Classical Guitar Immersion – Performance Development

June 16th-23rd, 2017
CGI is an immersion experience where 7 guitarists join for a week of performance preparation on the historic Columbia River Gorge at the Menucha Retreat and Conference Center in Corbett, Oregon.

In this close and intimate setting students get personal attention through daily masterclasses, ensemble rehearsals and performance workshops where technique, practice concepts and performance skills including the tools to help eliminate the effects of performance anxiety are explored. In addition to the scheduled workshops friendships are developed through informal discussions around the dining table, morning coffee in CGI’s large private kitchen, on walks around the beautiful grounds or at the outdoor fireplace that overlooks the historic Columbia River Gorge.
CGI is more than a week workshop but rather the culmination of months of direction to help in your preparation. Every two weeks, beginning in October 2016 you’ll be sent new practice directives to apply to your pieces. I’ll request a video of one of those works every two weeks to help monitor your progress. Occasionally we’ll all meet on SKYPE and of course we’ll be communicating via my forum.

By rotating through a series of practice directives you’ll be better prepared for the week where you’re playing will peak as we work on performance preparation.

Our preparation Schedule looks like this:

• Solo and Ensemble Repertoire chosen (September)
• Tone and Range of Motion (October-November)
• Technical Practice Directives (December-January)
• Musical Practice Directives (February-March)
• Memory Practice Directives (April-May)
• Performance Practice Directives (June)

The daily schedule includes two master classes, ensemble rehearsal and performance or technique class as well as open time for practice and even exercise time. Review the video of your lesson, practice and take a walk around the trails, shoot some hoops, play tennis or swim in the pool overlooking the gorge.

Three meals are provided each day in Wright Dining Hall. Special diets are available upon request.

All classes take place in Creevey Hall, a large teaching room attached to a large kitchen where personal food items can be stored.

Each participant will have a private room and bathroom with shower.

Repertoire
All levels are accepted at CGI. The only requirement is that each student must be prepared to play at least two works, one from the study repertoire and one from the general repertoire from memory and the required ensemble piece from score. We will perform our final concert on Thursday, June 22nd in our own Creevey Hall. Guests from the community and Menucha Retreat Participants will be invited.

In addition we will be working on ensemble music, some of which will be part of our final concert.

CGI Hand Stretches and Body Movement
In an effort to combat muscle and mental fatigue I’ll be teaching you hand and arm stretches. We’ll also learn a series of short functional movements that will not only help revitalize the back and shoulders but also reset the negative affects of sitting.

Friday, June 16th
1:00-3:00 Portland Airport Arrivals and Pick-ups
4:00-5:00 Check-in
5:00-5:30 Orientation
5:30-7:00 Scott Kritzer in Concert
7:00-8:00 Dinner

 

 

Saturday, June 17th
8:00-9:00 Breakfast
9:30-11:30 Master Class
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-3:30 Open
3:30-5:30 Master Class
6:00-7:00 Dinner
7:00-8:00 Ensemble Rehearsal
8:00-8:30 Performance Workshop

Sunday, June 18th
8:00-9:00 Breakfast
9:30-11:30 Master Class
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-3:30 Open
3:30-5:30 Master Class
6:00-7:00 Dinner
7:00-8:00 Ensemble Rehearsal
8:00-8:30 Performance Workshop

Monday, June 19th
8:00-9:00 Breakfas

9:30-11:30 Master Class
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-3:30 Open
3:30-5:30 Master Class
6:00-7:00 Dinner
7:00-8:00 Ensemble Rehearsal
8:00-8:30 Performance Workshop

Tuesday, June 20th
8:00-9:00 Breakfast
9:30-11:30 Master Class
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-3:30 Open
3:30-5:30 Master Class
6:00-7:00 Dinner
7:00-8:00 Ensemble Rehearsal
8:00-8:30 Performance Workshop

Wednesday, June 21st
8:00-9:00 Breakfast
9:30-11:30 Master Class
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-3:30 Open
3:30-5:30 Master Class
6:00-7:00 Dinner
7:00-8:30 Performance Workshop
8:30-10:00 Outdoor Fireplace Gathering

Thursday, June 22nd
8:00-9:00 Breakfast
9:30-11:30 Ensemble Rehearsal & Performance Staging
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-3:30 Open

3:30-4:30 Ensemble Rehearsal
4:30-5:45 Open
6:00-7:00 Dinner
7:30-9:00 CGI Public Performance

Friday, June 23rd
7:30-8:00 Check-out
8:00-9:00 Breakfast

Schedule subject to change

Housing and Meals

Each participant will have a private room and bathroom/shower and a shared small living room area. In addition we have private access to a large kitchen complete with microwave, coffee machine and refrigerator. Participants can bring snacks and drinks and store them in Creevey which is locked each night. We will meet in Wright Hall each day for meals. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are covered each day except from Friday, June 16th (dinner only), through Friday, June 23rd break
fast.

Alternate diets can be accommodated at an additional cost of $40.00 (payable to me). An extensive list of options are available. For more information, and to request an alternate diet, go to http://menucha.org/dining/alternatediet. (Deadline is May 6, 2017).

Fees & Deadlines

• CGI ’17 – $1995.00 and includes all housing, meals and classes.
• A non-refundable deposit of $425.00 secures a spot. Registration to past participants opens July 6th, 2016.
• Open Registration begins August 1st, 2016 (earlier deposits will be taken for open registration and any spots that open on that date will be given on a first-come-first-served basis).
• Ensemble Piece to be Sent September 30th, 2016
• Repertoire Chosen by September 30th, 2016
• Final Fee for CGI Due: March 4th, 2017
• Final Repertoire List Due April 10th, 2017
• Alternate Dietary Requests Due: May 16th, 2017
• Travel Itineraries Due: June 1st, 2017

General Info
Menucha is a great place for doing some simple hiking. The hiking trails are relatively flat but you can find some hills. There are tennis and basketball courts as well as an outdoor (unheated) swimming pool.

The weather can be a little rainy, usually some nice weather but of course dress in layers. Bug repellant is not a bad idea for our annual outdoor fireplace night.

There are no phones or TVs in the rooms and wifi is rather slow but available.

Getting to Menucha
I want everyone to arrive no later than 4:00 pm on Friday, June 16th. We will form a carpool made of up local students who can pick-up and drop off those flying into Portland International Airport.

Students should plan on staying through Friday breakfast, June 23rd
.

Please send me the following to help coordinate your arrival:

• Projected arrival time (local or remote students)
• Cell phone number
• Air travelers should also send your itinerary including arrival and departure times and flight numbers. (I’ll coordinate pick-ups and get everyone in contact with each other the week before)

Menucha Retreat and Conference Center
38711 East Historic Columbia River Hwy
Corbett, OR 97019-0008
Phone: 503-695-2243 (9:00 am – 5:00 pm PST, weekdays)