Oxford, Ohio

MIAMI UNIVERSITY, OXFORD OHIO: JUNE 26 - JULY 5

SPECIAL EXTENDED SESSION FEATURES FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING

We are making some changes to the format for the Oxford 2027 Piano Somatics Institute. Running for 10 full days, with 8 full teaching days, it offers participants an extended, intensive immersion into a rich and multidimensional learning process.

Take full advantage of this extended schedule with a lesson every single day, or select a reduced number of active days spaced out over the entire session - and if you can't present for the full 10 days, feel free to attend a reduced number of days.

AWARENESS THROUGH MOVEMENT; AWARENESS THROUGH PIANO MOVEMENT

Daily Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement (ATM) lessons offer participants a chance to lie on the floor, relax, and discover how improved skeletal alignment fosters more effective movement, a more delicious sense of the whole self playing the piano. The daily Fraser Awareness Through Piano Movement (ATPM) lesson grows out of the technical issues arising in that day's piano lessons - tailor-made to suit the needs of each group. Participants sitting in chairs are guided through piano-playing-like hand movements done on the knees, improving whole-body skeletal organization to improve the relationship of the hand to the piano.

A COMBINED PIANO & FUNCTIONAL INTEGRATION LESSON

This year we also offer a special double lesson where a piano lesson is combined with an individual Feldenkrais Functional Integration (FI) lesson. We have found that the student absorbs and integrates the physical strategies presented in the piano lesson far better and more permanently when there is a direct link to a Feldenkrais Functional Integration experience, further complementing the daily Awareness Through Movement lessons which continue to be an integral part of the institute.

FREE ONLINE CONSULTATION

Feeling unsure if this institute is for you? Don't worry, we offer a free 15-30 minute online consultation with Alan Fraser, who is here to answer your questions - to explain what actually takes place at the institute and how you could benefit. Contact us to set up your appointment.

ALL-STEINWAY INSTITUTE

One of the greatest benefits of Piano Somatics is the improvement in your sound, and nowhere is this in more evidence than on the fine Steinway pianos of Miami University:

• A venerable New York Steinway D concert grand and its sidekick, a Hamburg Steinway B in Room 222, Presser Hall at Miami University in Oxford Ohio.

• An exceptionally luminescent Hamburg Steinway D in Souers Hall at the closing recital.

• Steinway/Boston upright pianos in the practice rooms immediately adjacent to room 222.

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Presser Hall

The institute has:

An opening evening gathering and group briefing

8 full teaching days including a closing recital and rehearsal in the recital hall the day before.

A final morning session: debriefing and farewells

Attending the entire session offers you the best chance of the breakthrough in your piano technique to which we are committed, but you can also tailor-make your attendance according to your scheduling restrictions. At checkout, you can specify on exactly which days, and in what capacity, you will attend.

REPERTOIRE

Please bring all the repertoire you are working on at the moment. As a minimum we suggest you bring at least one piece in each of these three categories:

A piece very familiar to you, where you have no technical worries whatsoever and can simply rejoice in the music-making. Playing this one should feel easy, to give us a feel for your natural relationship to the piano.

A specific technical challenge, such as an etude, or the coda of the Chopin G minor Ballade... It's here that we can address specific weak points in your technique, showing you how to resolve them more quickly than you thought possible.

Your dream piece: the piece you've always wanted to play but never dared to try—the one you love, but which seems beyond your technical means. Here we combine technical improvement with ease and refinement of musical execution—we put it all together. Moshe Feldenkrais said, “Health is being able to fulfill your unavowed dreams.” Let this week at the institute set you on the road to pianistic health. Dare to dream!

A piece ready for performance in the Friday evening recital. This could be the “easy, familiar” piece mentioned above, or something newer and more challenging. Do not pick a piece that is too “fresh”; you should ideally be able to play it through before arriving at the institute.

Open to all interested pianists... Alan & Kathleen

OPEN TO ALL INTERESTED PIANISTS

The Institute is committed to a breakthrough in your piano playing. Piano Somatics offers new insights into possible “technical upgrades” no matter what your past pianistic experience. If you are hesitant to attend, or feel that you may not be advanced enough, or not well-enough prepared, fear not! Alan works effectively with all pianists, no matter what their background, their ability, or the state of their program. Working on a relatively new and un-seasoned program, for instance, offers the chance to develop new practice habits before old ones have been firmly entrenched. The Institute really is open to all interested pianists:

Professionals who wish to hone their skills to the highest possible level.

Teachers who want new ways of teaching technique to their students.

Students who wish to improve their sound and agility.

Adult amateurs who wish to feel more in command of the instrument.

There is no limit to improvement!

OPEN TO INSTRUMENTALISTS & VOCALISTS

Non-pianists are also welcome to attend the institute. Fraser's application of the Feldenkrais ideas to musical performance works equally well no matter what your instrument.

MIAMI U STAFF & STUDENTS AUDIT FOR FREE

Miami U. faculty, staff and students are all welcome to audit the institute at no charge, and receive a 25% discount on individual lesson fees. Other local interested folks are also welcome to drop in—your first visit will be free of charge. If you like what you see, talk to Alan about registering!

Some two pianos, four hands work in Presser Hall

DAILY SCHEDULE

This typical schedule will be modified according to the makeup and needs of the group.

In the group Awareness Through Piano Movement lesson, participants sitting on chairs are guided through piano-playing-like hand movements done on the knees. Each lesson grows out of the issues arising in that day's piano lessons, and is tailor-made to suit the needs of each group.

