Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the playing level of the other participants? Is there an audition required?
2. Do I have to bring my instrument?  What if I travel by plane?
3. Do I have to bring music and a music stand?
4. Can I bring a friend or spouse who doesn’t play? Does this person receive a discount?
5. Can I speak to other people who have attended in the past, to get a first hand idea of how things are organized?
6. If I come in a pre-formed group, will I have to play all week with them and only them?
7. Do I have to prepare works ahead of time?  Are sight reading skills a must?
8. What if I have special dietary needs or housing accommodation needs?
9. How do I know I’ll have a good time?

ANSWERS:

1. What is the playing level of the other participants?  Is there an audition required?

Auditions are not required.  There are 2 questions on the application form regarding chamber music experience and technical level, but remember these are self-rating.  Generally people who are willing to travel a distance for a week of music like this have a fairly considerable skill, especially in sight reading. However, in coached workshops we try to make sure that people who play at a comparable level are assigned together, and everyone has their works to prepare ahead of time, based on what we know of your abilities. These issues can be discussed directly with Musical Passages if you’re in doubt.

2. Do I have to bring my instrument? What if I travel by plane?

Obviously, we cannot accept pianists unless we can provide good instruments for them to play.  Cellists can usually be accommodated with rental instruments if they apply early enough. They may have to transport them from nearby to the playing site.  Other instrumentalists are usually expected to bring their own instruments. If they wish rental instruments to be hired, they need to discuss this early with Musical Passages and arrangements will be made if at all possible. 

3. Do I have to bring music and a music stand?

Sometimes these can be provided at the site, depending on the place (Jimena and Cratoule). More often, we each need to bring a music stand and some of the music. This is always coordinated ahead of time by Musical Passages.

4. Can I bring a friend or spouse who doesn’t play?  Does this person receive a discount?

Non-players who are happy to occupy themselves during the playing sessions are always welcome, as long as we don’t have to turn away needed players to provide them a room, and we frequently have non-playing friends joining us.  If a non-player comes to acoached workshop, they do not pay the coaching fee. Otherwise they pay the same as others, depending on the room selection they make.

5. Can I speak to other people who have attended in the past, to get a first hand idea of how things are organized?

Musical Passages will be happy to provide some names and e-mail addresses and/or telephone numbers of past participants if you want to speak to someone.

6. If I come in a pre-formed group, will I have to play all week with them and only them?

No, we always have freelance playing in addition to the coached sessions (if there is coaching).  If you specifically want to stay together all the time, that is up to you.

7. Do I have to prepare works ahead of time? Are sight reading skills a must?

Nobody is born knowing how to sight read, and going to workshops is a good way to develop these skills. However, a certain level of confidence is certainly a must if you want to do a lot of “after hours” playing. All participants in COACHED workshops are expected to come with your works prepared. We are not sight reading in coached workshop.

8. What if I have special dietary needs or housing accommodation needs?

We can usually provide whatever is needed if we know your needs ahead of time. There is a place on the application to note these.

9. How do I know I’ll have a good time?

You don’t !