The Texas Toot's 2004 Summer Festival/Workshop is a one-week program of classes in Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque music at all levels. This year we are investigating music from England and France, the similarities and beautiful differences. We'll study lively French and English dances for winds, viol fantasies, lute songs and airs de cour for singers, just to mention a few choices.

Our classes range from small, one-on-a-part Renaissance and Baroque ensembles to large, mixed vocal and instrumental groups. The size of the workshop enables us to create classes for all levels of students, from beginners to accomplished amateurs and long-time performers. The majority of our classes are open to all. Although no audition is required, some of the more advanced classes are for pre-professionals, and enrollment is limited. We also ask you to rank yourself by experience and ability, to help us schedule you into appropriate level classes.

Our outstanding faculty for this summer's workshop includes:

• Recorders:
  Frances Blaker, Tom Zajac, Sara Funkhouser, Dale Taylor, Jan Jackson, Frank Shirley
• Viols and other strings
  Martha Bishop, James Brown, Laurie Young Stevens (baroque violin)
• Reed and brass:
  Tom Zajac, Sara Funkhouser
• Lute/harp:
  Bruce Brogden, Becky Baxter
• Percussion:
  Peggy Sexton
• Voice:
  Judith Overcash, Daniel Johnson

Look at the Faculty and Class sections for faculty bios and lists of classes being offered. The complete class schedule and daily special events will be posted here on the Toot website in early May and will be made available for those without access to the web via US mail, email, or telephone.

This summer, the recorder studies will be organized into three distinct groups. Perennial favorite Frances Blaker will lead intensive masterclasses and lessons for advanced and high intermediate players, focusing on French ornamentation and style: how it differs from other national styles, and de-mystifying French style into a pragmatic and beautiful technique.

Intermediate recorders will receive excellent instruction in English and French repertoire in solo and ensemble classes, with extra care given to refining ensemble skills and learning the basics of improvisation. Beginning recorder players will be working on basics, strengthening foundations and learning to participate confidently in ensembles.

In addition to their recorder classes, Tom Zajac and Sara Funkhouser will also be heading up the ever-popular reed and brass program again. Start cleaning off those krumhorns, cornemusen, shawms, and sackbuts.

Martha Bishop (Atlanta) and James Brown will be coaching the viols, and Laurie Young Stevens will be teaching the Violin Band and violin technique. Bruce Brogdon (Houston) will be teaching lute, and Becky Baxter (Houston) will be teaching historical harp. Peggy Sexton will return to teach historical percussion. Classes for intermediate and advanced singers will be offered as well by Judith Overcash (Cleveland) and workshop director Daniel Johnson.

This is the sixth annual Summer Toot at Concordia University in Austin, Texas. Concordia is a small university affiliated with the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Its lovely tree-filled campus is conveniently located in central Austin with easy access to I-35 and lively downtown Austin, as well as the University of Texas campus.

Please read about our outstanding faculty, course offerings, and other attractions at the Summer Texas Toot 2004. Then register online, choose your classes, and postal mail us your $100 deposit as soon as possible. Feel free to write, call, or email us if you have questions or need further information.

The Texas Toot Summer Festival reserves the right to modify programs and faculty rosters in response to enrollment, student preferences, and playing levels.

Additional Contact Info

The Texas Toot
Daniel Johnson, Workshop Director

The Texas Toot
PO Box 4328
Austin, TX, 78765
Phone: 512-371-0099
Email: info@toot.org