Presser Hall, 2024

Each day can be attended in its entirety, but participants are also free to take a break, rest or practice. All sessions are recorded and made available for future reference.

Please note that the air conditioning in Room 222 sometimes works rather too well. We try our best to get the administration to regulate it, but bring a sweater just in case—be prepared for a rather cold room.

SCHEDULE

This typical schedule will be modified according to the makeup and needs of the group.

ARRIVAL & ONSITE REGISTRATION

Your registration packets will be distributed at the opening gathering Sunday evening when we will meet in the MacCracken Hall lounge for refreshments (6 pm), a meal together (7 pm) and the opening session (8 pm). In a pre-institute email we will be asking you for the name and number of a person to contact in case of an emergency, and if you are driving to the institute, we will be giving you instructions on booking on-campus parking.

Souers Recital Hall

TRAVEL

GETTING THERE

Located in south west Ohio in between Cincinnati and Dayton, Oxford is well within driving distance of several Midwest cities.

Map: Oxford, Ohio (location map embedded in the original webpage).

Here is the location of Presser Hall at Miami University, Oxford:

Map: Presser Hall, Oxford, Ohio (location map embedded in the original webpage).

Note: Parking passes are available for all dormitory and conference center residents at no cost.

NEAREST AIRPORTS: DAYTON, CINCINNATI

The two nearest airports, each about an hour away, are Dayton International Airport (https://flydayton.com/) and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (https://www.cvgairport.com/). There are several shuttle services available.

Uber

Uber is also a reasonable option, and convenient if you already run the app.

Private Shuttle Services

Several private residents of Oxford drive people to and from the airport for a fee somewhat more affordable than these commercial alternatives. Contact Kathleen Carels (krcarels@gmail.com) to explore this option.

Week 2, 2024 in Souers Hall

ACCOMMODATION

LODGING & MEALS

ROOMS IN STUDENT HOUSING

Each year we reserve several reasonably-priced dormitory rooms for participants attending the entire week. This year we will be in Bishop Hall (https://miamioh.edu/profiles/campus-services-center/residence-halls/bishop-hall.html), a venerable student residence situated on the Academic Quad, 300 East Spring Street. Bishop Hall is within walking distance of both Presser and Souers Halls. There is a large communal kitchen & dining area, and the lounge features both a piano and a billiards table. Residents can practice at all hours of the day or night, but there's also the temptation to do otherwise! Each room at Bishop includes:

XL single bed

Mini-fridge in each room

All rooms are air conditioned

Separate men's and women's communal rest rooms, with one single bathroom on each floor for those with special private needs

Large communal kitchen on each floor

Large common room on each floor

Bishop Hall

$54 single occupancy per person, per night:

8 nights – $432 total

Availability of these rooms is limited, so please reserve them as soon as you register to assure yourself a place.

Bishop Hall is now confirmed. You can reserve your room in confidence that you will be well-situated.

Map: Bishop Hall, 300 East Spring Street, Oxford, Ohio (location map embedded in the original webpage).

PARKING PERMITS

Every Bishop Hall resident is offered a free campus parking permit for the duration of their stay. To avoid any fees for parking passes, please be sure to register for your parking permit (https://miamioh.t2hosted.com/per/index.aspx?key=cb31c0938ad342a18e3f59a786ed62cd) and read the Guest Parking guide (https://drive.google.com/file/d/11TUEnfVKngYiRARPRtldk67HyAO249F_/view?usp=sharing). If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to the Miami U. parking office at 513-330-1717.

HOTELS & AIRBNB

In addition to Bishop Hall, there are some hotels in Oxford, and also a large selection of Airbnb possibilities, although most of them are a drive from Presser Hall. Campus parking pass not included.

MEALS

Dining rooms around campus and the Armstrong Student Center (https://miamioh.edu/campus-services/dining/places-to-eat/armstrong-student-center/index.html) serve a variety of food options. Single meals may be purchased. There will be no meal plan for just one week. The summer schedule is not yet available naming which dining halls will be open, but one will surely be nearby. Armstrong will also be open with several restaurant/food court style options. As soon as the summer schedule becomes available we will post it on this page.

Note: The entire Miami U. campus is completely cash free. Bring a credit card for all around “cash” needs on campus.

Eating out ensemble

MEALS IN TOWN

Uptown is within easy walking distance of campus, with several dining options in addition to many bar food choices. Kofenya is a typical, comfortable shop with the best coffee in town. Enjoy Oxford (https://enjoyoxford.org/) lists many other great restaurant choices. The two main grocery sources about a mile away are:

Kroger – sells almost everything

Moon Food Coop – small and mostly organic options with a great deli.

Walmart – well, Walmart is Walmart...

REGISTRATION

FEES & REGISTRATION

The active participation fee covers the following activities:

Daily individual lesson

Daily group ATM lesson

Daily group ATPM lesson

Observation of all other lessons

The passive participation fee covers full participation in all activities but with no individual lesson.

To combine active & passive days, head directly to our new signup procedure.

To register for this institute, click on the link immediately below the table. The price list in the table is purely informative and is no longer responsive.

This price list refers to the 2027 Oxford Institute, whose eight teaching days run from June 27–July 4.

REGISTER FOR THE 2027 OXFORD PIANO SOMATICS INSTITUTE

Registration link: https://pianotechnique.org/store/oxford-week-i-june-27-july-5-1

Room 222 Presser Hall large enough for all institute activities