Description of the courses 2021

For a general description of the Volterra Project courses check the "courses" page  in the "All you need to know" section
NB:
​The ONLY official language of the Volterra Project is English
  • GUITAR
  • BUSINESS SEMINARS
  • MUSIC PHYSIOLOGY
  • LUTHIERS SHOWCASE
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Guitar

Masterclasses
Each student will play in three individual classes.
The Master Classes aim to prepare not only accomplished and skilled musicians but also intelligent and insightful artists. The program offers master class instruction with:

Antigoni Goni
In her masterclasses Antigoni Goni will not only put her unmatched artistic skills and long pedagogic experience at the service of the Volterra Project participants, but also tackle many physiology-oriented issues. Antigoni Goni’s masterclasses will not only focus on technique, sound, interpretation, colors, dynamics, empathy, but also work on the management many physiology issues such as of muscular tension and fatigue, body awareness and posture, muscle use, breathing and relaxation.

Guest artist: Dušan Bogdanović

Improvisation workshops

From the practice room to the stage
In a series of 5 workshops, Luca Isolani and Maarten Vandenbemden will explore how to apply structured and unstructured improvisation to daily practice in music.
The workshops will be closely intertwined with the other activities at the Volterra Project, and propose the various forms of improvisation as a complementary tool for interpretation, physical freedom in playing and stage presence.
Through a combination of exercises in large and small groups, we experience how improvisation can feed our individual musical expression.

Business seminars
Martha Masters:
Developing Careers in Performance and Teaching

The group will discuss options for developing careers in performance and teaching, including exploring similarities and differences in various international markets and what we can learn from one another about promotion, curriculum, and creative performance opportunities for you and your students,  Participants will work in small groups to tackle various particular challenges and report back to the large group with thoughtful findings.  All participants will receive one on one feedback about their professional goals and promotional materials.

Music physiology
Michèle Swennen:
A musician is an athlete, your body is your first instrument.
 
Based on different somatic techniques, the course will give information on the general structure and function of the skeletal and muscular systems : muscular imbalances, stability and mobility,differences in tension, relaxation and efficiency.
Good breathing influences posture and relieves muscle tension. Greater breath control helps to free up musical movement, to play with less stress and more musicality.
The course will teach practical applications of information that can be incorporated into a daily practice, It will help you  to become more aware of the use of yourself.
Gretchen Egolf:
The Acting Guitarist

  • Stage fright:
    what it is, why we (all) experience it, and how to manage it.

  • Developing the theatrical side of music:
    discover the many voices and characters within the music, the instrument, and yourself.

  • Charisma is not genetic:
    controlling the stage and projecting your presence is an acquired skill  that can be develope

  • The art of giving and receiving:
    building a bridge with your audience allows the communication to travel both ways 

  • It is a child’s play: 
    finding freedom, confidence, and bravery in performance will allow you to re-learn how to play with your playing.

Luthiers' showcase
The Volterra Project will host a day of presentations from several of the most acclaimed Italian Luthiers, These will present their instruments, explain the process of guitar building, giving young guitarist an original perspective on their instruments and make them discover the importance of the synergy between luthiers and guitarists in the choice of the instrument.

Participation to the final concert

The program will conclude with the “Volterra Project Laureates concert” in the historic Palazzo dei Priori in Volterra.
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NB: Acceptance to the Volterra Project does not automatically guarantee the participation to the closing concert