Berlin

HÖRSAAL BOXHAGENER STRAβE BERLIN, DECEMBER 1-4

This institute takes place in a studio a couple of subway stops from Alexanderplatz. The fine Fazioli B at our disposal is courtesy of Tomas Bächli, our gracious host. Tomas will be away for these four days, but we are grateful for his hospitality! Matt Rubinstein, who teaches out of the studio adjacent to Tomas', will be present and is our onsite liason. Practice rooms may be rented in a piano store not too distant, and hopefully we will take our meals together at some of the colourful restaurants that dot the neighbourhood.

Book this very special institute in one of the key culture capitals of Europe... to improve your piano playing, brush up on your teaching skills, and take in the concerts, the museums, the nightlife! If you can't make this institute please do sign up for our newsletter to receive scheduling updates for future institutes as they arise.


Berlin Participants
   
Berlin Institute #1 - August 2016

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 all, 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
  • 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!

INSTRUMENTALISTS & VOCALISTS ALSO WELCOME

Alan's Feldenkrais-informed approach to performance also helps instrumentalists and vocalists, transforming their sound by making minute postural adjustments that release hidden physical blocks. If you have a friend or colleague with a specific performing issue, why not invite them to come along.


SCHEDULE




STRUCTURE OF THE DAY

The institute is a mixture of piano lessons, Feldenkrais lessons and lectures on piano technique from the viewpoint of Piano Somatics. On Friday morning we gather for coffee, getting to know each other and discussing our goals for the four days. Coffee and Danish at 8:30 Friday morning, opening session at 9.

Although the institute runs for 4 full days, partial attendance is completely acceptable. You are also not obliged to take the maximum number of lessons. See the registration procedure for instructions on how to tailor-make your participation to your own needs.

DAILY SCHEDULE
8:30-9:00 Coffee & Tea
9:00-10:40 2 Lessons
10:40-11:40 ATM: Group Awareness Through Movement™ lesson
Please bring your own yoga mat or blanket for this class.
11:40-12:30 1 Lesson
12:30-2:20 Lunch
2:20-4:00 2 Lessons
4:00-5:00 ATPM: Seminar & Group Awareness Through Piano Movement™ lesson
5:00-6:40 2 Lessons
6:40... Evening Meal & Chill Out

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.

You are free to attend the entire day or take a break from watching the lessons to rest or do a little bit of practicing. Each entire session is recorded and offered to you free of charge for future reference.


3-DAY SCHEDULE
Friday 8:30 - Informal meetup, registration confirmation, coffee & tea
9:00 - introductory session takes the place of the first lesson.
9:50 - We continue with the daily schedule
4:00 - Seminar: Update on hand structure & function as applied to music performance.
Saturday 8:30 - Daily Schedule
4:00 - Seminar: How can that pesky thumb give 100%? When it relates functionally to the whole.
Sunday 8:30 - Daily Schedule
4:00 - Seminar: Shaping phrases with the arm is our ultimate tool for higher musicianship.
19:00 - Participant Recital (Optional Participation)
Monday 8:30 - Daily Schedule
4:00 - Seminar: Shaping phrases with the arm is our ultimate tool for higher musicianship.
18:00 Closing session... and party!

The question period in each seminar is a chance to take the discussion in a whole new direction. For instance, the conversation could veer towards one of the topics below covered in a past institute. Which of these topics is of special concern to you? Make note of it, and make sure you bring it up with Alan in a seminar.

LECTURE TOPICS
Hand Structure & Function The Celestial Hand Arch - The Voice of the Piano
Weight Technique Arm Weight, the Anti-Gravity Function, Elasticity and Biotensegrity
The Thumb I Pass And Do Not Pass The Thumb Under: It's Complicated.
Rotation Rotation at the Micro and Macro Levels
The Hand as a Mini-Body Lying, Standing, Walking & Running: Organic Development of the Hand on the Keyboard
Pianimals Use The Pianimals Exercises & Compositions in your Teaching and your Playing
Musicianship & Technique Physical Strategies to Enhance Phrase, Polyphony & Orchestration
Feldenkrais & Piano Expressively Directed Micro-Timing: A New Musical Aesthetic
Q & A Which Aspects of Piano Somatics Intrigue You... Frustrate You... Mystify You... Satisfy You?

