Download the registration form as a PDF

Requirements for Participation in the Workshops

1. We do NOT require an audition or a submission of scores in order to participate. However, we DO require that you be studying regularly with a teacher who can oversee the writing process. It does not necessarily have to be a composition teacher, but it must be a teacher who can help you between workshops and make sure that you are making progress.


2. A student MUST be able to properly notate and write their own music. Because the musicians in the workshops will be playing from the scores and parts written by participants, it is essential that a student have a grasp of how to write music on the page – simply playing it into a computer and letting the computer do the work can result in very odd or unplayable notation.


3. A student should have some prior composing experience. We recommend that a student have completed a piece for a solo instrument before tackling a work for multiple instruments.


4. We require that you be able to attend all workshops except in the case of emergencies or sickness.


5. Students should be in grades 6-12, although we will take younger students with the specific recommendation of a teacher.

Photo courtesy OPB

Aaron Parecki listens intently to the first
play-through of his piece

Our Workshops have Several Goals:

1. To provide students with the opportunity to experiment and develop musical ideas while having professional musicians at their disposal.


2. To provide the opportunity for young composers to develop their creativity and skill in working with multiple instruments.


3. To provide the chance for students to have their work publicly performed by a professional ensemble.


4. To provide teachers the opportunity to have an ensemble at the disposal of their students, enabling them to make suggestions or to develop ideas on the spot.

Format

The ensemble will include violin, double bass, oboe, bassoon, piano, and percussion.

Each student will have the opportunity to work with the ensemble on his/her piece and to listen to the other composers and their pieces. Teachers attending the workshop can join in working with their students and the ensemble. In order that the students are able to get the most from these workshops, we request that those enrolling have some prior compositional experiences, i.e. completing a work and having it presented in a public performance.

Photo courtesy OPB

Jessica Hunt listens to the final rehearsal of her piece

The Schedule is as Follows

The workshop will cover the basic orchestration using flute, Bb clarinet, cello, piano and percussion. Among the topics to be covered will be range, transposition, problems of bowing and breathing, articulations, and idiomatic writing for the individual instruments. Examples will be provided for each instrument.

Students will be scheduled at individual times and are not expected to attend for the entire day. Students should bring a “work-in-progress.” They will have the opportunity to hear their music tried on different solo instruments, in different instrumental combinations, experiment with new colors, special effects, etc. The ensemble will include flute, Bb clarinet, cello, piano, and marimba/percussion. The musicians will work with the students, providing workshop will be taped for each student to use as a reference.

Students bring their composition that has been further developed since October. They will have the opportunity to hear their music listening especially for balance, ensemble, instrumentation, etc., to check notation, transposition, and to make final decisions about the form and character of their piece.

Students bring their completed pieces in order to check accuracy in dynamics, articulations, etc. in the final copy.

The concert will be at 2:30 PM. It will be professionally taped and a copy of the recording will be sent to all student participants.

(These times and places may change)

Photo courtesy OPB

A full house applauds Jessica Hunt's "Nacht Ohne Mond"

Things to bring to the workshops

1. A 60-minute tape to each workshop and rehearsal. The sessions will be taped and the student can use the tape as a reference for making changes in their work at a later time.


2. Manuscript paper and pencil or pen.


3. For the first workshop students should bring 7 copies (or individual parts) of their music-in-progress: five for the performers, one copy for the composer and one copy for the teacher if he/she is present. DO NOT BRING ORIGINAL COPIES. We will be making changes on this music.


4. For the second and third workshops and rehearsals/concert the ensemble needs individual parts.

It is not required that the students use all instruments in their pieces. Experienced Project participants are encouraged to compose for the instruments they are less familiar with. For instance, if the experienced YCP composer is a pianist, then YCP encourages him/her to choose from the other instruments for the composition.

Download the registration form as a PDF