Dear Everyone,
It is a real pleasure to welcome you to the 2008 edition of the Volterra Project.
On July 25th we will meet once more in the hills across from the medieval city of Volterra in Tuscany, Italy, for 10 more days of intense work and creative learning, as well as for many delicious dinners and jam sessions under the stars.

This year's curriculum focus, will be on Guitar in the 21st Century commissioning new works, working with composers and creating arrangements for our instrument.
In my career to date, I have found that expanding our repertoire should be the mission of every guitarist. As with many things in life, this is easies to say than realize. This is why our guest artists this year will be Nuccio D'Angelo and Atanas Ourkouzounov: in my opinion among the very best guitar composers of our times. They will be addressing these very topics through their teaching and presentations throughout the seminar.

Students who are also aspiring composers are welcome to bring and present their compositions. Later this spring we will be announcing a pre-chosen composition that will be offered for arrangement. Students are encouraged to attempt their own arrangements of this work, to be shared and discussed during the seminar.

The focus and main interest of The Volterra Project are its students – their artistic growth and well being. It is my strong conviction that, this growth happens gradually, day by day, through the exposure to new experiences that challenge our limits and tame our egos.
Don't miss this chance! I will certainly be looking forward to meeting you this summer in Volterra for one more, as a student defined it, "life changing experience"

Yours
Antigoni Goni
Founder and Artistic Director

• Guitar 3 to 4 individual lessons and 2 tow hour-long lectures

  The master classes aim to prepare not only accomplished and skilled musicians, but also intelligent and insightful artists.

• Business 3 two-hour lectures

  Lectures and individual consultations will focus on :

  • Effective promotional materials-biographies, news releases, program notes, websites, ads, etc
  • Media coverage, media interviews and the development of other promotional skills.
  • How-tos of arts education and outreach
  • Concert Programs, and "concert artist etiquette"

  Participants will leave the “Volterra Project” with an understanding of how the media work and how best to position themselves for promotion of concerts, recordings, residencies and teaching with a focus on career-long strategy.

• Alexander Technique (AT)

  AT is a non-intrusive, active technique that allows both your body and mind to restore some of the natural energy and balance of which they are capable. AT will provide an invaluable tool to release the unnecessary muscular tension accumulated because of bad habits and emotional stress, to increase breathing and a sensation of growth in the spine and body.

  Articulated both in individual and group classes the course will focus on:

  • Key principles of the Alexander Technique: primary control, good use and bad use
  • The structure and functioning of the human body and the way we misuse it
  • Increasing our awareness of our habits, and how we can start to change them
  • Links between†mind and body
  • To relax in activity: re-discover a natural 'good use'