Instrumental Music Program  

For guidance in selecting courses for your experience level, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section. We recommend that each of you take no more than one offering in each of the following three areas:

The instrumental music program at KlezKamp is designed to provide insights and challenges to instrumentalists at all levels of proficiency and familiarity with klezmer style. We offer classes in both theoretical and practical topics and give students many opportunities to play and perform throughout the week.

I: KLEZMER THEORY

Harmony/PM1 Adrianne Greenbaum

Klezmer is melody, but truly enjoys right-n’-proper backup. How do we choose the harmonic backdrop? How far “should” we go–or not? We will take “clean” lead sheets and learn to make appropriate decisions. Music will be provided but participants can surely bring in challenging repertoire as well. Bring instruments to better demonstrate choices. For all klezmorim, whether you are a lead (melody) or backup player in your ensemble.

Composition and Improvisation/AM1 Marilyn Lerner

Bring in your creations, advanced players and interested spectators. We will explore the territory between improvisation and composition. Improv exercises and arranging ideas will be applied to new Yiddish music!

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II: FOCUSED PRACTICAL LEARNING

Beginning Instruments/AM1 Mike Cohen

This class, aimed at students who are not sufficiently skilled to benefit from instruction in the elements of klezmer style, will introduce traditional klezmer modes, and discuss how to learn tunes by ear and the mechanics of the music.

Instruments/AM1

These classes, grouped by specific instrument, are aimed at the intermediate or advanced student who seeks instruction in the specific techniques of klezmer playing and an understanding of how that instrument functions in a klezmer band. In order to ensure proper placement, participants must submit a short recording representing their current skill level.

Magic Melodies/PM2 Josh Horowitz

For all melody players who wish to expand their improvisation palette, Josh will show the various techniques of constructing multi-voice lines with one melody in order to give the illusion of implied counterpoint. If you want your improvisations enriched by the time-honored technique of the compound line, don’t miss this class.

Girls Don’t Play Drums!/PM2 Elaine Hoffman Watts

Did your parents ever say this to you? If so, this class is for you. Drum lessons for all those women and girls who always wanted to play them!!

Making Your Instrument Sing in Yiddish/AM2 Jeff Warschauer

A hands-on workshop for advanced instrumentalists and singers from any musical background. Through ear-training, transcription exercises, text-based improvisation work and a review of Eastern European Jewish modality, we’ll develop a deeper understanding of klezmer instrumental style.

Make Them Dance!/AM2 Jim Guttmann, Adrianne Greenbaum and Steve Weintraub

Participants will take turns playing music for each other to dance to, developing a deeper understanding of what makes music danceable. Open to intermediate and advanced students. Dancers are always welcome.

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III: PLAYING/PERFORMANCE

By offering a wide variety of coached playing/performance options geared for all levels of playing ability, we provide an interesting and varied experience that will continue to help students grow year after year.

Beginners’ Ensemble/AM2 Benjy Fox-Rosen

Based on the popular Slow Jam, this group will concentrate on playing through a relatively large number of tunes over the course of the week. Beginning students will gain experience playing in all genres and try out what they have learned in their instrument classes.

Traditional Ensembles/AM2

These ensembles will generally work towards preparing a piece for presentation at the student concert. Ensembles may include vocalists. Suitable for any level. In order to ensure proper placement, participants must submit a short recording representing their current skill level.

German Goldenshteyn Repertoire Ensemble/PM1 Alex Kontorovich

Alex Kontorovich will share the unique repertoire of German Goldenshteyn, a”h, who came from the town of Mogiley-Podolskiy in the region of Moldavia—a repertoire almost completely unknown to today’s American musicians.

Mandolin Orchestra/PM2 Jeff Warschauer

For intermediate/advanced players of any plucked or struck string instrument (mandolin, guitar, string bass, banjo, tsimbl, etc.).

Fidl Kapelye/PM1 Deborah Strauss

Open to all bowed stringed instruments.

Dance Bands

These bands are a great way for advanced students to learn staples of the klezmer repertoire. Those who sign up for the band are making a commitment to perform several evenings, often quite late at night.

Reading Band (reading from music)/PM1 Pete Sokolow
Ear Band (learning by ear)/PM2 Michael Winograd
Hasidic Dance Band (reading from music)/PM2 Mike Cohen

Slow Jam/Sherry Mayrent and Benjy Fox-Rosen

The now-traditional slow jam will again take place during the free hour before dinner. Tunes are drawn from “Klezmer for Everyone,” a specially prepared series of book/CD sets available at the Epes Center for a nominal fee. No enrollment is required.

Youth Orchestra/AM2 Dan Blacksberg (see KlezKids)