Scheduling camper lessons is an intricate process.
Well before Sonatina piano camps even begin, we ask prospective campers to share their repertoire, what they would like to learn, their musical interests, and teacher preferences.
Based on each camper’s input and the availability of our wonderful faculty members, we use Sonatina’s custom-built scheduling app to make the best possible matches and schedule lessons and group classes.
Polly no longer needs to figure out the daily schedule by hand as she did for so many years in the past. Together, utilizing our new scheduling app, Polly and her son Taylor, Sonatina’s friendly host and videographer, conveniently work out the best flow of lessons for each day.
Recently, our long-time teacher Bonnie Fairchild posted on social media about Sonatina being so well organized. She shared this picture of our “wheels.”
Sonatina’s “wheel” organizing system
How do we keep track of all those campers, pianos, and lessons you ask?
The wheel system was initially invented many years ago to organize the van der Linde family of seven pianists.
Tasha, the second daughter of Sonatina’s founder Rosamond, invented the wheel to facilitate equitable piano use among all the family pianists. It was later expanded for organizing Sonatina’s piano camps.
The wheel system keeps track of campers and pianos and shifts.
There are different wheels based on camp size and two practice shifts so that our best pianos can be prioritized.
Each of the two shifts have three reserved times throughout the day. Each day, the wheel moves clockwise and the camper winds up practicing on a new shift and piano.
By finding their name on the wheel, the camper can easily see where their piano practice room is located for the day. It might be a small room, a large room, their bedroom or even the laundry room!
A teaching schedule is posted below the wheel on a color-coded sheet which includes the teacher, camper, lesson times, and room.
With this system, everyone learns where they need to be at any time with a mere glance.
Finally, there is a list of unassigned pianos for those who would like to practice beyond their reserved times on what is known as their “off-shift.”
Thanks to Tasha’s creativity, the wheel system has been instrumental in the organization of Sonatina piano camps for over a half century!
It is not unusual for multiple generations of pianists to come to piano camp. Sometimes, adult piano campers send their kids or grandkids to summer camp, sometimes Summer Sonatina campers who have grown up send their own kids to camp, and sometimes, as in this story, Sonatina kids who have grown send a parent to camp.
Wes came to the November Sonata as a beginner pianist. His entire life, he had desired to learn to play piano. However, as a youngster, his upbringing in Poland did not allow for the extravagance of piano lessons, let alone, to own a piano. Later, family and work kept him too busy to turn his attention to learning to play piano.
Wes ringing the bell at his Sonata Piano Camp
Wes has three children which is not that unusual. The special part is thatthey are triplets and they all attended Summer Sonatina in their youth! Anna, Julia and Veronica all came to piano camp from 2008-2012. They are around Polly’s sons Taylor and Austin’s ages, so both remember being around the girls when they were all pre-teens.
Now that the three young women are in their mid-20’s, they wanted to give their father a very special surprise 85th birthday gift. They decided to send him to piano camp so he could finally be granted his dream to learn piano.
Wes celebrated his birthday at camp and performed Greensleeves at the final concert. His debut was met with wild applause for all his hard work. We loved that the girls came up with this wonderful gift for their father. The stories tha xt come out of piano camp are so unique and so very special.
In 1969, Rosamond and Rein van der Linde [1929-1996] searched for a summer piano camp for their children but could not find one. To fill the void, they created Summer Sonatina Piano Camps in their home.
The camp soon grew in popularity. The family bought more pianos, squeezing them anywhere they could find a place. In 1978, Sonatina outgrew its original home and moved to its current location in Old Bennington.Enthusiastic parents of Sonatina campers begged for a program of their own, a place where they could immerse themselves in piano study and benefit from piano camaraderie with other adults. As a result, starting in 1979, the first Sonata was introduced.
Today Sonatina remains a family-run business, currently managed by 2nd and 3rd generation family members!
Sonatina features 4 weeks of Summer Sonatina with up to 42 youthful campers per week, as well as 4 Intermezzos and 7 Sonatas each year!
A Guest Post by Hector Barreto, adapted from his Facebook posts during his stay at camp.
May 18, 2018
I arrived at Sonata Piano Camp in Vermont. I’m exhausted but happy, having pianos everywhere, yes, even in my room! So nice to run into people I have met previously and meeting new people with the same shared passion!
The First day at Sonata Piano Camp! It is such a good feeling to see the wonderful people I’ve met here in the past, and to meet new people from so many places, including Canada, Brasil, Mexico, Costa Rica, Japan, and from states like Tennessee, Alaska, California, North Carolina, too many for me to keep track. There are people here from so many different backgrounds with one shared passion for the piano. At this place, not only music happens, but magic happens. I’m so glad to be back!
the Sonata entrance
my bedroom
pianos coming out my ears
May 19, 2018
It’s morning in Vermont. Daybreak comes earlier here in these northern latitudes, it’s 5:23 AM and back home it would still be dark. Lovely view out of the window, too bad the sky got overexposed so I couldn’t capture the beautiful reddish colors. I slept surprisingly well, and am looking forward for a delicious breakfast and a day of playing, lessons and learning.
I am already hearing music, lots of music, live instead of recordings. So far I’ve heard a Bach partita, a Schubert Sonata, a Chopin Etude, a Scriabin Etude, something beautiful I couldn’t identify but can’t wait to find out, and that’s just what was drifting through the walls. One of the coolest things about this experience is that I’ll always hear something completely new and beautiful, which expands my horizons and makes my “wish list” ever so longer. Worked on a 2 piano duet last evening, which is very hard for me because I’m terrible in counting tempo, but I think I’m starting to get the hang of it. The learning here is almost by osmosis, because it is not passive learning, but an active experience.
