Institute

So, last week (August 8-14) I went to my favorite place in the whole wide world: The American Suzuki Institute!! Located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, the Institute is the largest "Suzuki camp" in the U.S and lasts for two one-week sessions. Usually over 2000 people go there, but the economy has taken a toll the past few years, so attendance has been down quite a bit. It is a magical place, filled with music and laughter. My violin teacher, Kami, and I drove up for one week along with her sister, Korinne, and three of Korinne's students: Kristina, Elizabeth, and Aaron. We had a blast that whole week, and are counting down the days until next year.

Here is a small taste of my 'average' day--although up there you can't really count anything average, it's all different! But here are the bare bones of it, I guess....

7 AM--Wake up, stuff some yogurt and Cheerios down my throat, get dressed, and walk over to the Noel Fine Arts Center (NFAC) for repertoire class. Several mornings Kami sent me away from the dorm with a "Be good, children! Oh my goodness, I sound like a mom!". Our dorm was the closest to the buildings, but even so it took us 5-10 minutes walking to get there.

8 AM--Repertoire class with Kathy Rollings. In this class we worked on whole pieces, and playing them together as a group the way the teacher wanted them. It was a fun class to wake up to, as Ms. Rollings was full of dry humor and made me giggle constantly. It was in a big room (I think it was used as a dance studio) with a purple floor and black walls.

9 AM--Walk up two flights of stairs to the practice rooms; I usually had forgotten to sign up for one the day before, so some days I ended up walking back down and outside to practice. It was super fun walking down the hallways with music pouring out all around me. I would usually practice my orchestra music since it was next.

10 AM--Orchestra with Terry Durbin. Sooo much fun!! He was big about finding stories in pieces, and would have the entire string orchestra rolling in their seats with the images he created. His conducting was always expressive of the mood he wanted us to convey. I laughed more in that hour than I did the whole day!

11 AM--I would pack up my violin and run back to the dorm for the time-honored classic of PBJ, and then back to the practice rooms. One day we went out for lunch to the Wooden Chair; a wonderful breakfast/lunch place. Or there would be a play-in somewhere, and I would go to that. Play-ins are one of my favorite parts of Insitute; basically you show up with your instrument, and the leader starts playing pieces and you join in when you know one. Or we'll do variations on old pieces, or take them different tempos, or play rounds--lots of fun stuff!

1 PM--I toddle over to technique class (in the CCC building) with Janis Wittrig. She's a very solid instructor, and had lots of good stuff for us to do. This was a smaller class, with only about 12 kids in it. By the end of the week, everybody knew each other pretty well.

2 PM--Back to the practice rooms, this time to practice intonation drills for masterclass. If I had forgotten to sign up for a room, I would find one that was empty, and stay in it until the occupant showed up, and then walk over to another room.

3 PM--Masterclass with Carol Dallinger!! She was an absolute darling, and I loved her. Especially after she told me that good intonation is not a secret mystery! Every day she showed me a new trick or drill that would help me, and I would practice it on my Haydn concerto. She was such fun to watch, so cosey and yet always knowing what she wanted to do. One time I was playing a single  note for her, to see if it was in tune. I play it for 20 seconds, and she looks over at me and asks if I'm waiting for her to approve it. Yes, I reply, and she shoots back "Well, I'm not gonna." The whole room giggled, and I moved on to the next note. :-)

4 PM--Every day except Wednesday and Friday there were Solo Recitals in Michelson Hall. In these recitals the very best kids at all levels were chosen to play with Linda Perry (the most amazing piano player ever) in the fancy recital hall. I was picked last year, and it was truly a memorable experience. The sound rises so beautifully, and bounces back so you can hear every note crystal clear.....'swonderful. I would sneak in, because masterclass always went a little over, find a seat and just let it all sink in. That was a fun hour.

5 PM--There were lectures at this hour--I only went to one which was a Q&A session--there were lots of good ones that I wanted to go to, but something usually came up. Dinner, or hanging out with the others, or practicing. On Wednesday I was in an Informal Recital, which were recitals held in different rooms all over campus, for kids that had improved a lot during the week, or showed promise. These were really fun in their own way, because you could move from recital to recital and see what you wanted. People were always walking in and out, and it was more like a fun jam session than a recital. It was also slightly scary, because there was no rehearsal with the accompanist beforehand, so neither of us knew quite what the other was going to do; but it was a good chalk-up to experience.

7 PM--On Monday and Tuesday night were the Guest Artist and Faculty recitals over in Sentry Theater. It was about 2 minutes across town, and larger than Michelson, but very intimate-feeling. On Monday night Karen Basrak played the cello, and it was marvellous. Tuesday night all the faculty played in ensembles, and soloed, and in an orchestra. It was always fun to look forward to those nights. Wednesday night was the Talent Show, where our group did a pantomime of the Three Billy Goats Gruff with theme music played on our violins. Thursday night the chamber music kids performed in their orchestra, and in quartets. Friday night was the Festival Concert in the gym, when every single violin student stood up and played.

9 PM--Back to the practice rooms in the NFAC. This was my favorite time to go, because almost nobody was there; and you could leave the doors open, or practice in the hallway, or take a break to walk around without worrying about your stuff being taken. Not to mention it's a lot cooler, and easier to concentrate with all the quiet. One night Kristina and I were practicing our orchestra music together, and we were having so much fun that Kami shocked us by coming over and telling us it was 11:30. Often the only clue we would have as to what time it was was when the custodian came over and turned the main lights off in the hallways. I've always been a good night person. :-)

11 PM--Bedtime! We would get back to the dorm, drop our stuff on the floor, and collapse into bed. By the end of the week the dorm looked like my little brother's room, but literally all we did there was sleep, or run in to exchange stuff and run right back out.

It was a fabulous week, with music everywhere from sun-up to sun-down, friends to share it with, and amazing teachers! I loved every minute of it, and can't wait until next year! I'm aiming for chamber music camp, which lasts for two weeks, has normal classes plus quartets and a chamber orchestra. Going to Institute has strenthened my resolve to get better at my chosen craft, and to use it for the glory of the Lord. Without Him, I would be nothing.

I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart;
I will tell of all Your wonders.
I will be glad and exult in You;
I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.
Psalm 9:1-2

Pictures (and possibly video) are coming soon!!