Creativity at the Piano: Vienna

SUMMER 2024: Creativity at the Piano - A week-long course in Vienna, Austria!

Are you interested in exploring different musical styles, learning how to improvise and even composing your own music?

Then this is the opportunity for you! Join us for a week-long exploration of creativity at the piano in the vibrant music city of Vienna! 

Mark your calendars for June 24-28, 2024  - the musical experience of a lifetime!

AGE: The intended ages for the course are 12 to 18. If you think your younger child has a strong interest in the content and would benefit from the course, please feel free to contact us to discuss. (Students under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver.) Similarly, the course is centered around performance at the piano, but students with other focus areas - for example, singing, song-writing, other instruments - are welcome to join the course. If you'd like to schedule a consultation with the course director, Kathryn Woodard, please feel free to select a time via this link. You can fill out the form below to express interest in the course and to receive more information.

COURSE OUTLINE: Students will choose topics to focus on, working with several teachers during the week. Students will also attend special presentations and have the opportunity to perform in master classes and recitals. All sessions will be held at MusikQuartier Wien (main location at 1060 in Mariahilf). View the Workshop descriptions here. Students will be able to choose from multiple topics and sessions.

Additional sessions for teachers will explore all of the course content that you can apply in your studio!

EXTRACURRICULARS: Guided walking tours and visits will be organized to sites such as St. Stephen's Cathedral, Schönbrunn Palace, the Albertina Museum, as well as to musical sites, including the Vienna State Opera, Haydnhaus, Mozarthaus, and Beethoven Museum

Sample schedule available on request. Please keep in mind if you are wanting a fixed itinerary with chaperons every step of the way, this is not the tour package for you. Just as the course encourages creativity and improvisation, the city excursions are not fixed with pre-scheduled activities. We want to help you find the activities and sites that best match your interests and also to facilitate exploring on your own and at your own pace. Parents with concerns about travel arrangements should feel free to contact the course director. 

 

View Kathryn's initial invitation to participants on the main page.

 

OUR FACULTY:

Kathryn Woodard is a pianist, composer and the course director. She specializes in encouraging students to find their own creative voice at the piano through improvisation. She will lead a series of sessions that enhance students' perception of movement and rhythm. These will also apply equally to encouraging creativity at the piano as well as to enhancing students' performing skills. Kathryn has performed with such noted musicians as the Shanghai Quartet and Brooklyn Rider and has collaborated with numerous composers, including Paula Matthusen and Allen Otte. She founded Sonic Crossroads in 2007 to broaden awareness of global styles of piano music and has taught piano for over 30 years. She holds the Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees in piano performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and an undergraduate degree in music pedagogy from the University of Music and Performing Arts in Munich, Germany.

Lisa Neher has accepted a role in a stage production with Experiments in Opera, June 2024. We look forward to her joining us in 2025!

Anastasia Kaminskagia is an outstanding pedagogue who recently launched her original series Piano Comics, melding storytelling with colorful characters and piano techniques. She has extensive experience teaching piano in groups and will offer group workshops in Vienna with several students playing at one keyboard to build ensemble skills, improve rhythm and spark creativity. Born in Ukraine she currently teaches piano at schools in Athens, Greece and received her Bachelor and Master degrees in piano performance from the National Music Academy in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Josh Jenkins is an accomplished teacher adept at both piano and composition. He will introduce students to the process of scoring for film and video games and will also teach sessions on various styles of jazz improvisation at the piano. Josh studied theory and composition at West Chester University in Pennsylvania and teaches at several schools in the greater Philadelphia area.
 

COST:

The course fee for each student is €1000. Payments can also be made in US dollars for which you will receive a separate online invoice. If for any reason you decide to cancel, refunds will be processed as follows: in full before February 1; minus a €200 deposit before April 1; after April 1  no refund is possible. If a student is unable to attend for unforeseen circumstances, we will work with you to transfer enrollment costs to a future course. Payment can be processed through this page, or by PayPal invoice or bank transfer.

After filling out the form below, Kathryn Woodard will contact you for a consultation to determine the level of the student and which topic choices are of interest. She can also discuss scholarship and financial aid options. Enrollment for the week will be capped at 20 students, so reserve your spot today!

Parents and caregivers can attend all public components of the course for free. Students and their families are expected to arrange travel and accommodations themselves. Direct flights from the US to Vienna International Airport (VIE) arrive daily. The course takes place in the Mariahilf & Neubau districts of the city, a central location that will be popular in the summer months with high demand for hotel rooms. Below are links to hotels in the direct vicinity of Musikquartier 1060:

NH Hotel Vienna CIty

K&K Maria Theresia Vienna

Ruby Marie Hotel Vienna

Hotel Pension Museum

Le Meridien Vienna

Hotel Sans Souci

Of course you can book any accommodation you like and plan to arrive at Musikquartier 1060 by 9:00 am. Public transportation is easy and affordable in Vienna and particularly important as our location is in the middle of a pedestrian zone not readily accessible by car.

Please fill out the form below if you are interested. You will be contacted by the course director with more information.

Or go directly to Course Payment