Student Enrichment Classes

Mary Beth Norris teaches more advanced pennywhistle skills for students ages 7-9 who have completed penny whistle at the Colorado Suzuki Institute before.

Open to students ages 7-9.

The bass faculty shows you how easy the ‘king’ of strings can be. Hear yourself produce rich, deep sounds as you actually play the bass. Explore plucked and bowed styles, bass lines and tunes.

Open to students ages 5 and up pending availability of provided instruments.

For those who have taken the bass enrichment class at Colorado Suzuki Institute in the past the bass faculty offers reinforcement of skills already learned and new exciting repertoire.

For those who have continued bass playing at home or have already taken the Experienced Bass class, you may want to consider making bass your master class instrument.

Mark and Leah Biesterfeld and Joel Price direct this fun class with an emphasis on making musical connections between the “singer” and “instrumentalist”. It doesn’t matter whether you think you can or can’t sing! You will explore ways to improve your voice and apply your music skills to various genres and styles of music.

Open to all ages.

Julie Gorka teaches this hands-on composition course is held in a computer lab using Sibelius notation programs. The session will end with a performance of the student’s compositions.

Open to students with a minimum theory level of “D” and also a knowledge of triads, inversions and primary chords.

Participants are urged to give thought to the piece(s) they would like to write during the composition course at Beaver Creek. Preliminary ideas, in the form of manuscript sketches or midi recordings of ideas and fragments would help to speed the composition process. Students are alerted to the possibility of a performance of a student work composed during the composition course.

In addition to the above theory levels, students need to mail to the Denver CSI office a .pdf file or a photocopy of a short, recent composition when the application form is submitted. Each student’s parent(s) must sign the composition to verify the original work of the student.

Learn the basics of recording music, speech, and the world around you to create programs ready for the internet and the radio-waves! Hands-on activities include on-location recording, a behind-the-scenes tour of the Vilar Center recording booth, and much more. The final class project will be a music & interview podcast recorded and produced by the students. Broadcast on KCSI under the leadership of Jesse McQuarters, Producer of nationally syndicated programming for the WFMT Radio Network in Chicago. 

Students bring their own equipment: a 5G iPod, or iPod touch, or iPod nano plus the iPod recording attachment. Email us if you have questions about the equipment you will need.

Open to students ages 13 and up. No prerequisite skills.

Jesse McQuarters teaches this enrichment to students who have taken the recording, radio, and podcasting enrichment class at Colorado Suzuki Institute in the past.

Scott Walker leads a limited number of violin, viola, cello, bass, flute, and guitar students in an Irish music ensemble!  If any of the above instrumentalists also play mandolin, bohdran, penny whistle, harmonica, hurdy gurdy, please indicate this on the registration form.  This is an educational experience in playing traditional acoustic Irish music, or music of a similar feel, in a small ensemble.  Irish Ensemble reads and explores tunes, works on performance practices and prepares for a presentation at the end of the week.

MINIMUM Suzuki levels:

• violin book 7
• viola book 5
• cello book 5
• bass book 5
• flute book 5
• guitar book 3. Guitar students need to have a willingness to learn to accompany from chord charts.

Open to students age 13 and older.

Melody Kucks teaches this class for teenage pianists exploring these styles and more. Students will learn bass lines, comping and soloing for all kinds of grooves. Basic knowledge of chords is helpful but not required. Come and jam in a fun, no pressure environment.

Open to ages 13 and older with a minimum playing level of piano Suzuki book 3 and up.

Playing with other people is one of the most enjoyable parts of being a musician! Being a strong solo pianist and a strong collaborative pianist require different training. The skills of piano accompanying will be worked on during each class and will be taught by piano faculty. Students are expected to have prepared the music with complete fluency by the beginning of institute. Class size is very limited. Solo instrumentalists will be provided.

