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General Program
Who is the Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR) designed for?
The Retreat is designed for adult creative musicians who are interested in improvisation and composition. Both those who consider themselves amateur musicians and those who are advanced and/or professional are welcome, along with everyone in between. The Retreat, however, is not designed for absolute beginners.
What is the age range of participants in the Retreat?
CMR is open to applicants who are of college age and older, ages 18+. We anticipate that participants will be a wide range of ages, from 18 to 80! In 2011, participants ranged in age from 19 to 69.
What type of musicians would benefit?
Classical musicians, jazz musicians, improvising musicians, choral musicians, composing musicians, teaching musicians, popular musicians, avant-garde musicians and uncategorizable musicians all will benefit from and contribute to the Creative Musicians Retreat. All participants should be able to call themselves “creative musicians”!
What is the schedule at CMR?
Participants enjoy a wide variety of activities and classes at the Creative Musicians Retreat. Click here to view a PDF schedule from the 2011 Retreat at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts.
How is The Creative Musicians Retreat different from the Teacher Training Institute? Can I participate in both?
Many of the elements of the two programs are similar: Musicianship, Composition, Computer Music, Chorus, Composers Forums, community-building. However, the Creative Musicians Retreat is designed for musicians focused on their own improvisation and composition while the Teacher Training Institute is designed specifically for music teachers who want to delve more deeply into The Walden School Musicianship Course as a way to develop their teaching. TTI offers the opportunity to receive college credit for completing the 1-week Intensive and CMR does not. A 15% discount off of room, board and tuition is offered to participants who attend both CMR and TTI during the same summer.
learn more about our teacher training institute
Classes
What is your student to teacher ratio?
5:1
At what level are the courses you will be teaching?
At your level! Our courses will be targeted to our participants’ interests and abilities. Some classes are very advanced, and some are designed for those with less experience.
How many classes can I take?
All participants will take two 70-minute classes in the morning, may sing in the chorus, and will be able to sign up for composition lessons and chamber chorus in the afternoon.
How will participants be placed in classes?
Participants will be grouped in classes according to their interests and abilities. After admission, participants will be surveyed on their specific interests.
I would like to study computer music at the Retreat. At what level are the courses you will be teaching?
The level of the computer music courses will be based on the level of the participants involved, likely separated into a course for beginners and a course for advanced users.
I would like to take composition at CMR. Can I do that?
Yes. Our faculty members and the Composer-in-Residence will give composition lessons. The members of our faculty have diverse compositional backgrounds and interests, giving students plenty to draw from over the course of the week.
Will I be able to study with the Composer-in-Residence?
Yes. Participants can have lessons with the Composer-in-Residence in the afternoon. In 2012, the Composer-in-Residence will be James Mobberley.
Should I bring my instrument(s)?
Yes. There are lots of pianos, but if you play any other instruments, please bring them along, be they recorders, didgeridoos, accordions, saxophones, violins, trumpets, or double basses!
Composers Forums
What is a Composers Forum?
A Composers Forum is a public concert of new music. After each piece is performed, the audience and composer discuss the piece and the composer’s compositional process. This conversation is guided by a Forum Moderator.
Can I write a piece for the Ensemble-in-Residence to be performed on a Composers Forum?
Yes. The Retreat will include two Composers Forums of works by the participants. All participants will have the opportunity to have at least one composition/improvisation/work-in-progress presented on a Composers Forum. In 2012, the Ensemble-in-Residence will be Wet Ink.
Will the ensemble play an older work of mine on the Composers Forums?
No. We would like all composing participants to present a new work during the Retreat.
Can I write a piece for the Composers Forum if I’ve never written music before?
Yes. Participants are encouraged to try out composition for the first time.
I have been studying composition for a number of years. Is the retreat a good place for me?
Yes. The Retreat is designed for composers of all levels: beginner, undergraduate students, graduate students and professionals.
Life at the Retreat
Will I have my own room?
Everyone will have his/her own room with a shared bathroom.
I live locally. May I attend the retreat without living on campus?
Yes. The tuition for CMR in 2012 is $1000 and the room and board is $750. If you would like to live off campus but eat meals with the participants, a reduced room and board package is available. Please inquire for details.
How much free time is there?
Free time is built into each afternoon and some evenings. Please refer to the Retreat schedule for more information.
What recreational and social activities are available?
Smith College and its environs are rich in recreational and social activities. Some of the available facilities include a gym, swimming pool, playing fields, and pool table. There is also an art museum on campus, and the town of Northampton has many restaurants, bars, and shops. Participants are welcome to go into town whenever they have free time.
Which meals are provided?
Walden provides breakfast, lunch and dinner. Dinner will be provided on the first day, Saturday, June 9. Breakfast will be provided on the last day, Sunday, June 17.
Technology
Will I have Internet access?
Yes, there is wireless internet throughout the buildings. Everyone will get a username and password for the network.
Will I need to bring a laptop computer?
No. You may bring a computer if you wish. A guest computer station will be available for participants to share for email. The computer music lab will be available for those working in the computer music program. However, there is no notation software on Walden’s computers.
I use computer notation software on my computer. Will I be able to print at the retreat?
Yes. There will be a printer available for participants. However, there is no notation software on Walden’s computers.
Transportation
How do I get to the Retreat?
Bradley International Airport in Hartford, Connecticut is located 45 minutes from Northampton, Massachusetts. There is an Amtrak station in Springfield, Massachusetts (20 minutes from Northampton). There is a Peter Pan bus terminal in downtown Northampton. Walden staff will arrange transportation for Retreat participants from these locations to Smith College. A more complete transportation guide is provided for enrolled participants prior to attendance.
Can I bring a car and will parking be provided?
Yes. You may bring a car and will be able to park it on campus. All the dorms and facilities in which you will be working are within walking distance of each other.
Tuition
How much will it cost?
The total cost for the Retreat in 2012 is $1,750.
Is there financial aid?
Yes. Financial Aid is available for qualified applicants. If you are interested in receiving this, please request a financial aid application from us at retreat@waldenschool.org.
