Tish Berlin — Recorders (back to top)

At the Texas Toot Summer 2009, Tish Berlin will teach:

What Makes English Music English?:What makes English music so recognizable? We will play carols, mass movements, fantasies, madrigals, theater music, anthems and more, working with composers from the medieval period to today, in our search for the answer to this question. (Intermediate to Advanced players)

Istampitta and more:Learn some of the Italian medieval dance tunes and learn to make your own. This class will spend some time away from the page. (Upper Intermediate & Higher)

Technique and Expression for Recorder Players: This class will work on the basic fundamentals of recorder technique: breathing, blowing, fingering and tonguing. All exercises will be paired with repertoire so we can learn how to become more expressive through better technique. (Lower Intermediate to Intermediate)

Vivaldi!: Arrangements of concerti grossi for recorder ensemble. Prepare for fireworks! (This class will be offered during Siesta period, 2 days during the week) (Advanced recorder players)

Matthias Maute — Recorders (back to top)

At the Texas Toot Summer 2009, Matthias Maute will teach:

Possibly impossible — The recorder in times of war: 17th c. music by Schein, Scheidt & 20th c. music by Haverkate and Hirose. (Upper intermediate to Advanced recorder players)

Minor and major: The melancolic and joyful recorder: Recorder music through the ages. (Upper intermediate to Advanced recorder players)

Baroque Masterclass for Recorder: Upper intermediate/advanced players, bring accompanied or unaccompanied solo works.

English counterpoint and French dances: Music by Purcell, Brade and Praetorius. (This class will be offered during Siesta period, 2 days during the week) (Intermediate and higher level recorder players)

Jennifer Carpenter — Recorders (back to top)

At the Toot this Summer, Jennifer Carpenter will teach:

Wachet auf! We will work on some of J.S. Bach's settings of chorale melodies including the beautiful chorale prelude from cantata 140, Wachet auf (Sleepers, Wake). (Upper-intermediate to advanced players)

Ricercares: Early baroque ensemble music, including ricercares, canzonas and sonatas. (Intermediate to Upper-intermediate players)

Les cris de Paris!: Explore the streets of Paris through selected sixteenth-century chansons by Janequin, Sermisy, Le Jeune and others. (Intermediate players)

Melody and Melancholy: All the rage in England at the beginning of the seventeenth century, melancholy fascinated madrigalists including John Dowland and John Wilbye. We will explore this trend in the madrigals of these two composers. (This class will be offered during Siesta period, 2 days during the week.) (Advanced viols, recorders (I need low consort players/instruments) and voices (all levels))

Jan Jackson — Recorders (back to top)

At the Toot this Summer, Jan Jackson will teach:

Canzonas: The canzona form, developed from the chanson, was the most important instrumental genre of the late 16th century. We'll explore canzonas set for recorders in 4 and 5 parts, by Thomas Crecquillon and his contemporaries. (Intermediate to advanced recorder players)

Duet Double-up: Work with a partner in a master class approach on a Baroque duet. You can bring music, or some will be provided. (Intermediate to advanced recorder players)

Playing by Ear: Get comfortable with making music away from the printed page. Also simple, shorthand musical dictation. (Intermediate recorder players)

Frank Shirley — Recorders (back to top)

At the Toot this Summer, Frank Shirley will teach:

Music of J S Bach: Music of Bach arranged for recorders. (Intermediate to Advanced recorder players)

"Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" and Other Fun Arrangements: Kick back and relax at the end of the day with some music to play just for fun — Ragtime, light classical works, and maybe a Sousa march or two. (We will, however, work to play them well). (Intermediate to Advanced recorder players)

Brent Wissick — Viola da gamba (back to top)

At the Texas Toot Summer 2009, Brent Wissick will teach:

Music of Coperario: madrigalist and masque composer. 6-part viol consort (could include violins). (Upper Intermediate to Advanced)

Music of Senfl: Tenor lieder; mostly viols, but could include recorders and singers. (Intermediate & higher)

Technique class: Getting your bow and left hand to cooperate! (All levels)

Cavalli's opera L'EGISTO: A tour of this wonderful 17th century opera; the sinfonias, ritornellos and arias can be played nicely by recorders and viols. (This class will be offered during Siesta period, 2 days during the week) (Intermediate and higher recorder and viol players)

James Brown — Viols (back to top)

This Summer, James Brown will be teaching:

Violin Band, or "British boys make good on the Continent": Dance music for four and five instruments by William Brade and Thomas Simpson. All stringed instruments welcome!

