Teacher Training Clinics

Clark Chaffee and Joanne May, clinicians

A 5-day workshop for public school orchestra directors

The String Innovations clinic will focus on string instruction for orchestra directors who are not primarily string players but some previous string training is advised. This is a great place for string players to work on secondary chops.

Topics explored will include: developing tension-free performing; nurturing beautiful tone; creating curricula for string performance classes; mastering fingerboard geography; mastering rhythm sight reading and developing related aural skills.

Participants will receive a thorough introduction to Paul Rolland Pedagogy and the Chaffee Core Musicianship Project. Those who are interested in deeper training and trainer certification are encouraged to contact the instructors for more details and to enroll in the separate Paul Rolland and Chaffee Core Musicianship Project clinics.

The clinic is taught by string educators Joanne May, who will be giving an introduction to "Paul Rolland String Pedagogy," and Clark Chaffee, author of the "Chaffee Core Musicianship Project." Joanne is a highly respected international clinician with experience teaching in the US and Europe. Clark is a creative, experienced orchestra director whose "Core Musicianship Project" includes "Rhythm Workshop" and "Key Shapes" materials and activities. Additional information about Ms. May and Mr. Chaffee as well as the Paul Rolland Pedagogy and the CCMP is available on this website.

Follow-up with both clinicians will be available to participants via Zoom after the clinic is over.

Clark Chaffee, clinician

A 5-day workshop for public school orchestra directors

This clinic will focus on string instruction for orchestra directors who are not primarily string players and string players who wish to strengthen secondary instrument chops. Participants are encouraged (not required) to have basic string instrument technique prior to the clinic.

Topics explored will include:

Basic left and right side technique review

Creating curricula for string performance classes with a focus on individualized instruction

Mastering fingerboard geography

Mastering rhythm sight reading

Exploring valuable warm-up activities

Developing related aural skills

Participants will receive a thorough introduction to the Chaffee Core Musicianship Project. Those who are interested in deeper training and trainer certification are encouraged to contact the instructors for more details.

The clinic will be taught by string educator Clark Chaffee, author of the Chaffee Core Musicianship Project. Clark is a creative, experienced orchestra director whose "Core Musicianship Project" includes "Rhythm Workshop" and "Key Shapes" materials and activities.

Clark Chaffee, clinician

A single 6-7 hour masterclass for teens, adults, or mixed ages

The Key Shapes Launchis an introduction to the five "Focus Areas" of the Key Shapes portion of the Chaffee Core Musicianship Project, including a unique warm-up routine and application of Key Shapes concepts to sight reading. Activities will be mixed throughout the session with a priority on individual development to keep participants fully engaged.

The primary focus of Key Shapes is to directly address the issues that require remediation time during rehearsal. Rehearsal time invested in CCMP activities comes back tenfold through reduced remediation. Basic technique development is addressed within the tetrachord warm-up activities but are not the focus of CCMP. Please seek training in the Rolland Pedagogy or Suzuki teacher training programs for extensive training in technique development.

Imagine rapid mental mapping of left hand key shapes in all positions on all strings for each key signature. Professionals don't have to imagine it - they live it daily. Your students can get there years faster with effective training.

This clinic will present rehearsal techniques, musicianship development exercises, and printed materials to link the sight, sound, and the left hand shapes recognition needed for effective sight reading. Each key signature creates a unique pattern of notes on the fingerboard. Over many years and countless etudes, scales, etc, professional string players develop a thorough knowledge of these patterns. The time needed to develop recognition of these patterns can be dramatically reduced through effective exposure to the sight, sound, and feel of these basic patterns. By learning how each of the four fundamental patterns feels, sounds, and the cycle that connects them, students gain confidence playing in any key, on any string, and in the position that best serves any passage.

This clinic will share effective rehearsal activities and hands-on printed materials that combine with any commercial methods and any level of repertoire. They were developed over a 30 year career in public school teaching and are equally effective in private instruction.

The result of using this approach is the development of ensembles that sight read much better with a signifiant reduction in concert preparation time and a significant improvement in intonation.

Students who take pride in improved self-sufficiency are more likely to practice effectively and longer. Proud students lead to success in other realms of life, proud parents, and happy administrators.

Join Clark Chaffee and others to see how effective sequencing of standard concepts and practices can revolutionize your program or studio. Audience members are welcome to participate in the demonstration group.

The five primary Key Shapes Focus Areas are:

1. Note reading in all clefs

2. Keyboard note names + all five accidentals (including half and whole steps)

3. Key signatures (all 15), major scale building, and cycle of 4ths and 5ths (along with Key Shapes Worksheets for strings

4. Minor scale building - all three forms

5. Key Shapes Mastery

5A for strings, mastery of the fingerboard shapes for all keys

5B for winds and percussion, mastery of the "Mode Game," and "Morphing Key Signatures"

Clark Chaffee, clinician

A single 4 to 6 hour masterclass for teens, adults, or mixed ages

The Rhythm Workshop Launch will introduce participants to the entire Rhythm Workshop program. After a preview of the Rhythm Workshop packets and exploring how to complete the written and performance activities, the participants will work independently and in rhythm-buddy pairs for most of the clinic. Participants who successfully complete all the work quickly will be encouraged to serve as peer coaches for the other students, leaving more time for the instructor(s) to support those who need help the most. This format is used because it is ideal for classroom application.

Participants should have a modest level of music training for this clinic. Maximum class size is 12, unless pre-trained peer coaches are available. This masterclass is ideal for pre-training peer coaches prior to adapting CCMP into your curriculum.

The 4 levels of Rhythm Workshop are:

1. Values of 1 beat and longer in 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 4/8, and 4/2

2. Dividing the beat into 2 parts in 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 2/2, 4/2, 3/8, and 6/8 (slow)

3. Dividing the beat into 3 parts in fast 6/8, 9/8, and 12/8

4. Dividing the beat into 4 parts in 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 2/2, and 3/2

There is a written preparation page for each of the 24 duets, which uses a consistent format. The preparation pages provide students a routine to prepare for any rhythm reading challenge. That routine can be used effectively in class to significantly improve sight reading quality.

Clark Chaffee, clinician

A 2-day (12-hour) deeper dive for teachers into the Chaffee Core Musicianship Project

See the "Launch" descriptions for the basic structure for "The Weekender." The additional time will allow more individualized instruction, more time to explore the unique aspects of the CCMP, more time for application to repertoire, and more time to share ideas for CCMP application to ensemble and studio settings including curriculum development. Participants may be able to finish the entire Rhythm Workshop and the most important aspects of the Key Shapes work.