Making music in all its forms including composition, improvisation, performance, and group singing.
Participants at the Creative Musicians Retreat come from a variety of backgrounds and tailor their week to suit their experience and chosen focus areas. Composers, performers, electronic musicians, choral singers, conductors, and music teachers thrive at the retreat.
Composition
For anyone interested in writing music and studying contemporary topics, musicianship, and electronic music.
At the Creative Musicians Retreat, participants may take composition lessons and attend master classes with members of the faculty and the Composer-in-Residence. Many participants compose a piece for our Artists-in-Residence or Chamber Choir and workshop the piece during the Retreat. Compositions are presented at the Composers Forums. Composers also participate in improvisation workshops, sing in chorus, and take classes in contemporary topics, electronic music, musicianship and pedagogy. Composer-participants may also take instrumental lessons, play on the chamber music concert, and perform student pieces on the Composers Forums.
Performance
For anyone interested in playing contemporary music, improvising, and studying with our renowned artists-in-residence.
At the Creative Musicians Retreat, performers take lessons, workshop pieces by composer-participants, play chamber music, improvise, sing in chorus, and take classes in contemporary topics, electronic music and musicianship. There are performance opportunities throughout the week, including a chamber music concert and three composers forums.
Choral Singing
For those interested in choral conducting, choral singing, or choral composition
Singing has been integral to the life of the Walden School since its founding. Each student, staff member, and faculty member participates in chorus in all of Walden’s programs.
The chorus at the Creative Musicians Retreat meets daily. Each choral rehearsal includes activities to develop natural body alignment, freedom of breath, confidence of intonation, diction, character, intention and ease of vocal production. The chorus at CMR focuses on learning repertoire and choral technique, but does not prepare for a public performance.
There is an afternoon Chamber Chorus for those who want to focus further on choral singing. Some participants at the retreat write new pieces for chorus, and these pieces are prepared and workshopped by the Chamber Chorus for performance on a Composers Forum. Choral conducting lessons and/or choral workshops are also offered. The director of choral activities at the Creative Musicians Retreat is Thomas Colohan.
Pedagogy
For creative musicians interested in learning how to teach Walden’s unique method.
The Walden School Musicianship Course forms the cornerstone of our academic program and has been evolving for more than 65 years. An organic approach to the study of music, the Musicianship Course encourages students to use the materials they study to create improvisatory works and original compositions. This method not only enhances musical skills, but also develops a sense of creative individuality in extramusical pursuits.
The Musicianship Course begins with a foundation in acoustics and proceeds through intervals, triads, and modes. Functional harmony, extended harmonic language, jazz musicianship, and analysis are next, among other topics. In addition, the course offers activity-based methods for developing high-level fluency with theoretical concepts and effective methods for teaching ear training and rhythms.
Participants at the Creative Musicians Retreat who wish to explore this pedagogy will delve into the Walden School Musicianship Course, gaining fresh ideas to infuse their own teaching with new approaches. The Pedagogy class is appropriate for those teaching music at all levels in a variety of settings.
Composers Forum
During Composers Forums, new works are presented in a concert setting.
Forums are moderated by the Composer-in-Residence, who leads a discussion of each piece with participants, faculty, the performers, and the audience. Composers receive constructive feedback as a springboard toward further work, a unique opportunity for musical and personal growth. Forums are designed for the beginner as well as the advanced composer, and are greatly beneficial to both.
Electronic Music
CMR Offers Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Classes in Electronic Music
The Walden School has been at the cutting edge of electronic music composition, performance, and pedagogy for over two decades. Our foundational course Computer Musicianship introduces students to recording techniques, composing with digital audio workstations (DAWs), and the history and repertoire of musique concrète. Through creative projects, repertoire study, and discussions, students expand the ways in which they listen to sound, conceive of music, and situate themselves in the world around them.
Since the first Computer Musicianship class in 1998, the Walden School has expanded its electronic music curriculum to cover some of the most important and innovative fields in electronic music. Recent subjects include DIY circuit design, improvisation in Max and/or Supercollider, multi-media composition, beat-making and IDM, composing with sequencers, modular synthesis in VCV Rack, and more. Walden’s electronic music curriculum continues the goals of Computer Musicianship by emphasizing creative work and thoughtful listening as a means of expanding students’ awareness of the world, increasing their understanding of technology, and empowering them to discover their own creative voices. The classes we offer cover experience levels ranging from complete beginner to seasoned veteran.