TRAVEL




GETTING THERE

The Institute will take place at
Boxhagener Str. 16
10245 Berlin

Enter the passageway, walk all the way through to the THIRD courtyard, enter the door on the right. Take the elevator to the third floor, turn right, walk down the hallway all the way to the end. We will send you the code for the passageway gate when you register.

PRACTICE ROOMS


Practice rooms can be rented by the hour for a very reasonable price at PianoRooms, also not too far from Alexanderplatz.
The exact address is Friedrichstraße 130, 10117 Berlin, in der Dreispitzpassage.


ACCOMMODATION




LODGING

There are many hotels in Berlin, all easily available at Booking.com. Airbnb is also an option.

MEALS

There are many restaurants within walking distance of the studio.


Berlin Restaurant
   
Berlin - Neighbourhood Restaurant

REGISTER




FEES & REGISTRATION

  • The active participation fee covers a daily individual lesson, daily group ATM and ATPM lessons, daily seminar lectures, and observation of all other lessons.
  • The passive participation fee covers full participation in all activities but no individual lesson.

COMBINE ACTIVE AND PASSIVE DAYS

  • If you want to take full advantage of Alan's presence in Berlin, book three active days.
  • If three lessons over three days is too intense for you, book only two or even only one active day, and attend the other days as an auditor. To combine active and passive registrations, hit the back button on your browser to add another purchase item to the same payment procedure. For instance, if you want to attend all three days but only have two individual lessons, purchase two Active Participant days and one Passive Participant day for a total of three.
At completion of your registration, please return here to fill out the PARTICIPANT QUESTIONNAIRE, indicating which institute you will be attending (Berlin), and what days.

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

Berlin Institute one day two days three days four days
Active Participation $157 $308 $457 $598
Passive Participation $45 $90 $132 $172

Discounts

We offer discounts for senior citizens, students up to 25 years of age, and those in reduced financial circumstances. For more information, please contact Sophia Cholich and let her know your status. If you qualify for a discount, you will receive a partial refund on your initial payment.


BEFORE & AFTER THE INSTITUTE




INFORMATION SHEET & FOLLOWUP QUESTIONNAIRE

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

After you have completed your institute, please come back to fill out this FOLLOWUP QUESTIONNAIRE. This helps us evaluate your experience, tailor your ongoing regime to facilitate further progress, and fine-tune the structure of future institutes to better meet participants' needs.


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

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.


Matt & Alan
   
Alan Fraser & Matt Rubenstein

MATT RUBENSTEIN

Pianist and pedagogue Matt Rubenstein is an American pianist and teacher who has been active in the Berlin clasical music scene for many years and has recorded several acclained CD's of new piano music. He teaches piano privately in Berlin and is the organizer of the Berlin Alan Fraser Piano Institute.

Contact Matt Rubenstein.


COVID-19 ADVISORY





COVID-19 ADVISORY

If Covid-19 restrictions are still in effect, we will ask that all participants be vaccinated against Covid-19, or that you have proof of a negative Covid-19 test done less than 72 hours before your arrival at the Institute. We can discuss your vaccination status when you register.

Alan has been vaccinated three times, with the Astra-Zeneca vaccine in March and June 2021 and a Pfizer booster in November 2021. He has also contracted Covid-19 three times: in November 2020 before the vaccines were available, then twice with the Omicron variant in January and July 2022. Thankfully he had only mild symptoms and quickly recovered.

If national Covid-19 restrictions are still in force during the institute, the following measures will be followed for the protection and comfort of all participants:

  • Masks will be worn whenever the 2-metre social distancing rule cannot be followed.
  • Hands must be washed frequently and hand sanitizer will be provided.



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.