Chamber Music

Chamber rehearsal, 2009 String Camp

At the String Camp you will join a group of 3 to 8 similarly-skilled string players. You'll be given a piece of music suitable for your ensemble and spend one to two hours a day rehearsing it. Our tutors will guide you through learning the piece, then polishing it. On the Friday evening, your group will present the piece you've prepared in a relaxed chamber concert.

Chamber music demands some special skills. You must keep time without a conductor. You must listen to the other parts and adapt your own to match. You must identify your own weak points and correct them.

Chamber performance, 2009 String Camp

Chamber music also offers a special opportunity. Instead of following the conductor's chosen dynamics and phrasing, your group can create its own interpretation of the music.

Must I?

We consider the chamber music to be a vital part of the camp. If we didn't, it wouldn't be part of the schedule. Sadly, not everyone feels the same way. If you don't want to join in for one of the reasons answered below, you may wish to reconsider...

I've never played in a chamber group before.

That's why we'd like you to learn.

Performing a solo part terrifies me.

It terrifies us too. We've all taken a piece, polished it to perfection, got up on stage and made it squeal into oblivion. We'll probably do it again. If you really don't want to play a solo part, choose on the application form to have another camper or a tutor double your part.

I'm too poor or too skilled a musician to work with anyone else.

There'll be over a hundred people at the camp. At least one of them will be as bad or good as you are.

I don't like my group.

We try to avoid this, but it does happen. If your group has a personality conflict, tell us about it and we'll try to find a better group distribution.

I don't like the music.

Give it a chance; you may be surprised. If you practise it until a tutor says it's accurate, yet you still can't stand the sound, you may request an alternative. The camp music library is extensive and covers an enormous range of styles.

I have a note excusing me from any and all chamber performances, I despise every string musician in Tasmania and the only pieces I'll play are arrangements of 11th Century Gregorian Chants for double bass octet.

If so, please don't come to the String Camp.

I don't want to play chamber music for a good reason that isn't listed here.

Let us know on the contact page.