In 2023, CMR will offer classes and/or workshops on at least three of the following subjects, taught by Alex Christie and Sam Pluta:
- Musique Concrète
- Photosonic Composition
- DIY analog circuit design
- Improvising with Electronics
- Live-electronic music in Max
- Live-electronic music in Supercollider
- Circuit-bending
- Audio Feedback
- Multimedia Composition
- Composing and Performing with VCV Rack
The specific breakdown of classes and workshops depends on student interest, the current program faculty, and whether the program runs in-person or online. Current and recent electronic music faculty and workshop instructors include:
Alex Christie
Ted Moore
Sam Pluta
Kittie Cooper
Dennis K. Sullivan
Evan Williams
Contemporary Topics
Study the music and styles of the 20th and 21st century.
All participants at the retreat enroll in discussion-based seminars on 20th and 21st century music offered by the Walden faculty. Previous courses at the Creative Musicians Retreat include: Moral Contexts in Recent Music, Spectralism, Orchestration, Process Music, Symmetry in Music, Transformations: The Changing Styles of 20th Century Composers, and Metamorphosis: How the Work of M.C. Escher Helps Us Understand Contemporary Music.
Our philosophy is rooted in a music education program developed more than 40 years ago. The Walden School Musicianship Course forms the cornerstone of our academic program. An organic approach to the study of music, the Musicianship Course encourages students to use the materials they study to create improvisatory works and original compositions. This method not only enhances your musical skills, but also develops a sense of creative individuality in extra-musical pursuits.
Participants can choose one or more focus areas:
COMPOSER
For early to mid-career composers as well as amateur/hobbyist composers.
- Take classes in contemporary topics, musicianship and/or electronic music
- Sing in chorus
- Have a piece rehearsed and performed on a composers forum by members of the Ensemble-in-Residence
- Attend/present in master classes with the Composer-in-Residence
- Take composition lessons with members of the faculty and the Composer-in-Residence
- Attend concerts, workshops and composers forums in the evening
CHORAL
For those interested in choral conducting, choral singing, or choral composition.
- Take classes in contemporary topics, musicianship and/or electronic music
- Sing in chorus
- Sing in afternoon chamber chorus (a workshop choir for new choral compositions by participants)
- Arrange/compose a piece for the chamber chorus
- Learn from our conductor how to rehearse with Walden methods
- Have meetings/lessons with conductor
- Attend concerts, workshops and composers forums in the evening
PERFORMANCE
For instrumentalists interested in playing contemporary music and/or improvising.
- Take classes in contemporary topics, musicianship and/or electronic music
- Sing in chorus
- Have lesson/coaching with members of the ensemble-in-residence
- Read and perform compositions and compositions-in-progress by other participants
- Attend concerts, workshops and composers forums in the evening
PEDAGOGY
For music teachers (elementary through college) interested in incorporating musicianship into their teaching
- Take classes in contemporary topics, musicianship and/or electronic music
- Sing in chorus
- Attend pedagogy classes in the afternoon
- Attend concerts, workshops and composers forums in the evening
Composition
For anyone interested in writing music and studying contemporary topics, musicianship, and electronic music.
At the Creative Musicians Retreat, composition interacts with the input of professional performers, peers, and teachers. Many participants compose a piece for the Ensemble-in-Residence or Chamber Choir and workshop the piece during the Retreat. Compositions are presented at the Composers Forums. Participants take composition lessons and attend master classes with members of the faculty and the Composer-in-Residence.
Performance
For anyone interested in playing contemporary music, improvising, and studying with our renowned artists-in-residence.
At the Creative Musicians Retreat, performers take lessons, workshop pieces by composer-participants, play chamber music, improvise, sing in chorus, and take classes in contemporary topics, electronic music and musicianship. There are performance opportunities throughout the week, including a chamber music concert and three composers forums.
