New programs added to BMS fall/winter offerings
PITTSFIELD, Mass. - Berkshire Music School has added four new programs to their fall/winter roster: “Kindred Spirits”, “Still Singing After All These Years”, “Great Composers”, and a “Contemporary Music Festival”. Early registration is encouraged. Call 413-442-1411.“Kindred Spirits” is a BMS choir for girls from second grade through high school taught by Carolina Carry.. Members will sing in harmony from a wide variety of choral repertoire. While no previous musical experience is necessary, an informal audition demonstrating some basic singing skills will be held. Members of ‘Kindred Spirits’ also have the option to take private or semi private voice lessons from the instructor at the private lesson fee.“Kindred Spirits” is held Thursdays, 4:45 - 5:45 pm, for 25 weeks starting September 24. The fee is $260 Four Saturdays of music theory and sight reading workshops are also part of the class..
“Still Singing After All These Years” with Carolina Carry is a chorus for older adults to learn singing and breathing techniques, singing in harmony and developing sight singing skills. The group meets Wednesdays, 10:30 am – 12 noon, for 10 weeks starting September 30.
The fee is $100.
In “Great Composers, Class I” with Charles Marshall, students ages 9 – 12 study the lives and music of many great composers through listening, lectures, and performance. Composers include Bach, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Joplin and more. The class is held Mondays, 4 – 5 pm, for 17 weeks starting September 21.
The $125 fee includes a workbook.
The BMS “Contemporary Music Festival is scheduled for February 27 and 28. This weekend will feature newly composed works by and performed by Stephen Lewis, an alumnus of the Berkshire Music School and the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and several other composers from the University of California San Diego. In addition, compositions for younger musicians will be premiered. Workshops, master classes and performances will occur during the weekend celebration. Call for more details: 413.442.1411.
Returning classes and programs include:
Music for infants, toddlers or preschoolers with Tari Wheeler Roosa, 15 weeks starting September 22. Fee: $90
Infants ages 3 to 18 months, Tuesday, 1-1:45 pm; toddlers ages 16 months to 3 years, Tuesday or Saturday 10:15 – 11 am; preschoolers ages 2 years 9 months to 5 years, Tuesday or Saturday 11:15 am – noon.
KinderChoirs with Carolina cCarry, 25 weeks starting September 21. KinderChoir I ages 3.3 to 5 years, Monday 10 – 10:45 am, fee $110; KinderChoir II Kindergarten and first grade children, Thursday 3:45 – 4:30 pm, fee $160.
Jazz Ensemble with Bill Chapman Mondays, 4:30 – 5:45 pm for 10 weeks starting September 21. Fee: $200
Other ensembles also beginning September 21 include Flute Choir with Sharon Powers; Guitar Ensemble with Suzanne Higgins; String Ensemble with Bing Liu; Cello Tones with Erica Pickhardt; and Mixed Notes with Alice Spatz. Fees and schedules vary.
Introduction to Suzuki for ages 4 to 7 years, with Tari Wheeler Roosa, Saturdays 9:15 – 10 am for 15 weeks starting September 26. Fee: $120. Call for a full schedule of fees and times for regular Suzuki lessons.
Cabaret Workshops for Adults with Sherri James Buxton, Mondays, for 10 weeks starting October 5. Level I/II 6 – 7:30 pm, fee $300; Level III 7:45 – 9:30 pm, fee $350.
BMS Orchestra with Norman Thibodeau, coach/conductor, for ages 10 – adult. Tuesdays, 5:15 – 6:45 for 10 weeks starting October 6. Fee: $60 BMS student/$100 non student.
Private music lessons are also available in nearly every instrument, voice, theory and composition. Options include 30, 45 and 60-minute sessions once a week for 34 weeks.
