The Art of Endless Variation, with Joshua Horowitz

This class uses the “Simon says” ear playing method to create continuous variations in klezmer tunes. We will use a gentle and effective style of learning, slowly and methodically moving step-by-step through each motivic cell of a piece by ear, repeating it and varying it in countless ways before moving on to the next motive. In this way, students begin to hear and feel the possibilities inherent in each part of a tune and will naturally find themselves creating their own versions of tunes. Because students don’t need to memorize whole sections of tunes, the learning becomes more relaxed, yet in the end, several versions of the tune become internalized naturally. Students will learn how to view every section of a tune as a collection of motives, each containing pillar notes with spaces between them that can be realized in various ways without relinquishing the character of the tune. Some recordings will be provided.

This is one of the simplest workshops that Josh offers, with continuous playing and very little chatter. Once, a student remarked that it is like “taking a slow, long, warm musical bath.”

For high-intermediate to advanced melody players. No previous klezmer experience is required, but knowledge of instrument and intermediate ability for reading simple lead sheets. Basic theory knowledge of scales and intervals is necessary.

Five successive Mondays, 11am – 12:15pm Pacific Time: July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

Presented by Workers Circle. Tuition: $150 for Workers Circle members, $180 non-members.