Choral Singing
For those interested in choral conducting, choral singing, or choral composition
Singing has been integral to the life of the Walden School since its founding. Each student, staff member, and faculty member participates in small choral groups and the all-school chorus.
Participants at the Creative Musicians Retreat have the opportunity for choral singing and training with solfège using Curwen handsigns in daily rehearsals. Each choral rehearsal includes activities to develop natural body alignment, freedom of breath, confidence of intonation, diction, character, intention and ease of vocal production. The choral program focuses on learning repertoire and choral technique, but does not prepare for a public performance.
There is an afternoon Chamber Chorus for those who want to focus further on choral singing. This is a workshop for choral composers at the Creative Musicians Retreat for the performance of new choral works on a Composers Forum.
Pedagogy
Musicianship is the cornerstone of the Walden School’s academic program.
Walden’s organic approach leads students to discover new materials and concepts for themselves. Following discovery, they are given thorough aural, keyboard and written drill work in each area of study. Finally, they are encouraged to apply the materials to an improvisation or a composition.
The Musicianship Course begins with a foundation in basic acoustics and proceeds through intervals, triads, and modes. Functional harmony, advanced/extended harmonic language, jazz musicianship, and analysis are next, among other topics.
In addition, the course offers activity-based methods for developing high-level fluency with theoretical concepts and effective methods for teaching ear training and rhythms. Participants in the Pedagogy Track at the Creative Musicians Retreat will delve more deeply into the Walden School Musicianship Course, gaining fresh ideas to infuse their own teaching with new approaches. The Pedagogy Track is appropriate for those teaching music at all levels in a variety of settings.
Composers Forum
During Composers Forums, students present their improvisational or compositional works in a concert setting.
Works are performed by students, faculty, or visiting artists. Forums are overseen by the Composer-in-Residence, the moderator who leads a discussion of each piece with participants, faculty, and the audience. Composers receive constructive feedback as a springboard toward further work, a unique opportunity for musical and personal growth. Forums are designed for the beginner as well as the advanced student, and are greatly beneficial to both. The emphasis on creative work at Walden is on process over product.
Computer Musicianship
Electronic Music at the Walden School Creative Musicians Retreat focuses on two disciplines: Computer Musicianship and Live Electronic Music.
Computer Musicianship is an introductory electronic music course designed with two goals in mind. The first is to teach a composer the equipment, software and techniques associated with computer music. The second is to open a composer’s ear to the sounds of the natural world in which we live, perhaps the most fertile and underused source for new music.
Computer Musicianship covers how to manipulate and sequence sound on software platforms and how to use recording technology. This course also introduces students to live electronic music and over seventy years of music associated with the electronic genre. Computer Music has been part of the Walden School curriculum since 1998. Walden students have been and will continue to be on the cutting edge of technology and sonic creativity.
Live Electronic Music
Live Electronic Music is an intensive one-week course in computer music programming. Taught in Max/MSP or SuperCollider, this course explores the basics of programming and algorithmic manipulation of audio. Students learn interface design and the incorporation of midi and OSC-based hardware controllers. This course is designed for musicians with a background in electronic music, but little experience with computer music programming. Alex Christie is the Director of Electronic Music at the Creative Musicians Retreat.
Contemporary Topics
Study the music and styles of the 20th and 21st century.
The Walden faculty offer discussion-based seminars on 20th and 21st century music. Previous courses at the Creative Musicians Retreat include: Moral Contexts in Recent Music, Spectralism, Orchestration, Process Music, Symmetry in Music, Transformations: The Changing Styles of 20th Century Composers, and Metamorphosis: How the Work of M.C. Escher Helps Us Understand Contemporary Music.
Our staff & resident artists comprise leaders in the fields of composition, electronic music & music education.
Each summer, an acclaimed contemporary music ensemble joins us at the Creative Musicians Retreat. During the week, the ensemble rehearses and workshops pieces composed by CMR participants. These works are then performed on a Composers Forum. Members of the Ensemble-in-Residence also provide coaching and lessons to those enrolled at the retreat.
“ A week of laughter, peace, and pure musical joy. ”
– Creative Musicians Retreat Participant
Summer 2024
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