Time to head downstairs for a very full day. I’m ready!
early daybreak
views
heading down for my first full day
I look forward to enjoying my morning coffee at my favorite kitchen in the whole world. I would love to learn to cook in a kitchen like this! Breakfast will be served shortly. They feed you very well around here, good fuel for a whole day of piano playing!
morning coffee!
my favorite kitchen
breakfast will be served soon
Something interesting that I’m noticing is that this year, I feel a little more relaxed, instead of frantically trying to play as much as possible, I’m in no hurry this time, I’m playing a bit more slowly, savoring every note, just allowing the experience to sink in. Curiously, I can find relaxation in such an unlikely place like the piano at the laundry room. Yes for real there’s literally pianos everywhere, as these pics can verify. Any room, corner, nook and cranny is good enough for a piano, even the linen closet.
piano in the laundry room
piano in the linen closet
This is what a totally immersive experience sounds like. It’s fun trying to identify the piece behind each door, later in the week I’ll probably be able to know who is behind the door based on what is being played.
the immersive sound experience
Had a wonderful, productive lesson with Polly, the program director and the most amazing teacher and a great person. Tonight, I’ll play at the Master class, which can be seen live streamed at www.sonatina.com and go to the sonatina live section. The class starts at 8 PM and there will be I believe 4 or 5 people playing, I believe I’m around #3, unless my elbow bothers me too much in which case I may not be able to play. In any case, the classes will be available in the video archive section where you can search for Hector and see all of my master classes. It won’t be perfect as it is still work in progress, but watching a lesson in progress can be very educational.
Hector and Polly
Being that, after all, I’m at camp, we also get chores assigned, which I do happily, glad to contribute and help run this place.
At my practice room today, I was trying to process what I learned in my lesson, while cramming in preparation for my master class tonight, while attempting to keep performance anxiety (and sheer panic) at bay. So I guess my brain is multitasking.
doing my chores
my practice room today
Dinner is served. They seriously feed you very well around here, gourmet meals that are also healthy and delicious. (People are making a line at the kitchen so the table is empty for now, but it will soon be filled with campers, laughter and conversation).
dinner served family style
soon these tables will be filled with food and campers
Master class is over, and I’m glad I somehow got through it. I’ve been stressing myself about it, so my performance was not what I wanted, but I do keep in mind that while I’m very experienced playing privately (OK, and for my You Tube channel and my FB page), I’m still very inexperienced as a public performer. I simply don’t have yet the skills to learn to control my nerves, but the only way I can learn is to keep doing it until it becomes less of a big deal. I will say some segments of my piece came out fairly good, and after a little page turning mishap where we all laughed, I was able to relax and actually enjoyed my playing, up to the end where I struggled again. No matter what, I still learn so much with these classes that the anxiety and discomfort is so totally worth it. It is not easy to keep my ego and expectations under control, but if I get a bruised ego, so what. The point is that I’m a student, a learner, and I won’t get things right at first, and it may take me time to grow to where I want to be. So, for me this is not a problem that I want to avoid, but a challenge that I want to conquer. In the meantime, I’ll keep practicing and learning. I don’t plan to become a Horowitz but I DO plan on sharing my music with others because it is so enjoyable and it enriches our lives.
pondering about the masterclass
Well, the day has ended, the kitchen is mostly dark and it feels peaceful. Seems like I’ve been here a year and it’s only been one very full day. I’m treating myself to dessert which I skipped at dinner but saved for a much deserved reward later on. Looking forward for another full day of playing and learning.
the day has ended
May 20, 2018
It is morning. A new day begins. Music is already starting to softly permeate the air as early risers go to the basement where we are allowed to play at this early hour (not before 7 AM, in which case we must use digital keyboards with earphones). As for me, I already grabbed a cup of coffee and chatted with the other campers as they started to trickle into the kitchen, awaiting breakfast. Music, coffee, conversation and breakfast seems like a great way to start the day. Then upstairs to my room to get my things, get showered and make my bed, since it will be somebody else’s turn to use this room for piano practice so I won’t be able to access my room when it is being used. Every day we get assigned a different piano, it’s like getting to test drive a different car each day, I think there’s around 30 pianos in this house, and it’s so much fun to try the different models, from Steinways to Kawais, Yamahas and other brands. It really helps refine my technique, because each instrument feels different and it forces me to adjust my technique and make me a better pianist.
Yesterday, I played on my Master class piece on a Yamaha upright. Today, I’m practicing my duet piece at a Kawai grand piano, in a different room. Through the walls I can hear two campers practicing their duet, while from the other side I can hear somebody working on a Bach Partita, I believe the one in C minor, so it takes a lot of concentration to focus on my own music, but that’s what makes it a great exercise for the brain. I also need to rehearse my duet with my duet partner, get coached on the duet, go to a lecture on phrasing, and start crash learning the pieces for the monster concert at the end of the week. So, it is impossible to get bored around here, with so much to do, I wish I had more time!
