Click
here to download the 2008 Piano/Composition brochure (PDF)
Conservatory Dates
June 16 - July 18, 2008 (five weeks)
Daily
Hours
8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Private lessons will be scheduled starting at 3:30 p.m.
Tuition
$875 (scholarships
are available)
Areas
of Study
Piano
Ages
Graduating
8th - graduating 12th grades
Department
Description
The piano department offers students a variety of enriching and rewarding
experiences for young performers. All piano students participate in
chamber music, rehearsing and performing quartets and quintets with
students from the AFA Conservatory Orchestra. Pianists also receive
individual coaching and lessons from the AFA Piano faculty and participate
in a variety of master classes and enrichment courses designed to improve
their skills in individual and group performance.
Chamber Music
Most piano students participate in chamber music. Students receive daily
coaching from the AFA faculty and rehearse music from the standard repertory
and a limited amount of contemporary and new works. Three chamber music
concerts and, as needed, a series of in-house recitals give students
valuable experience rehearsing and performing in small ensembles.
The repertory played by these groups is demanding and requires a high
level of sight-reading and performance proficiency. In order to facilitate
the learning process, piano students receive their chamber music in
advance so that they may begin to practice the music before the beginning
of the Conservatory. Typically, music for pianists is mailed out 2-3
weeks in advance.
Private Instruction
All piano students receive a minimum of five private lessons during
the festival. Due to the limited amount of time students have with private
teachers, AFA suggests that students come prepared to address any specific
issues with which they may desire assistance. Items students may wish
to address with private teachers include, but are not limited to, rehearsing
and preparing chamber music repertory, specific technical questions
or concerns, receiving coaching on a solo or concerto movement they
are preparing or rehearsing for upcoming contests and/or competitions.
This type of focused, one-on-one interaction between working musicians
and AFA students is specifically designed to help AFA students address
individual musical goals.
Repertory & Technique Classes
Taught by a rotating faculty, pianists take part in repertory class
where they receive a thorough introduction to piano literature. Pianists
are also enrolled in sight-reading classes and technique master classes.
Concerto Competition
All full-time piano students are eligible to compete in the AFA
Concerto Competition. The Competition is judged in two divisions:
1) Strings, Piano, Harp and 2) Winds, Brass and Percussion. Application
forms are mailed with enrollment packages after acceptance into the
Conservatory and the competition will be held during the second week
of the program.
2008 Enrollment Quota
6-10 students