• Level 1: Prerequisite playing levels: Has performed duets from Kaleidoscope book 1 by Jon George, Alfred Publ. Performed Bach Minuets as solos.
  • Level 1 Music to prepare for class:
    No. 11 – Ode to Joy
    No. 12 – First Symphony
  • No. 13 – The Bells
    No. 14 – Conquering Hero
• Level 2: Prerequisite playing levels: Has accompanied Suzuki book 1 on violin, cello, or flute. Performed Clementi Sonatina, Op. 36, no. 3
  • Level 2 Music to prepare for class:
    No. 15 – Scherzo
    No. 22 – Third Minuet
    No. 24 – March
    Perpetual Motion, S. Suzuki, Suzuki Violin Book 1
• Level 3: Pre requisite playing levels: Has accompanied Suzuki book 2 on violin, cello, or flute. Performed Beethoven Sonata, Op. 49, no. 2
  • Level 3 Music to prepare for class:
    No. 26 – Fourth Minuet
    Waltz, J. Brahms, in Piano accompaniment part to Suzuki Violin Book 2

With your teacher’s assistance, please select 2 to 3 additional pieces from ‘Accompanying the Violin’ and prepare to complete fluency.

Fluency includes:

• Rhythmic accuracy
• Ability to count the beats and sub-divisions
• Proper speed, refer to the metronome markings
• Note accuracy plus rests, slurs, staccatos, etc.
• Ability to listen to the other part and coordinate with it
• be able to start at any measure, please add measure numbers

Open to all ages. See above for playing requirements.

• Fiddle 1: Join Matt Brown for an exploration of old-time fiddling. He will teach a handful of traditional Appalachian square-dance tunes with the infectious rhythm and powerful bowing that define the style. Students will learn each tune by ear, honing their musical memory. Having a minimum playing level of Book 2 guarantees that every fiddle student has the intonation, left-hand dexterity, and bow control necessary to learn and play these arrangements, and to do so aurally. Students will play the fiddle tunes they learn at the CSI square dance!Grouped by playing levels  with a minimum performance level of Suzuki Book 2.  

• Fiddle 2: For all students who have had Matt’s Fiddle 1 class, Fiddle 2 offers a chance to explore further the subtleties of old-time music on the violin.  We will add sonorous double stops and more syncopation to our playing while learning more sophisticated tunes.  We will also listen to recordings of Southern Appalachian fiddle masters for comparison and inspiration. Students will play the tunes they learn at the CSI square dance.
  
  Fiddle 1 is a prerequisite for this class.

Tim Zeithamel teaches violinists who want to learn to play the viola and read alto clef, using Suzuki and supplementary viola literature.

You will be notified by mail by May 20 if you are scheduled for this enrichment so that you can bring an appropriate sized viola. Some violas are available for rental from Robertson & Sons, 1.800.284.6546. Call to reserve a viola and pick it up on check-in day.

Minimum playing level of Violin Book 3. Grouped by Suzuki book level.

Tim Zeithamel teaches this enrichment to students who have taken the viola for violinist enrichment class at Colorado Suzuki Institute in the past.

Scott Walker teaches Irish Cello to cello students. This fun class features the lyrical folk tunes of Irish music.

This class is open to students ages 9 in cello Book 3 and above.

This one-time, one-hour class includes installing strings, using tuners and pegs, listening to pitch, tuning techniques and helpful hints. Bring your instrument. Class is scheduled during one of the student enrichment/group hours.

There is a separate section of this class for teachers.

This class is offered to students ages 7 or older, in Book 2 and up. Grouped by ages.

Fee: $40

This class is for students who have taken violin tuning before and want a refresher. This one-time, one-hour class will includes installing strings, using tuners and pegs, listening to pitch, tuning techniques and helpful hints.

There is a separate section of this class for teachers.

This class is open to students of all ages. Grouped by age.

Fee: $40

Chamber music is available on a limited basis. Students will receive their assigned ensemble music in mid-May and are expected to have prepared the music to a rehearsal-ready level by the beginning of institute.

Applicants must submit the application and upload their video recording of a polished piece to YouTube by April 1.

Instructions for uploading audition to YouTube

Chamber Music Ensemble Placement Audition Form

This opportunity replaces the enrichment course option and requires an additional fee. 

Minimum playing level of beginning of book 4 and previous orchestra experience.

Fee: $200