General Introduction to Klezmer & Yiddish Music

July 15 - 20, 2025
10 a.m. – 1 p.m. & 3 – 6 p.m. | introductory

with Zilyin Biret, Deborah Strauss, Jeff Warschauer & Anna Lowenstein

Are you an instrumentalist who plays classical, jazz, folk, or any other kind of music, and do 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 song, dance, language and culture.

The workshop will be taught with a lively, holistic approach — a marriage of instruments, singing, and movement that doesn’t stop at “the notes” but leads you into the whole world of Yiddish expression.

Topics will include Eastern European Jewish musical modes; typical klezmer phrasing, articulation, and ornamentation; Yiddish song; Yiddish dance steps, gestures, and movement; ear training; and working with written music.

We’ll learn both aurally and from written music in this workshop. 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.

 

Please note!
This workshop is geared towards intermediate/advanced instrumentalists who want to explore Yiddish music, rather than those who are still beginners on their instrument. If you’re comfortable on your instrument but newer to klezmer music or to learning by ear, then this workshop is for you!

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