practicing my duet on a Kawai grand piano
Another productive morning at piano camp. After my practice session, I had a lesson which focused on specific difficult passages and how to work with hand mechanics, practice strategies, posture, articulation, dynamics, and so much more. Part of the Sonata package includes 4 lessons with four different teachers so we can get 4 different perspectives. One of the lessons is optionally a jazz lesson, which I always take even if it’s not my thing, because it helps me broaden my horizons. Then, on to a lecture by Polly (the program director) on phrasing. It never ceases to amaze me how much I learn here. Then, on to lunch which included Spanish Chicken with Orzo soup, just perfect for a cold, rainy Vermont day. But I gotta go now, my duet partner needs me so we can practice…
A lecture on phrasing with Polly
Spanish chicken with orzo soup for lunch
A rather personal and bittersweet note about why Sonata has been so special in my life. Although I have been aware of Sonata for many years, what finally brought me to this beautiful house was experiencing some very painful losses in my life. The loss of a loved one is something that all of us experience sooner or later, and nobody is really prepared for it, but I’m fortunate that Sonata was there when I needed it the most. Grieving is an ongoing process, but it’s good to see that I’m on a different place, still work in progress, but progress nonetheless. It happens that on my first Sonata, one camper was going to play a song that brought me to tears, so I needed to discreetly leave the room and bawl out of sight. Yet it was a very healing moment for me. Today, through the walls I happened to hear the same song, although in a different arrangement, which I feel it was significant because today I’m also different, as I am trying to re-arrange my life. I heard the song and got teary-eyed and sad but I also felt reassured that I’ve come a long way. So, I will always associate this place with not only music, but with healing. Thanks, Sonata, thanks, Polly, thanks, Campers, for being there when I needed it the most.
reflecting about what makes Sonata special for me
One of the many oh so cool things about this place is that they have a lot of reference materials, including books (this display is only a small sample, I think I remember a lot more down stairs) and lots of sheet music, which is good if we are interested in learning a new piece, they just might have it. I don’t think it’s for sale, I have to check, but it’s nice to be able to look at a new score and test drive it before deciding if I want to work on it.
Of course, what did I find at Sonata that can help me? A book on Stage Fright!
Sometimes we just need a nap…luckily there’s a place for that!
Reference materials
Just what Hector needed.
Nap time!
Sometimes the magic at Sonata Piano Camp happens spontaneously, without any planning. I struck a conversation with another camper, and we wound up sitting at the two pianos in the living room, playing the same piece (ok, just part of it). It was a great moment because we didn’t plan this. I also sat at the same piano where I played the master class last night, trying to learn to feel comfortable there at the stage, under the glaring lights. Eventually, the miracle happened. I gave a great rendition of the 1st movement of the Moonlight Sonata, by memory, no less, and felt very comfortable and barely missed a note, I knew this is exactly the place I want to be when I perform. Afterwards, during social hour, several campers were showing each other pictures of our pianos like they were our children. Then there are the spontaneous chats when going to get a cup of coffee, and the atmosphere is one of belonging and togetherness. Despite our wildly different backgrounds, music brings us together like nothing else can.
living room grands in morning light
More Sonata magic. After a couple of gloomy, cold days, the sun started to break through the clouds, illuminating the mountains a few miles away, we all went to the porch to take a look, then went back in for a wonderful evening. We had a Rachmaninoff recital given by one of the teachers, this music is beautiful and powerful and it was a treat to listen to it live, in a salon environment, the way I believe it should be. So ends the second day at camp, and the week is just beginning!
the sun is finally breaking through the clouds
Ok, one more practice on one of the basement pianos before lights out. It’s dark, quiet and peaceful, a good way to end the day.
one last evening practice before bed
May 21, 2018
It’s a beautiful morning at Sonata! Nothing like abundant sunshine after a good night’s sleep. All I need is coffee, breakfast, my music scores and I’m good to go!
sunny back stairs to the deck
sun shining through bedroom windows
sun shining on the back stairs
One of the toughest things of the Sonata Piano Camp experience (at least for me, but I’m sure I’m not alone on this) is dealing with the self criticism and trying not to cringe when watching myself on the video of the master class (now available at the video archive section of the sonatina website). I’ll ‘fess up and admit I fast forwarded to the teacher feedback portion because it’s too painful to even think about watching the whole thing, but as I listen to it, it seems that my recollection is so much worse than it actually was. So I’m hoping that later on, I’m brave enough to watch the whole thing…
trying not to cringe watching myself on video
I want to make sure to acknowledge the excellent job that the Sonata Piano Camp staff does every single day. It must be a very difficult job to run a house with 20 or more pianists with different wants and needs. For instance, we have two chefs (one for breakfast, one for lunch and dinner) and their meals are amazing, and I am a horribly picky eater and have digestive issues, but they have been so gracious and helpful.
Then there is our friendly audiovisual/tech person (not sure of the exact title) that is also a gardener and grows many of the greens that are served at meals, and also video records the master classes and puts out excellent videos that I can search later for educational purposes.
The teachers are excellent and I can’t help but having my mind blown away by their depth of knowledge and how well they communicate with us students in a supportive way without ever making us feel uncomfortable with our musical shortcomings. And of course, there is our director, who wears so many hats at the same time, running an excellent program, teaching us in such a relaxed, masterful way and ever so gracious host. They all have always have kind words for us despite things being busy and hectic at times. I can’t think of enough praises for the Sonata staff, that make me feel at home and help me learn and thrive.
I shared some down time with the extremely talented faculty member Joel Martin. His talent is matched by his friendliness and love for us Sonata campers.
