Community Chamber Music Program

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The Community Music Programs at Stony Brook welcome all amateur musicians interested in participating in chamber music ensembles. As a member of an ensemble, you will find a supportive environment in which to expand your depth of musical expression in a small group setting.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Once the registration period is complete, our coaches place all the registrants in compatible chamber music groups according to skill level, experience, and instrument. The groups  meet with a coach for five 90-minute sessions at a schedule convenient to all the members. There is a final concert in the Staller Center Recital Hall which is free to friends and family.

• What is my playing level?
   

  	Novice	Inter­mediate	Advanced	Expert	Professional
  My skills	I can read music and have basic technical skills. I am starting to explore chamber music repertoire. I can sight-read simple pieces slowly.	I play with a decent tone. I am comfortable at moderate tempi. I am peripherally aware of other parts. I can sight-read at a moderate tempo but slow down the hard sections.	I play with a pleasant tone. I can get back in when lost. I can sight-read near concert tempo, except in difficult technical passages. I am aware of other parts and try to match them.	I play with a beautiful tone. I can play quickly and cleanly in difficult keys and with key/tempo changes. I am a strong leader. I can sight-read all passages cleanly at concert tempo (except pianists). I have keen awareness of other parts and know exactly how they fit.	I am conservatory trained. I play with a finely nuanced tone. I can play most difficult passages with finesse at performance tempo. I use high-level technique. I can sight-read all passages cleanly at concert tempo, with phrasing. I could likely play all others’ parts if asked.
  My challenges	Often I must slow down in faster or more technical passages. Sometimes I get “tangled” in my own part.	I need to slow down in hard sections. I tend to get absorbed in my own part.	The hardest passages sound messy if I take them too fast. My phrasing is sometimes choppy.	I want to develop a cohesive group sound and wider range in tone color. I need to fine-tune my intonation.	I am out of the habit of playing for enjoyment. I am self-critical.
  My goals	To play with fewer stops, listen more to the group, and learn to lead.	To listen more to others, improve leading ability, and develop the technique for complex passages.	To play with more nuance, match my articulation with the group’s, and improve my tone and phrasing	To convey a convincing interpretation, expand my arsenal of tone colors, and refine attention to detail	To play more for enjoyment, inspire others, and coach chamber music

   

REHEARSAL TIMES

The rehearsal location and times are scheduled at the mutual convenience of the coach and the group members. In addition to the five coached rehearsals, groups are encouraged to meet and rehearse on their own.

SPRING 2024 SCHEDULE

Registration Deadline: March 8th 
Groups finalized on March 11th

COST

$300 per semester

QUESTIONS?

Email communitymusic@stonybrook.edu or call (631) 632-7330