Musicans? I can’t wait!
Meadowmount Summer School is a “practice boot camp” for some of the most highly talented young string players on the planet.
This was an exceptional trip.
I have just returned from full immersion in a ‘bath’ of wonderful musicians.
What a privilege.
I spent time with Robyn Avalon, Alexander Teacher extraordinaire, working with the young musicians of Meadowmount Summer School.
Founded by Ivan Galamian 73 years ago, some of the planet’s most talented young string players come here for 7 weeks to practise, take master classes with renowned teachers and perform.
It is an idyllic setting. Students thread their way through the woods to practise in wooden clad chalets named “Horowitz” or “Ysaye” and there is music everywhere.
It is a bit of a practice ‘boot camp’, with 5 hours absolute commitment to practice every day. This in addition to classes, chamber groups, sight reading groups, concerts and somehow finding time to eat.
William, aged 10 played the third movement of the Elgar cello concerto in his master class. A little girl of 6 was double stopping on her violin as though it was nothing special. There is a team of just 6 pianists for 180 instrumentalists… they are on the go morning, noon and night.
At this level and intensity it is hardly surprising that when Robyn asks “where do you ache when you play?” numerous hands point to shoulders and wrists and forearms and backs.
So up goes the Alexander timetable on the wall of the narrow corridor into the dining room. Basics classes, classes on “The Science of Practice” “Performance Anxiety” and daily, fluid individual half hour sessions throughout the day, (but not on any account to interfere with the allotted 5 hours) according to need.
By day 3 there was a near continual stream of students making the long trek through the campus and down to our patch. The word gets around.
The most striking thing is the look on the faces of the students when they hear the consistent transformation in their sound…. when with a few seemingly simple refinements it feels easy to play and what is more, more comfortable.
When the muscles stop grabbing the bones, the body behaves like a beautiful sound board and resonates with the instruments.
Huge thanks to Gwen, Wendy and Amy for taking such great photos and for being such a fantastic team to learn and work with. To the students for your wonderful musicianship, commitment, open hearted curiosity and willingness. To Robyn for your profound, hilarious, exuberant teaching. And to Katherine for being so lovely. Oh and not forgetting Rosey.