Klezmer music, Yiddish song and dance

Summer Courses 2011

Monday 4 – Friday 8 July  
KlezFest Caravan at the World Music Summer School
at SOAS – klezmer music and dance
Sunday 14 – Friday 19 August
Ot Azoy! – One-week Yiddish crash course
Sunday 14 – Friday 19 August
Tumbala! – Specialist Yiddish song course

Monday– Friday 4-8 July (5.00pm – 9.00pm
The JMI KlezFest Caravan comes to the
World Music Summer School at SOAS for 2011   
Get your KlezFest fix – by joining
Merlin Shepherd (clarinet)
Ilana Cravitz (fiddle)
Ros Hawley (clarinet)
Guy Schalom (percussion and dance)
For exciting early and late evening sessions in klezmer music and dance – part of an exciting summer school on the musics of the world taking place at SOAS Russell Square Campus, Thornhaugh Street, London WC1H 0XG.
Klezmer music – the vibrant and emotive celebratory wedding music and dance of the Jewish communities of Eastern Europe in times past – will be taught in two separately bookable consecutive 2-hour sessions (5pm – 7pm and 7pm – 9pm) from Monday to Friday 4 – 8 July 2011. Both sessions will cater for players on any instrument from grade 3 or equivalent – up to advanced and professional players, whether new to klezmer or already experienced.  They will cover repertoire, context, modes, ornamentation, rhythm and style of klezmer music. Dancers are also welcome for the 7pm – 9pm sessions
The courses are presented by the JMI KlezFest Caravan and led by some of Britain’s most renowned and sought after klezmer performers and teachers.
Students can book for either one, or both sessions Monday to Friday  5 – 7pm and 7 – 9pm. 
5 – 7pm Basics of Klezmer and for advanced players – the Meron Style   £75
7 – 9pm Ensemble Skills and for advanced players, Klezmer for Dancing  £75    (£135 if doing both sessions)

Ot Azoy! the Yiddish language crash course and
Tumbala! the specialist course for Yiddish song
These take place concurrently from Sunday 14 August – to Friday 19 August at the School of Oriental and African Studies, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG University of London.
(You can also book klezmer and Yiddish Song workshops to come to you via the KlezFest Caravan pages and you can join other workshops and courses round the country.

Suggested Resources

Read what Sandra Webber thought about Song School 2010.

'Whatever I thought might happen on the first day, I certainly didn’t expect to be talking Italian!  I came on my own, resolved to say ‘hello’ to other students.  The first person I met was a young Italian (non-Jewish) violinist who was researching klezmer as part of a music degree.  She was accompanied by her mamma (cultural similarity there!), both undeterred by their scant English.  This demonstrates both the pull of klezmer for music lovers world-wide and the diversity of the Klezfest participants.  Meeting the other students and comparing our varied motivations for attending filled the lunch breaks and kept many of us indoors conversing on bright summer days ...' click here to read more ...

Read about JMI KlezFest London 2010  

Frank London conducting the big orchestra

KlezFest is a stimulating week of intensive, inspirational workshops and Masterclasses. Led by top professionals in the field from all over the world, it offers a packed programme for amateur and professional musicians, singers and dancers from classical and folk backgrounds from Britain, Europe and further afield.

‘The week was dramatically important to me. As you said it would, it fed my soul. I learned, danced, sang, played my instrument, played in ensembles. I met fabulous people and spent quality time in structured and unstructured settings. Plus it was FUN FUN FUN!’ (Philadelphia)

There are distinct strands for instrumental klezmer music, Yiddish song and Yiddish dance. Participants may choose a particular strand – or combine classes in music, song and dance.

Andreas Schmitges leads the dancers to live klezmer music

‘I felt deeply impressed by the melting experiences of music, dancing, singing (nigunim) and by the co-operation among the instrumental faculty’

Polina shepherd listens to Bella Kerridge singing songs of her hometown in Akerman, Poland. Hirsh and Jill Cashdan sing their hearts out.
Presented by the Jewish Music Institute

If you need more information: e-mail Yvonne Glass 020 8909 2445

modified April 28, 2011