English and Italian madrigals: music for 5+ voices (viols only). Music by Monteverdi, Gibbons, Wilbye, and (perhaps on the last day) Gesualdo. (Intermediate and higher viol players.)

Were they Italian or were they English?: Consort Music of Thomas Lupo and Richard Mico for 3-5 viols (some doubling possible). (Intermediate and higher viol players)

Tom Zajac — Winds, Reeds, Brass (back to top)

At the Texas Toot Summer 2009, Tom Zajac will teach:

A Book Tour of Renaissance Europe: We will work on music relating to or inspired by five of the great literary works of the 16th century: from Germany: Sebastian Brant's Das Narrenschiff (Ship of Fools), from France Rabelais' Gargantua and Pantagruel, from Italy Guarini's Il Pastor Fido, from England Spenser's Faerie Queene, and from sunny Spain, Cervantes' Don Quixote. (For singers and instrumentalists)

Renaissance Loud Band: We will work on music from the town bands of Northern Europe including dances, songs, motets, and instrumental ricercars. (For shawms, dulcians, sackbutts and cornettos)

Music from the courts of Isabella d'Este and Lucrezia Borgia, c. 1500: They were sisters-in-law and rivals with very different interests and views on life, but they both knew most of the great poets, artists, courtiers and humanists of the day and shared a love for the vernacular music and poetry, generically known as the Frottola. This class will take a look at the varied and beautiful song forms and instrumental music that were popular in north Italian courts around the year 1500. (For singers and players of soft instruments: recorders, viols, lutes, harps)

Bruce Brogdon — Lute (back to top)

At the Texas Toot Summer 2009, Bruce Brogdon will teach:

Lute technique class: includes some training on continuo. (All levels)

English and Italian Combos: for lutes and harps. (All levels)

English lute songs: (with soprano Jenifer Thyssen) Music by Dowland, Campion, and more. (Intermediate & higher singers and lutenists)

Italian & English 17th century Songs: (with Jenifer Thyssen and Keith Womer) Music by Monteverdi, Frescobaldi, Sances, Purcell, Johnson, and more. (Intermediate & higher)

Becky Baxter — Early Harps (back to top)

At the Texas Toot Summer 2009, Becky Baxter will teach:

Harp Continuo For Dummies: A 'how to' class on choosing chords and accompaniment for the not-so-advanced student. This class will involve recognizing chords, a few basics of reading figured bass, choosing chord inversions for a smooth progression, making musical choices to best enhance the ensemble or support the singer. (all levels, including non-harpists)

Beginner Harp class: an introduction to harp playing from the viewpoint of early music performance practice and literature. (All types of harps are welcome. The ability to read music notation in treble clef is the minimum requirement.)

Dancing With the Stars: Spanish Instrumental Music of the 16th and Early 17th Centuries - to explore the fun of improvisation and divisions using Spanish dance forms to get your groove on. A willingness to experiment, take chances (musically speaking), along with good music reading and rhythm skills are required to enjoy this class. (This class is open to all instruments)

Keith Womer — Harpsichord & Continuo (back to top)

This Summer, Keith Womer will be teaching:

Italian & English 17th century Songs: (with Bruce Brogdon and Jenifer Thyssen) Music by Monteverdi, Frescobaldi, Sances, Purcell, Johnson, and more. (Intermediate & higher)

Harpsichord technique: Students must bring 3 pieces to perform in master class. Beginning students to include one of Couperin's Preludes, one of Bach's Inventions or Prelude and Fugues, and/or one of Purcell's songs arranged by him for harpsichord, or other repertoire as discussed with the instructor. (For beginning and intermediate students)

Continuo: Instruction personalized to skill level. Please contact instructor directly regarding preparation.

Jenifer Thyssen — Voice (back to top)

This Summer, Jenifer Thyssen will be teaching:

English lute songs: (with lutenist Bruce Brogdon) Music by Dowland, Campion, and more. (Intermediate & higher singers and lutenists)

Italian & English 17th century Songs: (with Bruce Brogdon and Keith Womer) Music by Monteverdi, Frescobaldi, Sances, Purcell, Johnson, and more. (Intermediate & higher)

Daniel Johnson — Voice and Ensemble (back to top)

This Summer, Daniel Johnson will be teaching:

TBD, as arranged.