Strings

Magdalena Richter, String Department Chair

Private Lessons

Private lessons of 30, 45, and 60 minutes are offered in all the categories listed under faculty. Prospective students must set up an audition or placement interview with Magdalena Richter, String Department Chair, who will advise each student personally regarding an appropriate studio teacher placement.  For more information on the benefits of taking private lessons here at NEC, please see our private instruction page. 

For information on teacher placement interviews and scheduling, click here. For assistance, please contact Ana Lorenzo, Department Coordinator at (617) 585-1131 or by e-mail at ana.lorenzo@necmusic.edu.

Suzuki Violin and Cello

Nancy Hair, Cello Instructor
Susan Jarvis, Violin Instructor

Shinichi Suzuki believed that “any child who is properly trained can develop musical ability just as all children develop the ability to speak their mother tongue.” This approach to learning creates a close relationship between the child, parent, and teacher. The parent is not only present at all classes and lessons but is also the daily home teacher. The principles of the Suzuki method include daily listening, development of concentration and memory skills, learning to work with other students, parents, and teachers in group activities, and continual repetition and refinement of techniques, which allows students to build on successes. The Suzuki approach sustains a positive environment for growth.

Students are required to register separately for private lessons and weekly group class. For more information and enrollment, please contact Nancy Hair (nancy.hair@necmusic.edu) for cello, and Susan Jarvis (susan.jarvis@necmusic.edu) for violin.

Beginning Suzuki students are encouraged to participate in the Eurhythmics Program. For more information, please visit our Early Musicianship page.

Beginning Double Bass Instruction

Susan Hagen, Instructor

The recent development of miniature double basses (in graduated sizes similar to Suzuki violins and cellos) now enables children as young as five or six to begin studying this important orchestral instrument without losing years of potential study because of the instrument’s size. Previous musical experience is helpful but not necessary. Parental support, however, is essential (attendance at all lessons and guiding the daily home practice sessions).

An important addition to the private lesson is participation in a 28-week bass ensemble. This one-hour group lesson provides an opportunity not only to learn essential ensemble skills and techniques but also to gain experience in solo performance practice.

Instruments are available to borrow at no charge through the NEC Preparatory School.

For more information, please contact Susan Hagen at susan.hagen@necmusic.edu.

Prep Bass Ensemble

Christopher Rathbun, Instructor

Prep Bass Ensemble is open to beginner and advanced beginner double bass players. Students placed in this ensemble have mastered basic technical aspects of the instrument and have generally studied their instrument for at least 1-3 years. The music is specifically tailored to provide challenging individual parts. Emphasis is on ensemble playing, reading, and common repertoire. Fun will be required as needed.

For more information, please contact Christopher Rathbun at christopher.rathbun@necmusic.edu.

Rehearals: Saturday, 3:00 - 4:00 pm

Chamber Music

Laura Blustein, String & Piano Chamber Music Chair

The NEC Preparatory School offers chamber music coaching of ensembles of all levels and ages. Groups will be determined by age, ability, and instrumentation. Each will receive 28 coaching sessions and two end-of-semester workshops. Students are expected to participate in festival concerts each semester.

Auditions are held in September. To schedule an appointment, contact the Preparatory School office at 617-585-1160 after August 1st, 2013 or prep@necmusic.edu. NEC Preparatory School’s chamber ensemble in residence, the Boston Trio, is available to team-coach several qualified chamber ensembles.

Sonata-Duo Class

Maria Benotti, Instructor

Saturday, 2:00 - 3:00 PM

Violinist-pianist partners study specific works from the violin-sonata literature, two duos sharing a one-hour lesson in workshop format. Each pair performs for their colleagues and in turn observes the others’ instruction, scores in hand. Intensive study of technical as well as interpretive aspects of each sonata is the focus. Performance presence and refinement of ensemble playing, discussion and hearing of concepts are encouraged. Open to upper-intermediate to advanced players.

Auditions are held in September. To schedule an appointment, contact the Preparatory School office at 617-585-1160 after August 1st, 2013 or prep@necmusic.edu.

Orchestras

Orchestra auditions take place in May and June of each year. For more information and to schedule an audition, please visit http://necmusic.edu/prep/audition.

Youth Philharmonic Orchestra (YPO)

David Loebel and Hugh Wolff, directors

Touring ensemble: Summer 2013 tour. Open by audition to highly advanced pre-college players. Admission to YPO is extremely selective. Students placed in YPO generally play at a level which will guarantee them admission to selective conservatories. While orchestral assignments are made by level, not age, most members of YPO are in grades 10 - 12. Younger college-age players are sometimes invited to fill vacancies due to the absence of qualified pre-college players.

For more information, click here.

