Music

 § Piano Programs

All pianists choose their repertoire for serious work with advanced string or wind players.  You are also scheduled for three piano trio sessions with a professional violinist and cellist. or appropriate substitutes.

Regular Piano Program

You have six sessions to rehearse two works.  You may use all six sessions for one work, with permission from the music director, but you should ordinarily plan on two works. You will be scheduled for other playing groups.  In some cases we will assign you repertoire, in others you may choose.  Assignments are appropriate to your level. Alternate Piano Program  is available for those with limited repertoire. The six sessions of serious study are reduced to three, and other scheduled amateur groups are not guaranteed.

Master Class Night

Each year we choose a book of related pieces, and assign one or two to any pianist who wishes to participate.  These are all performed on Monday night, and one of the piano coaches provides comments and suggestions afterwards.  Everyone seems to learn and grow from this, and the string and wind players very much enjoy attending.  See the Piano Information Sheet for the selection this year.

§ String Programs

 

All string players work on string quartets and play some piano repertoire.  Every string player is also scheduled for groups with a professional pianist.

Other repertoire is assigned based on your preferences and ability.  It includes various string ensembles, string and piano works, and for those attending during the wind week, mixed wind/string and/or piano groups. 

Chamber orchestra is available ,  provided there is sufficient demand.

Advanced String Program

You will work  intensively on one of the string quartets chosen for this season. See  Repertoire  for  your choices.  We try to assign your first choice, but cannot guarantee it.  Your group will include other advanced players and one faculty member.

You will also be assigned to work on one or more piano trios or quartets depending on the scheduling mix. These are coached groups.

The chamber orchestra is also open to you.

Regular String Program

You choose up to three string  quartets for serious work with a coach.  See Repertoire for your choices. We try to assign the quartets you have chosen, but cannot guarantee you will get all of them.  Violinists in the Regular String Program are required to play first  violin in at  least one work.  Sopme participants choose to play first violin n the novice program

You will be assigned to play through one or more piano trios or quartets.  You may also join the chamber orchestra for the week.

Novice String Program

You are assigned  three string quartets for serious work with a coach.   Violinists and cellists are also assigned to one piano trio.   See Repertoire for this year's assignments. 

§ Wind Programs including French horn 
      (week 2 only)

All wind players work on small wind ensembles such as wind quintets, quartets, and trios.  There is always a piano/wind sextet scheduled.   When the mix of participants permits,  larger wind or wind/string/piano ensembles are scheduled.   All wind players are scheduled into groups with a professional pianist.  The scheduled groups with a professional pianist may be any kind of ensemble with winds, strings and piano.  If you have a favorite, please request it. 

You will work on at least one of the wind ensembles chosen for for this season.  See  Repertoire for choices.   The wind faculty works with Summertrios management to assign the repertoire appropriately so that people are not overwhelmed or underwhelmed. 

You may be assigned to work on a piano trio if any pianists request it for your instrument.  This happens frequently for flutes and clarinets, but occasionally for all wind instruments.  You will be assigned to other wind/string/piano ensembles depending on the mix of participants. 

Players who wish to work on a duo with piano may do so with advance notice.

We accept a limited number of other instruments each session.  We customize a schedule for you based on your interests and the mix of other participants available.

Players who wish to work on a duo with piano may do so with advance notice.

§ Enriched String and Wind Program (Optional)

Open to any instrumentalists, the Enriched Program allows you to play any repertoire of your choice with an all professional groups of players.   For a flat fee (see Pricing Schedule) you get six faculty hours to use as you like. Additional hours can be added at additional cost. 

Examples:  A cello player may choose a string quartet and be assigned two violinists and a viola for two hours.  A clarinetist may choose piano trio and be assigned a pianist and cellist for three hours.  A flautist may request four wind players for a wind quintet for 1.5 hours.

Click here to email or call Betty Mock (610-668-8807)  if you need guidance or special pricing.

Costs

§ What Costs Cover

Your Summertrios fee covers room, board, tuition, use of the  swimming pool, campus library and public computers, attendance at faculty concerts, and nightly parties.

§ Helpers

Any advanced string players may register as "helpers".  As a helper you receive a substantial discount on your fees.  In exchange you make yourself available to  play, cheerfully, with one or two groups that are less advanced than your level.   If you enjoy teaching and/or the appreciation of others whose group is improved by your participation, you are well suited for the helper program. 

The less advanced group may be any sort -- a piano, wind, string or mixed group.  It may meet up to three times, or it may be a reading group that meets once.

§ Interns

Internships are available to high school or undergraduate college students for any of the string or wind programs.  Summertrios will also consider internships for others with financial hardship. Internships pay about 1/2 the cost of the program.  

Interns are assigned as needed to help with the program, rather than being guaranteed certain types of playing.  These assignments include helping with less advanced groups as well as playing with peer groups.  There is no administrative work required, but those who help out with obvious tasks, such as moving music or bringing in party groceries, are much appreciated.

§ Scholarships

Three scholarships are available at Summertrios.  None of these cholarships has a large endowment, but they provide partial assistance with fees for people who would not otherwise be able to attend. 

The Muriel Berke Scholarship

 will assist a pianist.  Muriel Berke was a long time piano participant who left a small legacy to start this Scholarship.  The Berke family continues to provide support and scholarship money.

The Zita Attinson Scholarship

 provides partial support to a partricipant to be chosen by the Summertrios committee.  Generally this scholarship is awarded to someone who can help correct an imbalance in the registration.  If we are short of oboes, for example, the scholarship may go to an oboist. 

Zita was a long time suporter of Summertrios, and contributed funds to the scholarship annually for mnay years.  Since her death her friends have continued to send small donations in her memory.

The Richard Simon Scholarship

 provides  partial support to a violinist/violist who could not otherwise attend.  Richard Simon was a violinist in the New York Philharmonic and a long time faculty member at Summertrios.   The scholarship was set up by his family and friends as a memorial to him, and still receives donations from them.