NCVS Viola Pandemonium Sessions 2020, November Edition celebrating Kató Havas at 100
Northern California Viola society invites you into November with 3 more online sessions on Sundays@5pm pacific time. It is Kató Havas and the New Approach all month to honor her - November 5th would have been her 100th birthday. Five wonderful teachers will lead us in specific exercises and also help you understand her approach. Those of us who worked with her know that all during her lifetime she adamantly resisted the idea that New Approach be called a "method" or "system". There are often misconceptions about what it actually is! Katò Havas’ New Approach gives us a comprehensive system using movement and balance which leads to ease in playing. With the guidance of musicians who studied with Havas in Oxford, participants will learn strategies unique to the New Approach, including the concepts of “no violin,” "the giving left hand," “no bow hold" and bow distribution through the right arm "hinges." Katò Havas’ teachings have guided generations of musicians in their quest to play with physical freedom and wellness. Register via eventbrite links below. You must register to participate. The sessions are free and open to violists from anywhere and we encourage a variety of ages and skill levels. Please attend any or all three this month and spread the word. If you would like to support our efforts with a membership, renewal or gift, we would welcome your support. All donations will benefit the Young Violists Competition and Composer Competition. We are a 501(c)3 and your donations may be tax deductible.
November 15th with Bettina Mussumeli and Jodi Levitz, 5pm Pacific:
Stellar teaching artists Jodi Levitz, viola, and Bettina Mussumeli, violin, made enormous contributions to Northern California in their years here performing and teaching at the San Francisco Conservatory. With the magic of Zoom, we are able to whisk them back from their current environs in Miami to lead us in an exploration of Kato Havas' New Approach. We'll be focusing on integrating the basic principals of the New Approach with so-called “mainstream” string technique.
Katò Havas’ New Approach is a string training pathway that focuses on
connecting physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of music making. Join Patty Heller to learn
the practice of miming, in which we first isolate movement, then combine into harmonious and effective
performance. Miming involves finding the pulse, directing movement with
the voice, working out the mechanics of bow distribution and
interval shapes.
November 29th with David Daniel Bowes, Jeananne Weber and Patricia Heller, 5pm Pacific:
A common misconception holds that beginning to learn any instrument requires an initial period of struggle where the sound is unpleasant to the player and anyone listening. This session will demonstrate that by applying the principles of the New Approach from the very start, we can structure our movements in order to nurture resonance of the instrument. Ease in the body leads to releasing beautiful tone from the instrument. David, Jeananne and Patty created this session for an ASTA conference - we are the lucky recipients of their extensive knowledge and experience teaching and performing using the New Approach.
OCTOBER: Eleanor Angel's Primrose Practice Tips, October 18, 5pm PDT:
Northern California violist, educator and Bay Area treasure takes us on a journey of discovery, how to turn tricky passagework flawless using William Primrose's techniques. Using familiar repertoire, Eleanor will walk us through an exercise for
learning 16th note and triplet passages in rhythms and in all parts of
the bow. We'll leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of agile fingers
and clean string crossings! Along the way she will share stories of her
time with Primrose from her first lesson onwards. In addition to having a full studio of violin and viola students,
Eleanor is the past Assistant Director of the de Veritch Institute for
Viola, and the Founder/Past President of the Northern California Viola
Society.To watch this session: YouTube link for NCVS Eleanor video
Jeremy Cohen Tango Techniques, October 11, 5pm PDT
Jeremy Cohen has dazzled the string world for decades with his violin and he is certainly no stranger to the viola!! With his extensive background in tango, jazz, classical, country, blues, rock and funk, Jeremy will share his knowledge with us we try out tango techniques from the Arrastre to the Tambour. Don't miss out on Jeremy's Viola Duets - purchase the sheet music here and listen: Jeremy's Viola Duets on YouTube
SEPTEMBER 13, 5pm PDT
This is going to be BIG fun, do.not.miss! With lively music and a great spirit, Cookie brings a wealth of experience and knowledge from her years of performing and teaching. We are lucky to snag her- she is usually off playing worldwide with her trio, Veretski Pass! She is an expert in Jewish violin style and has transcribed countless folk tunes from the tradition.
SEPTEMBER 20, 5pm PDT
Get your mind-body-spirit mojo going in this hour-long workshop. David's workshop will have as the centerpiece an experience of one of Moshe Feldenkrais' many lessons called ATM, or "Awareness Through Movement". David is celebrating his 50th anniversary of teaching music this year, having given his first violin and piano lessons when he was 16. Studying the Feldenkrais® Method seemed a natural extension of immersion in the New Approach, which constitute the teaching principles of Kato Havas, OBE.
David teaches a Feldenkrais® class every Monday at 11 AM Pacific time online. To register: David Daniel Bowes' Monday Weekly Class
Experienced music educator and clinician Dr Thomas Tatton leads us
through a series of games that are challenging but accessible to many
levels of players. No exercise book is needed as we try out the "games"
that Tom demonstrates for finding a deeper tone, developing sautillé,
shifting with a relaxed arm and building accuracy in higher positions.
With a wealth of experience in educational settings, Tom will explain
how to do the exercises and what technique is being developed. We try it
out and learn something new - pedagogy without tears!