Breakfast Chef Micki
Chef Todd
Matt at IT desk
Hector and Joel
My mind is blown away by listening to the lectures. This morning it was about Mozart and the 20th century composer Poulenc, representing the classical and neoclassical styles, and I’m amazed at the subtle multiple layers of things that aren’t obvious to me until they are pointed out. I can’t count the times I’ve said to myself “I’ve never thought of that!”
mind blown
It’s practice time. How I use that time is up to me. I have a 1.5 hour slot, then lunch, then another 1.5 slot in the afternoon, then a break, then another 1.0 hr slot before dinner. At other times I can also use unoccupied pianos if I want to practice more (and I do). For now, and for demonstration purposes, I’ll show in this video clip one practice possibility, isolating the right hand, focusing on improving the voicing and how well I can make the melody flow, only on the first few measures. It is labor intensive but it does gives results. Later on, I could work on my duets, review a Mozart sonata, or whatever else I feel I need to work on. It is very free around here, with nobody ordering me to practice 24 scales for 2 hours. It’s up to me to figure out the structure that works for me, but with so many people around here, I’m sure I’ll pick up some good ideas.
practice
Something I should do more is to sit away from the piano and go through the score, highlighting important things like voicing, melodic lines, chord progressions, etc. I’m officially on break so I sat at the Sonata Piano Camp’s kitchen table so I can get better acquainted with the score. In the distance somebody is working on Debussy, further away someone else is playing a nocturne by Fauré. The variety of the music played by the campers is astounding, I’ve heard this morning ragtime, a crazy Macedonian dance, jazz improvisation, Chopin, Beethoven, and I contribute my Granados to the musical mix.
After a full day of practicing, it is important that I continue to do my stretches so I don’t keep injuring my elbow.
going through the score
doing some stretches on the stairs
It’s been a gorgeous day here at Sonata Piano Camp in Bennington, VT, with lots of sunshine and mild temperatures. After a full day of practicing, a little walk after dinner seems like the right thing to do. Later on I believe we have another teacher recital, and if I can, I might get in a little more practicing later on. For now, I’ll just let these wonderful feelings sink in…
I remember sitting at this spot at my very first Sonata, with tears of sadness because of my loss, but also with tears of happiness because of being finally able to come to this magical place. Today, I can sit at this same spot, teary eyed with the same feelings, but also feeling a wonderful sense of peace.
a lttle after dinner walk
a place of remembrance at Sonata
Another wonderful evening, with a teacher recital where I heard Ravel, Schumann and Beethoven. There is simply no recording that takes the place of hearing these works live, in an intimate salon setting. It is inspiring and energizing, motivating me to do better.
May 22, 2018
The magic continues at Sonata Piano Camp. I got up a bit too early, so I headed downstairs, glanced out of the window and I see this beautiful deer in the backyard, what a cool way to start the day!
a deer in the back yard
Busy morning of practicing, with a lecture afterwards, then duet coaching this afternoon with some more practice, then Master Class tonight (I’m not playing tonite, thank goodness!). This morning practice didn’t go as well maybe because I got up too early so I’m extra clumsy, also, we have to prepare for the duet concert on Friday and our recital on Saturday, then the monster concert afterwards, so the pressure is starting to increase. Not only that, but my very tough piece is in shambles, as I’m taking it apart, unassembling it, then will reconstruct it again with what I have learned here. But it’s all ok, because when I go back home I’ll have plenty of time to integrate what I’m learning here. In the meantime, it’s always good to grab a cup of coffee before the lecture starts.
Being a pianist seems to have some risks to it, particularly to the ego (at least to mine, but I imagine to many others as well). There is the risk of failure, of falling short of my expectations, of making a fool out of myself. I try to take the attitude that sometimes, I just need to be willing to take the risk, no matter how unpleasant the experience or the outcome, because it can still be a learning experience. Lately, when practicing, I’m reminded of athletes like gymnasts, ice skaters, etc, who must learn to fall and somehow keep going. I’m sure that may involve some bruises, so I figure I’m at the point where I must risk having my ego bruised. Not that I want it, but if I can learn from my mistakes, it may be worth it. This is why I like to call my days at piano camp “The Days of Playing Dangerously”. Like I’ve heard elsewhere, “nothing ventured, nothing gained”. So, while I strive to do my best when performing, I need to be willing to accept the uncomfortable risk when putting myself out there. So, while in my worst moments of panic I want to hide in my piano room, if I do that, I will not learn to overcome my fears. So, reluctantly and with a lot of trepidation I say, “bring it on” This may not be the best course of action for everybody, and I wouldn’t recommend it across the board, but for myself at this point of my life, that’s where I think I need to go.
a cup of coffee before the lecture starts
keeping on practicing
It is often suggested to pianists to sing the melody in order to better understand phrasing, and to remember when to take a breath. It occurs to me that dancing to the music can also help internalize the music’s pulse and rhythm, so I decided to give it a try at the Sonata Piano Camp’s kitchen during a slow time where nothing was going on. So here I am trying to dance to some of the Spanish music I working on. Keep in mind I’m a terrible dancer, but if that helps me understand the music better, then it’s worth a try.
dancing to help internalize the pulse and rhythm
Music has a liberating quality. From a sublime Bach duet I was practicing earlier, to a fiery Rachmaninoff etude, a Spanish dance, a Beethoven Sonata, a jazz piece or so many other possible forms of music, they all appeal to us in different ways. So, when I hear two of my fellow campers practicing their duet next door, what better than to celebrate and move along with it?
dancing along with music coming from next door
Nothing like a magnificent master class to feel inspired (and yes, a little jealous). I feel privileged to offer support to those that need it, and learn from those that have so much talent. I do hope I can also offer something useful to others. Thanks to Sonata, I’ve met some amazing people and I hope to stay in touch, continue to learn, and keep returning to this wonderful place.