Rehearsals – Saturday, 3:10 - 6:00 PM

Youth Symphony (YS)

Steven Karidoyanes, conductor

Touring ensemble: Summer 2013 tour. Open by audition to advanced players. Admission to YS is very selective. Students placed in YS generally play with a high level of musicality and technical mastery, are comfortable playing complete concertos from all stylistic periods, and have significant prior orchestral and chamber music experience. While orchestral assignments are made by level, not age, most members of YS are in grades 10 - 12.

For more information, click here.

Rehearsals – Saturday, 3:15 - 6:00 PM

Youth Repertory Orchestra (YRO)

Jane Ezbicki, conductor

Open by audition to upper intermediate to advanced players. Students placed in YRO generally play with good intonation and tone quality, a variety of dynamics, and are comfortable carrying their part independently while blending with the ensemble. While orchestral assignments are made by level, not age, most members of YRO are in grades 8 - 11.

For more information, click here.

Rehearsals – Saturday, 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Junior Repertory Orchestra (JRO)

Adam Grossman, conductor

Open by audition to intermediate strings, winds, horns, and trumpet players. Students placed in JRO generally play with fluidity, have a developed vibrato, and are comfortable playing three-octave scales and arpeggios. While orchestral assignments are made by level, not age, most members of JRO are in grades 8 - 9.

For more information, click here.

Rehearsals – Saturday, 1:30 - 3:00 PM

Preparatory String Orchestra (PSO)

Marta Zurad, conductor

Open by audition to early intermediate string players. Students placed in PSO are comfortable shifting and playing fast passagework. While orchestral assignments are made by level, not age, most members of PSO are in grades 6 - 8.

For more information, click here.

Rehearsals – Saturday, 8:30 - 10:00 AM

8 O’Clock String Training Orchestra (8 O'clock STO)

Peter Jarvis, conductor

Open by audition to advanced beginner string players. Students placed in the 8 O’Clock STO have mastered basic technical aspects of playing the instrument, can read music proficiently, are comfortable in some upper positions, and have often had previous ensemble experience. While orchestral assignments are made by level, not age, most members of the 8 O’Clock STO are in grades 4 - 7.

For more information, click here.

Rehearsals – Saturday, 8:00 - 9:00 AM

9 O’Clock String Training Orchestra (9 O'clock STO)

Peter Jarvis, conductor

Open by audition to beginning string players. Students placed in the 9 O’Clock STO have mastered basic technical aspects of playing the instrument, can read music, and have generally studied their instrument for at least 2 - 3 years. While orchestral assignments are made by level, not age, most members of the 9 O’Clock STO are in grades 3 - 5.

For more information, click here.

Rehearsals – Saturday 9:00 - 10:00 AM

String Chamber Orchestra (SCO)

Peter Jarvis, conductor

Open to advanced string players. Students placed in SCO generally play with a high level of musicality and technical mastery, and are comfortable playing complete concertos. While orchestral assignments are made by level, not age, most members of SCO are in grades 10 - 12.

For more information, click here.

Rehearsals – Saturday, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Baroque Ensembles

Aldo Abreu, conductor

May auditions for the Baroque Ensembles have passed. If you are interested in auditioning for the Baroque Ensembles and have missed the auditions, please contact the conductor, Aldo Abreu at aldo.abreu@necmusic.edu.

Brandenburg Ensemble (BE)

Open by audition to advanced players. Students placed in the BE generally play with a high level of musicality and technical mastery, are comfortable playing complete concertos from all stylistic periods and have significant prior orchestral and chamber music experience. While orchestral assignments are made by level, not age, most members of the VBS are in grades 9 - 12.

For more information, click here.

Rehearsals – Saturday, 1:00 - 2:00 PM

Baroque Chamber Orchestra (BCO)

Open by audition to upper intermediate players. Students placed in the 8 O’Clock BCO generally play with good intonation, a variety of bow strokes and dynamics, and are comfortable playing complete concertos from the baroque and classical periods. While orchestral assignments are made by level, not age, most members of the 8 O’Clock BCO are in grades 7-12.

For more information, click here.

Rehearsals – Saturday, 8:00 - 10:00 AM

Recorder and String Orchestra (RSO)

Open by audition to intermediate players. Students placed in RSO are generally comfortable shifting and playing fast passagework. While orchestral assignments are made by level, not age, most members of RSO are in grades 3 - 11.

For more information, click here.

Rehearsals – Saturday, 4:00 - 6:00 PM

Preparatory Baroque Ensemble (PBE)

Open by audition to beginning players. Students placed in PBE have mastered basic technical aspects of playing the instrument and read music. While orchestral assignments are made by level, not age, most members of PBE are in grades 3 - 9.

For more information, click here.

Rehearsals – Saturday, 3:00 - 4:00 PM

Friday Baroque Ensemble (FBE)

Open by audition to intermediate players. Students placed in FBE are generally comfortable shifting and playing fast passagework. While orchestral assignments are made by level, not age, most members of FBE are in grades 3 - 11.

For more information, click here.

Rehearsals – Friday, 6:30 - 8:30 PM

2013-05-30