ear, which is essential to learning a new musical style the way that hearing spoken language is essential to learning a foreign language. The language of instruction will be English.

Is this workshop right for me? Take the self-placement test here (required).

Workshop fee: 465 € Standard / 315 € Reduced / 645 € Sponsor / 165 € under 18