May 23, 2018
I tend to be an early riser, so I like heading downstairs to the living room and watch the daylight seep in through the windows over those beloved pianos. The house is very quiet for now, but little by little the little noises from the kitchen and from the campers starting to head downstairs, will continue their crescendo to a melodious cacophony of music, conversation and laughter. We have a full day ahead of us so I’m glad I slept very well. Here I am enjoying the quietness of this early hour, awaiting coffee so my brain can “uncrumple” (because it feels like crumpled cellophane) and breakfast because I’ll need lots of energy for today.
Before coffee, after coffee at the Sonata Piano Camp kitchen.
daylight seeping in
before coffee
after coffee
Been too busy to post, it’s been a very full and amazing morning, and I’m trying to scramble marking up my score for our first monster concert (where several pianos play at once) rehearsal. So much to do but I don’t mind one bit.
The variety of pianos here helps so much in learning how to pay attention to our touch, because their actions are so different, but also the room itself can be inspiring or present challenges, as evidenced here by my favorite room and favorite piano, with so many windows and a piano that I wish I could take home, and the room that I affectionally call “the dungeon”, next to another practice room on one side, and a noisy laundry room on the other. Surprisingly, I also love playing the dungeon piano even though it’s very different, it gives me an opportunity to interpret my piece in different ways.
Playing in an ensemble is very hard for me, particularly when it involves the Rachmaninoff Second Concerto. I’m exhausted but I got to work on something I always wanted.
What a treat! Listening to faculty members Joel and George give two-piano recital where they take well known classical works and do wonderful improvisations. It was a musical banquet!
listening to the concert
Two piano recital by faculty members Joel Martin and George Lopez
A snippet of the recital by Joel and George
May 24, 2018
As much flexibility as there is at Sonata Piano Camp, it wouldn’t be possible without having a good structure. It can be very complicated to have 20 pianists, teachers, lessons, practice sessions, coaching, lectures, master classes, meals, and concerts. So every day I check the practice wheel to see which piano I’ll be assigned today (my name is on the right wheel around the 11 AM position, and I’ll be at room 33 today), which chore I’ll be assigned (today I have to get the trash from the upper floor bathrooms and put it in the dumpster), when, where and with whom I’ll have a lesson today, then I check the general schedule to see what kinds of activities like lectures, concerts, master classes, and/or coaching are scheduled for today, and yes, what’s for dinner tonight (tonight we’re having grilled New York steak, yum!) The program runs like a well-oiled machine, no easy task and I’m amazed how well it works.
practice and chore wheels
information board
Sometimes we need a break from all this piano practice, so it’s good to know that I can take a nap on the room next to the living room, or do some exercise (only when there’s nothing going on at the living room), or maybe soak in the hot tub and enjoy the view.
exercise and nap room
hot tub on the deck
Another day, another piano…
Piano playing is not just about moving the fingers, but moving them correctly so to express a melodic phrase smoothly, with the right inflections and not wasting any unnecessary motions. I do move my fingers excessively, with lots of wasted motion, an issue that has been pointed out to me several times here by every teacher that has worked with me. So I need to re-educate my fingers and hands so I can play with less tension and more fluidity. It helps that today is a beautiful day, the cool breeze is entering through the halfway opened windows, almost caressing and reassuring me that I’m on the right place and on the right path.
another day, another piano
re-educating my fingers
For some reason, I’m feeling more emotional and sentimental today, so happy to be here but also sad that the week is winding down, and feeling the pain of facing my own musical limits and shortcomings. I’m perfectly OK with all those feelings, willing to let them be my teachers. I’m hungry for learning, and that hunger motivates me to carry on. It is also important to pace myself, so it’s good that I found a little quiet corner where I could soak in the sunshine, enjoy the breeze and hear the music from that beloved house.
Another full day at Sonata Piano Camp, filled with interesting conversations (not necessarily piano-related), laughter, practice, lessons, and another master class. It is very hard for many of us to put ourselves out there, so I’m glad to be able to support others like they have supported me. The connections I have found in this place have been amazing, and already some Sonata participants from other months have reached out and contacted me. Had a heartfelt conversation with a couple of the teachers, as I struggle with figuring out where I go from here. What is it about piano playing that is so powerful for me? Besides the obvious answer that I love it, it helps me communicate in ways that the spoken word can’t. It has also sustained me through so many rough spots in my life, and maybe this is why I stress so much about it, because it is so important to me.
So, I feel inspired watching the other campers, I love it when they are successful and want to support them when they struggle. Of course, I can’t speak for the other campers, for which piano may have a different significance, but it seems to be our common language. The question for me is what do I do with this passion? I have so much to learn but a lot less time to learn it. That’s OK, I don’t need an answer today, so I just go with the flow, learn what I can, enjoy the music that I can play, and listen to what others have to teach me. Sonata has enriched my life beyond belief and I’m grateful.
Grateful on the deck
May 25, 2018
Getting older presents its challenges, including medical issues. While I’ve been fortunate so far that I haven’t had anything horribly serious, I’ve had problems that can get in the way of enjoying life and my Sonata experience. I missed last year due to gallbladder surgery, and I have some annoying ailments that I feared would interfere with my camp attendance this year, but so far I’ve done relatively well and been able to stick to my medication schedule, missing only a couple of doses. So when I get up in the morning and head downstairs for the Sonata kitchen, I take my little pill box with me and have a little ritual of taking my meds in the quietness of the early morning. I enjoy those solitary moments when I can reflect on life and enjoy watching how every daybreak is different.
