Workshops

Workshops at Music Center run throughout the year, check below to see what we’re currently offering!

For Children & Youth

Bravo! Northwest

  • Dates: July 15 - 19, 2024
    Times: Daily 9am - 3pm
    Cost: $400 Full Tuition
    $300 Discounted Tuition* | $500 Pay-it-Forward Tuition**
    Enrollment Deadline: March 31st, 2024
    Suzuki Book requirements:
    - Violin & Viola: Book1 Minuet 1+
    - Cello: Book 1 Rigadune+

  • Kerry Bollinger
    Heidi Curatolo
    Madeleine Hogue
    Jennifer Sheridan

  • Join Music Center faculty for a string summer music camp! Students ages 5-14 and who are on Suzuki Book1 Minuet 1 or later (violin & viola) or Suzuki Book 1 Rigadoon or later (cello) are invited to come together to share in a program of instruction, motivation, and enjoyment.

    Camp Offerings include:
    - Masterclass (individual instruction within a group of 2 or 3 students)
    - Group Class
    - Monitored Practice
    - Enrichment Class (improvisation, ensemble, etc.)
    - Technique Class (Rhythm, Sight-reading, theory)

  • Sample Schedule:

    8:45am Arrival
    9:00am Morning assembly
    9:30am Group class
    10:30am Masterclass
    11:30am Lunch (not provided)
    12:15pm Monitored practice
    1:00pm Enrichment class
    1:45pm Ensemble class
    3:00pm Pick up

    Students must be picked up by 3:15pm

Rhythm Kids® Summer Camps

  • Please Note This is a Drop Off Camp

    Dates:
    Session 1: Monday July 22 - Friday July 26
    Session 2: Monday July 29 - Friday August 2
    Times: Daily 1 - 4pm
    Cost: $250 per session
    Enrollment Deadline: April 30, 2024
    Open to: Ages 4 - 6

  • Mariah Fraiser, Music Together Instructor
    Manya Gorman-Knutson, Music Together Instructor
    Kate Schnieder, MT-BC

  • Rhythm Kids® by Music Together® is the next musical step for your preschool child (ages 4-6). Each day of camp we drum, sing, dance, play rhythm instruments, and play music-based games. Rhythm Kids® guides children toward developmentally appropriate music and movement activities, where they can begin to take charge, lead others, and be musically creative. They will make up their own drumming patterns, invent new ways to play rhythm instruments (shakers, sticks, etc.) and create movement ideas for songs. They'll even take a drum solo! We will also spend time doing fun crafts!

    Families are invited to a celebration at the end of the last day.

    Enrolled children will receive:

    A Rhythm Kids® by Music Together® songbook as well as a CD, a music download code, access to coloring pages and musical games via the “Music Together” app.

    Songbook, CD and download code will be distributed the first day of class.

  • Children must be checked in & out by an authorized adult.

    Bring a snack, water bottle, and put sunscreen on your child (camp is mostly indoors but we will spend a bit of time outdoors).

*Limited number of discounted tuition slots available.
**Help sponsor another student with your $100 contribution.

Learning Koto

*Limited number of discounted tuition slots available.
**Help sponsor another student with your $100 contribution.

  • Dates: July 22 to 26, 2024
    Times: Daily 9am to 12pm
    Cost: Full Tuition $225 | Discounted Tuition $150* | Pay-It-Forward Tuition $300**
    Enrollment Deadline: April 30, 2024
    Open to:

    • Beginners Class: Ages 6 - 11

    • Intermediate Class: Ages 12 - 16

  • Shiho Kurauchi, Koto

  • Participants will learn how to play the Japanese traditional instrument, koto. They will be able to play basic traditional and contemporary pieces on Koto and how to read koto sheet music by learning numbers in Kanji.

    Participants will also learn how to say basic Japanese greetings, how to have simple conversations, and how to write and read the basic Japanese alphabet. They will learn all this with provided authentic materials, and through the songs they play on Koto.

  • 9:00 Arrival
    9:15 Greeting practice
    9:30 Learning Japanese letters
    10:00 Koto
    10:30 Break and snack time
    10:45 Koto Ensemble and singing Japanese songs
    11:15 Japanese Culture Activities
    12:00 End of the class

For Adults

Puget Sound Chamber
Music Workshop

Enrollment is close to capacity.  Please email or call Miriam Shames about your specific instrument before enrolling.

  • Piano enrollment is at capactiy.

