Thinking of coming to
JMI Summer Schools this year? Here is why you should!
posted 18 December 2006
It's official – Frank London who produced such a splendid JMI KlezFest London last year will be the programme Director again for 2006 11 – 18 August. This year the resident band will be Joshua Horowitz’ new ensemble Veretski Pass – so KlezFest London will be week of mind-blowing and sky-scraping musical experience yet again so who can tell what exciting things will happen….
Well, I can give you a few clues.
On the first day, a Sunday 13 August, there will be this huge party in Regent’ s
Park where we have hundreds of people learning a Klezmer tune, there will be
lots of bands and dancing in the sun. Then we have a week packed with hands-on
classes and workshops with instrumental and ensemble tuition covering the key
motifs of the Klezmer Style. If you don't already know how to ‘ Krechts’,
you surely will by the end of the week!!! And for the masters of Krechts, the
faculty will invent new and wondrous ways for you to sound even more Jewish
on your instrument!
In the evenings there will be showcases of some of the up-and-coming bands who have come through KlezFest or who already thrash out a pretty good bulgar or two, plus dancing and jamming the night away for those who don't mind missing a bit of sleep for a week.
So, if you have an old instrument up in your loft that you haven’t touched in a few years, or you play regularly, or event if you are a seasoned professional- this is the place to inspire you. Any instrument is welcome provided you know how to use it. We will do the rest.
Jewish Song Summer School
For those whose voice is their instrument we have a dedicated parallel song programme exploring not only Yiddish but also Ladino material. You will learn a wide repertoire and be guided in the history, pronunciation and interpretation of the songs of the Jewish experience. There will be special emphasis on Yiddish folk and theatre songs: melodically haunting, echoing the motifs of the Synagogue and lyrically strong, with hard-hitting protest words and gentle lullabies. Shura Lipovsky from Amsterdam , with her guitar, is the Programme Director, Special guest teacher this year will be Jacinta from Paris , an expert on both Yiddish and Ladino song giving special classes in Judeo-Spanish songs; Polina Shepherd will accompany the singers in her keenly sensitive style and conduct vocal ensembles. Judith Silver will also bring her special brand of acapella singing. An opportunity to imbibe what you cannot pick up just from sheet music or recordings. Song school students also get to join the dance sessions and evening showcases and jams with Frank London, and all the instrumentalists at KlezFest.
It’s a hectic week which could change your life. Well it changed mine! It was after doing KlezFest that I ended up working for JMI!’
Ot Azoy! Yiddish Crash Course . If you really can’ t play an instrument or sing at all and are therefore not even sure why you have just read up to this point, you will now be glad you did! Because this is your chance to jump on the Yiddish Revival Bandwagon. ‘ Ot Azoy’ means ‘This is the way’ - to learn Yiddish, quickly and easily, and with lots of fun in a warm friendly environment, right in the heart of London . And you will also learn Yiddish through song and watch Yiddish films. This course is for complete beginners – we will teach you the Hebrew alphabet – right up to advanced standards. We even help you with your homework! This is the chance you might have been longing for - to try it out - the place where you could be speaking, reading and writing Yiddish in just one week! (If you don't, please don't expect your money back!) This course is especially welcomed by those who sing Yiddish songs who attend both KlezFest and Ot Azoy! Khayele Beer of University College London directs the course and has chosen some of the most delightful teachers in the world, Sonia Pinkusowitz, Lily Kahn and Peysakh Fiszman to work with you. You will learn the basic elements and start to build a vocabulary of Yiddish and get a good idea of grammar and syntax.
More details from the Jewish Music Institute
Tel 020 8909 2445 Fax 020 8909 1030
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