Another busy day, because we have no less than 3 concerts to prepare for, the duet concert, the monster concert and the recital. The first two are optional, and while I don’t think anybody is mandated to do the recital, it seems that nobody wants to miss the opportunity to share with others what we have learned. This morning we had a mock rehearsal, where I played my difficult piece, and I felt so much better despite the imperfection. My goal is to stay calm no matter what, and that seems to be working. So I’m looking forward for enjoying playing for my fellow campers, which are like my family.
early morning in the kitchen
heading into mock rehearsal
You never know what kinds of snacks you’ll find at the Sonata Piano Camp kitchen, but when I need a boost, I know many times I’ll find something that will help my sagging energy levels. I haven’t worried about my weight, because going up and down 3 levels of stairs every day will help me burn those calories.
snack time!
will burn those extra calories going up and down these stairs
It is hard to capture the entirety of the rich history of the van der Linde family, who started Summer Sonatina and the Sonata Piano camps (Sonatina is the summer camp for children and Sonata is the piano camps for adults that take place several times throughout the year). The camps were started by Rosamund and the late Rein Van der Linde, and currently they are being expertly run by their eldest daughter Polly, who grew up in a household of pianists and surrounded by pianists from all walks of life, and who doesn’t cease to amaze me with not only her knowledge but with her ability to teach difficult subjects. These pictures of one of my favorite areas of the house don’t do justice to the rich legacy that is being transmitted to those that walk through these doors and live the Sonata experience. Many times I like to pause at this gallery and try to imagine what has happened throughout the years in these premises.
van der Linde family pictures line the back steps
a rich legacy
We have our first concert this evening, the duet concert. We’ve gotten some excellent coaching from our duet instructor Ellen, but now we are on our own. So I tried to get a little extra practice time although I could use some down time. So I went outside to soak in the wonderful sunshine, then found an available piano, which happened to be the famous “Harry Potter Room” which is under the living room stairs. It is a very nice piano, but to my alarm I’m noticing new, unexpected mistakes. I think that, besides the normal nervousness, I’m also trying to focus while ignoring the noise of people going up and down the stairs just above my head. It sure makes for an extra challenge because if I can focus through THAT, I probably could focus through anything.
the Harry Potter room
Harry Potter room piano
alarmed about unexpected mistakes
I was planning to skip master class but I’m glad I went, learned a lot from familiar pieces and new ones. My brain is fried but I have to go to monster practice, so any little corner is good for a micro-nap.
The piano lids are up in preparation for tonight’s duet concert. Now the REAL fun begins! It’s showtime!
micro napping in a little corner
pianos readied for duet concert tonight
It’s happy hour/social time, great time for decompressing after a long day of practicing and rehearsals. Guacamole, chips, good conversation to be followed by another fabulous dinner. Love the piano keys coasters. To finish off the evening, our duet concert!
Another wonderful meal at Sonata Piano Camp. Although fish was on the menu, I’m allergic so they have been very accommodating with other alternatives, so I’ve never been hungry at Camp, and have enjoyed new and interesting dishes.
happy hour
another dinner with accommodations
Wonderful duet concert this evening. We heard beautiful music, fun music, even a vocal number with piano accompaniment, and a vocal duet with piano accompaniment. I was inspired, with lots of laughter and sentimental tears. As for my duets, I’m very happy how they turned out, despite their flaws. I was moderately nervous but was able to keep going, which is very important in duet playing, something I’m not good at. Many thanks to our excellent duet coach Ellen Dilthey for her patience and helpful feedback. So, here I’m uploading a sample of our Bach piece, the 2nd Movement of the Harpsichord Concerto in A major, I’m playing the piano version of the orchestral accompaniment while Lya is playing the lead harpsichord part. Being able to play this sublime music is why I keep working at getting better. Today has been a good day and I’m happy.Edit to add: a fellow camper texted me his recording of our rendition of Cuban Dance Los Muñecos, by Ignacio Cervantes, will try to upload the video as part of the main post instead of in the comments section.
performing in the duet concert
and another duet piece
May 26, 2018
It’s our last full day at Sonata. Tomorrow we head back to our homes, but we can keep the magic here a little longer until we have to say our goodbyes. Today’s schedule is a lot thinner since there’s little to do other than our big concert afternoon, then our Victory Party, ending a glorious week with a bang. The amazing thing about it is that it will happen again several times this year, with different campers, many of them returning year after year, because it’s hard to stay away from this magic for too long.
the last full day begins
it is almost over
our schedule is thinner today
Today, in addition to our recital where we play our individual pieces, we have the monster concert, in which we sit at multiple pianos to play in ensemble, an orchestra of pianos if you will. I’m not used to playing in group because I tend to march to my own drummer, and it’s even harder than duet playing, but it’s a fun way of expanding my skills. It happens that I got assigned to practice in the monster room today. I went downstairs a bit early to practice, and through the door I heard another camper improvising some beautiful music, so I sat just outside the room enjoying the music. Now that I’m in the room, I’m glad to see the sun coming through the windows, it is a beautiful day for a concert.