  • Dates: July 8 - 12, 2024
    Times: Daily 8am - 3:30pm
    Cost: $550 | Scholarships are Available
    Enrollment Deadline: March 31st, 2024
    Open to: Intermediate and Advanced Players. Individuals only, no pre-formed groups.

  • Miriam Shames, Director & cello
    Sue Jane Bryant, viola/violin
    Charles Enlow, piano
    Leslie Johnson, viola
    Thane Lewis, viola/violin
    Eileen Swanson, viola
    Wendy Wilhelmi, flute
    Nathan Whitaker, cello

  • Puget Sound Chamber Music Workshop offers an array of ways to experience chamber music repertoire - from concentrated study to singing to sight reading with professionals.

    Enrollment is open to individuals* only - no pre-formed groups. We will operate within a similar format to the 2023 Workshop. Through the week, participants will play in three arranged groups: Group A will study one work and meet daily; Groups B and C, each with different members, will have a more flexible structure to sight read, explore a variety of repertoire, play with faculty, and more. Participants will be coached by at least three different faculty and perform in a final program.

    Daily activities also include masterclasses, informal run throughs, faculty presentations/discussions and morning singing.

    *Limited spaces available for piano and winds.

    2024 PSCW Refund Policy
    - Full refund: notification given to Music Center’s office by May 24, 2024
    - 50% refund: notification given to Music Center’s office after May 24, 2024 and by June 24, 2024
    - No refund: no refunds given for cancellation after June 24, 2024

    This workshop is sponsored by Associated Chamber Music Players.

  • 8:00am Morning singing (optional)
    8:30-9:45am Coaching/rehearsal
    9:45-10:30am Break, coffee & conversation
    10:30-11:45am Coaching/rehearsal
    12:00-1:00pm Lunch
    1:00-2:15pm Coaching/rehearsal
    2:30-3:30pm Group session with faculty

    • “I value the quality of the coaching and the warmth and support that you can feel from each coach. I loved the sight reading groups. It was nice to listen to performances throughout the week.” - 2023 Participant

    • “The instructors had treasure chests of knowledge to impart and were both kind and inspiring. They told me/us things I needed to hear and I that can build on.” - 2023 Participant

    • “I was skeptical about sight reading with a coach (in groups b and c ) but I realized coaches could foster ensemble mentality even before we individually mastered notes, dynamics and rhythms. If I ever played with those musicians again, we’d have a good ensemble foundation and fewer quirks to try to banish.

      I liked steady work on one piece, with only one performance. The previous years, it was too demanding to perform daily. It was a good option, to play briefly at end of day for groups that wanted to. There, We all got exposure to extra pieces.

      Every group improved over the week and the performances were strong. My group progressed, even tho we arrived prepared. We were proud of our results.” - 2023 Participant

  • Coming to Seattle from out of town? Email us before registering to ask about possible housing options.

    Email Miriam Shames

Haydn & Beyond
Workshops

  • Instructor: Dell Wade

    Led by instructor Dell Wade, this monthly class is an opportunity for intermediate to advanced musicians to explore the great repertoire available for smaller, classical sized orchestra. Each month participants will meet for rehearsal(s) and then perform a concert of the current repertoire.

    Registration requires conductor’s approval. Email Dell for more information and to register.

  • Tuition: $25.00

    February Schedule:

    Two workshop options!

    February 18th @ 12:30 - 2:30 (Full!)
    or
    February 18th @ 3:00 - 5:00 (Full!)

    A 2-hour workshop for focusing on intonation for string players. The group will play scales, chords, and some musical examples, training to listen to the pitch. The group will record and listen to the recording to understand what to strive for to produce good intonation. The goal is to become aware of the sense of pitch happening in an ensemble and how to correct one's own intonation.

    strings intermediate - advanced

  • Tuition: $125.00

    March & April Schedule (Full!)

    Rehearsals:
    - March 3rd @ 12:00 - 6:00 pm (read through 39, 40, 41)
    - March 10th @ 12:00 - 3:00 pm
    - March 17th @ 1:00 - 6:00 pm (work on 39 and 40)
    - April 7th @ 1:00 - 6:00 pm (work on 40 and 41)
    - April 14th @ 1:00 - 6:00 pm (run through 39, 40, and 41)

    Concert: April 21st @ 2:00 pm
    Northminster Presbyterian Church, 7706 25th Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98117

    March & April Repertoire:

    Symphonies 39, 40, and 41, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    strings advanced