Baroque Strings Workshop: Dancing with Bach

Our full-day Baroque String Workshops offer a stimulating, intensive, and rewarding experience for participants to explore different aspects of the day’s theme. Each workshop includes a faculty performance, group classes on characteristic styles and techniques, mini-lessons, and full-ensemble playing sessions that culminate in a public performance and reception for students and families. Along the way, participants experience the expressive potential of using baroque bows and gain essential chamber music experience as we learn and rehearse Baroque music without a conductor. 

These workshops are offered in a “Pay-what-you-can” model hosted by The Music Settlement in Cleveland’s University Circle. Registration for this workshop will be available via The Music Settlement. 

What to expect:

Dancing with Bach will shine a light on the dance forms that permeate J.S. Bach’s instrumental works. Students will gain familiarity with the rhythmic signatures and gestures of Minuets, Bourées, Gavottes, and more to bring additional style and flair to their performances.

The full-day format will offer a stimulating, intensive, and rewarding experience in which each session explores a different aspect or element of dance in Baroque music. Along the way, we’ll introduce elements of Baroque style, experience the expressive potential of using baroque bows, and gain essential chamber music experience as we learn and rehearse Baroque music without a conductor. 

The day’s schedule will include a faculty performance, group classes on characteristic styles and techniques, mini-lessons, and full-ensemble playing sessions that culminate in a public performance and reception for students and families.

Workshop Schedule:

9:00-9:45 am: Faculty performance introducing Historical Performance Practice

10:00-11:00 am: Full-Ensemble playing

11:15-12:30 pm: Break-out Groups: Fundamentals of Baroque String Playing

12:30-1:15 pm: LUNCH (bring your own OR a bag lunch will be available for purchase; Les Délices will contact registrants directly about lunch options prior to the event)

1:30-2:30 pm: Group Lessons (everyone will play something)

2:45-3:45 pm: Chamber orchestra (full-group session)

4:00-4:30 pm: Short performance/presentation for parents/families + reception