I like to say that I have chlorophyll running through my veins, I tend to get droopy when it’s cloudy and perk up with sunshine. So, getting to practice in a great sounding grand piano while being blessed by sunshine is…priceless!
waiting outside the monster room
it is a beautiful sunny day
blessed practicing in the sun
So, why do I tackle pieces that are so difficult, way over my level? Of course there’s ego involved with it, but also the allure of a challenge. Why climb a mountain? Because it’s there. I get to explore, discover, learn, and have a different perspective. However, climbing Mt Everest is very difficult, especially if I can barely climb Mt Dora (those familiar with Central Florida will get the joke). So it would be wise of me to find a Sherpa that can guide me through treacherous terrain. But I’ll never get to the summit if I don’t take those necessary steps, and even if I can’t get all the way to the top, I can always enjoy the scenery from a better perspective.
tackling difficult pieces
to help me
enjoy the scenery from a better perspective
As piano camp is winding down, it’s time to start packing, no easy task when I crammed everything I could in my carry-on and personal item, been using it all week, and now I’m trying to make it fit again in my small luggage. It’s a good thing that the gifts I’ve gotten here doesn’t need luggage space, because I carry them in my heart. This has been a very enriching experience, and I feel blessed.
No more practicing for me at Sonata Piano Camp. After lunch, it is time to wind down, reflect, and savor the company of people I have got to know and love. It is fascinating to meet so many people from different backgrounds like physicians, college professors, computer scientists, and on and on. Piano playing can be very isolating (who wants to hear me play the same passage 17 times in a row?) but here I can relate to others in ways I can’t elsewhere. Even though I may not get to see them again until next time we coincide at camp, it is such a joy to see them again in this lovely place. Sonata Piano Camp is not just about music, but about loving and sharing. There is a Spanish saying that says: “de músico, poeta, y loco, todos tenemos un poco” which roughly translates to: “each of us have a little bit of a musician, a poet, and a madman”. I have the musician part, I may not be a poet but love to write, and if my little impromptu tango dance is any indication, I’m probably a little crazy. All 3 parts feel very much at home here at Sonata Piano Camp. So, nothing else to do today but play my heart out and enjoy the company of so many wonderful people.
packing
done practicing, after lunch it is time to wind down
Getting ready for playtime!
ready for the final concert
I am doing it!
I did it. I played. I mean, I really PLAYED. Yes, I was nervous, yes, I messed up some spots, very badly, but I was able to get a grip and actually enjoy the experience. So, I accomplished something very important to me. While I can’t say I have mastered this piece or even conquered stage fright, the fact that I was able to feel a level of comfort helps my confidence a lot. We are on intermission, so now I can relax and enjoy the rest of the afternoon.
my final performance
Now that the concert is over, we are having our Victory Party. It has been an incredible journey and I’ve enjoyed tremendously the company of so many wonderful people.
post concert victory party and group picture
3 years ago, I first came to Sonata Piano Camp because I love piano (can you tell?) but also because I was trying to cope with losing my other half and my dad 3 months apart. So I decided to be good to myself and treat myself to something I always wanted to do, not knowing that it would rekindle my love for piano with an intensity that sometimes scares me.
I treasure the memory of that first Sonata, it was a very healing experience. I took the exact picture of the house 3 years ago, and while the house is the same, today it is a different day, much warmer, humid and slightly overcast than on that first Sonata, with temperatures that were in the 60s and a clear blue sky.
In the same way, I’m still the same person, still grieving, soulful and sentimental, but I’m also different. As I alluded in a post earlier this week, I heard a very special song that really touched my loss, it was overwhelming when I heard it here 3 years ago.Today I heard it again, beautifully played, and I cried again, but it was not as raw or overwhelming as before, so I can sense some changes within me.
Every person has their story, and I’ve attempted to share just mine, not so much out of self centeredness, but because of not wanting to be disruptive to the people around me, respectful of their privacy. I’ve been trying to simply share the Sonata experience through one person’s eyes. I can only imagine the different ways people experience this place, but whatever the reason, I think something touches them, too, because they keep coming back. This experience has nourished my soul and I’ll keep the memories close to my heart. I leave this magical place early tomorrow morning, so I’ll finish packing and getting ready. If I can’t get any other postings until I get home, then I’ll bid farewell to Sonata Piano Camp, until the next time I can walk through the doors of my musical home.
Sonata Piano Camp house
This, our last evening together, we watched a movie about the stresses of musicians and composers in the film scoring industry. Afterwards, the goodbyes started, since we all are leaving at various times, some very early, some much later. Took a shower and I’m ready to hit the sack because I’m a tired camper. But still, a happy camper. A Sonata Piano Camper.
May 27, 2018
I had some trouble sleeping last night, in part because my GERD (reflux) was acting up, so I went downstairs to take my medicine. I was struck by how dark the house was, reflecting on the last several animated days, knowing that almost every month, new campers will walk through the doors and create their own Sonata experience. It is now morning, the luggage is ready, waiting for my ride. It is very breezy and cool, as if nature was sad about our departure. Hopefully, our absence won’t be for too long, and I look forward to the day I can return to Sonata Piano Camp.
In 2016, Summer Sonatina International Piano Camp did a Flash Mob scene in downtown Bennington which included piano keys made from cardboard placed in the crosswalks. Videos of us singing and dancing to Billy Joel’s “Piano Man” with our own lyrics went viral locally and more.
Laying down the “keys” on the crosswalks of downtown
Preparing for the Flash Mob
Shortly after that, there was an article in a Boston newspaper about Bennington. It focused on History, Nature and Food as a big part of our community, but it neglected a fourth element: The Arts, which is huge in this town!
