Ahun, France

Ahun, Creuse, France

MAY 1-7 2023: THE WIENERISSIMO MUSIC ROOM - CANCELLED

The institute is cancelled due to low enrollment; please come join us at the end of August! Scheduled to coincide with the spring school holidays in the northern parts of France and the Netherlands, this institute takes place in a wonderful 17th century mansion in Ahun, a medieval town in central France easily accessible by rail or car. Participants will gather for Awareness Through Movement (ATM) lessons, Awareness Through Piano Movement (ATPM) lessons, individual technique & repertoire lessons, and to relax playing 4-, 6-, and even 8-hands music selected from Elisa Weiner's extensive collection of scores in the evenings. There will be lively discussion of all aspects of the institute, and indeed of piano playing in general at Elisa's table, famed throughout the region for her haute cuisine. All meals are taken en groupe.

You will love life at Wienerissimo , a wonderful, elegant musician's retreat situated in a lovely medieval town filled with ancient churches. There are several practice pianos scattered throughout the house.

Ahun Salle a diner
   
Ahun - The Dining Room

OPEN TO ALL INTERESTED PIANISTS

Are you hesitant to attend? Feel you are not advanced enough? Not well-enough prepared? Don't worry; Alan welcomes you no matter what your ability, no matter what the state of your program. The Institute really is open to all interested pianists:

  • students who wish to improve their sound and agility
  • adult amateurs who wish to feel more in command of the instrument
  • teachers who want new ways of teaching technique to their students
  • professionals who wish to hone their skills to the highest possible level.

There is no limit to improvement!

Alan Fraser teaches in French or English as you prefer.


DAILY SCHEDULE




This schedule may be modified according to the needs of the group.


DAILY SCHEDULE
8:00-9:00 Breakfast
9:00-11:00 2 lessons
11:00-12:00 Group Awareness Through Movement (ATM)™ lesson
12:00-14:00 Lunch; siesta
14:00-18:00 2 lessons
16:00-17:00 Lecture - ATPM lesson
17:00-19:00 2 lessons
19:00-20:00 Evening meal
20:00-? Salon or Table Football

The seminar-ATPM format is new. Alan will begin by lecturing on a topic, then field some questions about the material, and then create an Awareness Through Piano Movement lesson that grows out of that lecture's focus.

Lessons are 50 minutes with a few minutes at the end for Q & A, and a short break. You are free to observe the lessons for the entire day, or take a break to do a little bit of practicing or just rest. All sessions are videotaped and offered free of charge to participants for future reference.


Ahun salon
   
Ahun - The Salon

AWARENESS THROUGH PIANO MOVEMENT LESSONS
Day 1 Floating the Arm and Smooshing the Hand
Day 2 Stand & Oppose the Thumb
Day 3 From Walking to Running
Day 4 Rotating & Leaping
Day 5 Join the Hand to Your Whole Self

Ahun den
   Ahun - The Den

TRAVEL




GETTING THERE


BY CAR

BY TRAIN

    The train from Paris Austerlitz to La Souterraine takes under 3 hours; from there take a bus directly to Ahun, unless we can arrange to pick you up by car.

  • La Souterraine
  • Bus, La Souterraiane-Ahun

From the Ahun bus stop it is just a few minutes' walk to:

    Association Le Salon de musique-Wienerissimo
    13, place du Dr Coudère
    23150 Ahun
    Téléphone : 06.82.46.70.45 (Élisa Wiener, présidente fondatrice)
    Email


ACCOMMODATION




LODGING

All participants live in residence at Wienerissimo, with full board. Elisa has generously offered us all the student rate, making the cost very reasonable. In addition to the chambres d'hôtes there is a cottage at our disposal, and there is a reasonable hotel across the street for overflow participants, Gîte de Bertau. There are three levels of lodging quality offered:

  • Shared room with twin beds at €50 per person per night, meals and refreshements included
  • Private rooms at €75 per person per night, meals and refreshements included
  • Private room at Gîte de Bertau at €50 a night, meals and refreshements included chez Elisa
  • There is another cottage that can be rented communally if necessary

Please contact Elisa to reserve your room and discuss your lodging needs.

Lodging and meal fees are paid directly to Wienerissimo; they are separate from the Institute registration fee.


Ahun bedroom
   Ahun - Bedroom

MEALS

Elisa's establishment offers us all meals:

  • continental breakfast
  • full lunch
  • full supper
  • coffee, tea, biscuits and fruit are available in the salon throughout the day.


Ahun Repas
   Ahun - Refreshments


REGISTRATION




FEES & REGISTRATION

  • Active participants have a daily individual lesson, daily group ATM and ATPM lessons, daily seminar lectures, and observe all other lessons.
  • Passive participants take part fully in all activities but receive no individual lesson.

COMBINE ACTIVE AND PASSIVE DAYS

To combine active and passive registrations, hit the back button on your browser to add another purchase item during the same payment procedure. For instance, if you want to attend for five days but only have three individual lessons, purchase three Active Participant days and two Passive Participant days for a total of five.


Click on your preferred option below to pay by credit card at our retail partner, Stripe.com.

Participation 1 day 2 days 3 days 4 days 5 days 6 days 7 days
Active participant $148 $288 $427 $558 $687 $824 $957
Passive participant $45 $90 $132 $172 $210 $248 $282

After registering, please return here to fill out the REGISTRATION QUESTIONNAIRE.



Montreal Participants
   Ahun - Ancient Wooden Sculptures in Church


CONTACT




ABOUT US - CONTACT

ALAN FRASER

Canadian pianist Alan Fraser gives master classes and recitals worldwide and conducts ongoing research and refinement on the ideas put forth in his books on piano technique:

He is at work on several new volumes. Visit here for more on Alan Fraser.

If you have concerns or questions about your participation in the institute and would like to address them directly to Alan Fraser, send him an email.

ELISA WEINER

Elisa Weiner is an excellent classical pianist who had a long and influential career in France as a teacher and Conservaotoire director. She has known many of France's most eminent pianists, singers, instrumental musicians, actors, poets and painters, and is a treasure trove of stories about, and insights into, France's unique culture of a certain epoch. We often spend evenings playing piano four hands, six hands or even eight hands with Elisa, digging into her vast collection of pianistic memorabilia.

WIENERISSIMO

Visit the medieval lanes and byways of AHUN, a 13th century village with its special charm and churches dating from the 13th-16th centuries. This village feels as if it has been untouched by time, and Elisa with her insights into 20th century pianism combined with a wonderful elan in the kitchen, offers unbeatable hospitality.


Canopy bed
   Wienerissimo Bedroom


Cancellation Policy

If you must cancel your registration, reimbursement will be as follows:
Cancellations more than two months before Institute opening date: 100% reimbursement.
Cancellations more than one month before Institute opening date: 75% reimbursement.
Cancellations more than two weeks before Institute opening date: 50% reimbursement.
Cancellations more than one week before Institute opening date: 25% reimbursement.
Cancellations less than one week before Institute opening date: no reimbursement except in cases of doctor-certified illness or acts of God.
We reserve the right to cancel the institute due to insufficient enrolment; in this event, all registration fees are fully refundable.