It was time to make a statement to put Bennington arts on the map in a big way. I decided to approach the Select Board of Bennington (something that was totally out of my comfort level) and as if we might paint piano keys in the crosswalks of the Four Corners to add and celebrate the arts after all the praise that was received from the Flash Mob. I received a resounding and immediate “yes!”
There was a legal technicality in regard to painting the crosswalks but this glitch was remedied by the town learning that it was ok to paint the intersection not the crosswalks. So, I was told to put the piano keys in the middle of the road. That night, I had several nightmares about the project. I dreamt that I was lost and could not get out of town. This dream helped me reimagine the design to include a wind rose compass (so I wouldn’t be lost in town!) and use the piano keys as a frame. I quickly drafted my idea onto a napkin and asked my husband, Dale Cobb, if he could help me make it look more professional to get the final approval from the Select Board.
Original Sketch to Design
I sent the design via email to the Select Board and it was enthusiastically approved!
The arts in our community is so special – we have a huge number of musicians, writers, painters, dancers and graphic artists, etc. I wanted to honor everyone by placing this particular work of art prominently in the center of town. It is the only design of this kind in the world until a piano student of mine in India asked if he could copy it. I gave him the thumbs up to do so!
I welcome you all to consider sharing these pictures of the Piano Key Compass as a reminder to visit our beautiful town. Your first destination stop in Bennington might include seeing the piano key/compass at the Four Corners! Thank you!
Aerial Picture of the Finished Compass Piano Keys
With a project of this size, there are many people to thank who made this possible:
First off, to the young pianists at Summer Sonatina International Piano Camp who did a wonderful Flash Mob scene downtown in the crosswalks with camp-made cardboard covered piano keys. They sang and danced to “Piano Man” and so many people loved it. Their spirited performance inspired me to think outside the box when the time came to do something big and arty for the town.
The Piano Man Flash Mob that Inspired the Piano Key Compass
Next I need to thank the Sonata Piano Camp participants who so generously provide scholarships to local pianists to attend Summer Sonatina and who also shop downtown when they attend piano camp themselves.
The first individual to recognize is my husband, Dale Cobb, who put in so many hours measuring, drawing to scale, cutting and pasting, sawing templates, buying supplies and making sure that I stay calm about doing something way out of my norm. You are my hero!
Next come the three folks who nudged and reassured me that I was ready and prepared to present to the Town Select Board (you know who you are). Thank you for believing in me especially since I was so nervous about doing this!
The next group to thank in the chain of events is the Town Select Board. I will never forget how enthusiastically you said yes to the plans after witnessing the success and delight by the community of the Summer Sonatina Flash Mob scene.
GVH also had the equipment to help align some of the design features so that we could refine the template for ease of use each time the Piano Key Compass needed to be painted. They also made the compass point letters “N, E, S, and W.” Thank you, Greg VanHouten.
I want to thank the local community for encouraging me to take action as one of you. It is because I kept hearing over and over again that nothing changes in this town and that the little guy never gets heard that I decided to prove you wrong by doing something this courageous. I hope , in the future, this inspires other community members to also take action towards improving our town. Please remember that it takes patience, perseverance, communication, and a sturdy backbone to confront all the naysayers! This project from start to finish took about 18 months.
I want to thank Stu Hurd and other members in the Town Offices for working on this project with me and handling some of the legal hurdles. Your determination kept me going as well.
I want to thank Highway Superintendent RJ Joly, for his willingness to put his team onto the paint job despite some trepidation about the project. Your email to me the morning after the road was painted put the biggest smile on my face. Matt Hathaway did the paint job. He was amazingly calm and worked so patiently with Dale while we carefully placed a template down to be spray painted, one at a time. Matt did a mighty fine job and the fellow who poured sand on the paint job to give better traction also
The Painting of the Compass Piano Keys
I loved that the sheriff’s that arrived to reroute traffic, had no idea why traffic was being detoured. When I showed them the plans and pointed to the intersection, I’m pretty sure they all got a kick out of it.
Thank you to Mike Cutler of CAT-TV and Jeffrey Grimshaw and Sam Restino from BNN News, for all the videography. You captured the painting process perfectly. I also want to thank Matt Moon for the wonderful drone photograph of the intersection. It depicts the scope of the project. Hopefully, the drone image will capture the attention of Google Earth so that it becomes a more permanent landmark.
The Bennington Area Arts Council was instrumental in their support and excitement about the project. The council has great energy! I’m excited to see what the next big arts project will be.
I’m delighted the project was completed ahead of Bennington’s Downtown 2017 Mayfest so that more people could see the design in person. Both the Bennington Downtown Alliance and the Bennington Chamber of Commerce were also incredibly supportive of this project.
The Bennington Banner did an awesome job of capturing a photo of the Piano Key Compass. AP News picked this up and I heard from friends who had read the story from all over the country. What an amazing 15 minutes of fame! But, more importantly, it gave our town and the local arts organizations, a huge boost.
Finally, I want to thank all the people who engaged in discussion, wrote posts and shared so many of the photos when the Piano Key Compass was first painted. Let’s keep trending positive things in our community.
Flash Mobs at the Piano Key Compass Became a Yearly Thing
Initially, this was the only Piano Key Compass design in the world until my piano student in India asked if he could paint something similar.
Here is Ash Vaderaa’s story:
Footprints to the Piano Keys in New Delhi, India
“Footprints to the Piano Keys
This is story of Polly van der Linde who besides other things is also my Piano teacher from Bennington, VT. She conceived an idea for her home town which would reflect art and culture for it. We, in New Delhi , India, modified and adopted her idea at one of the 18 centers of DCCW which deals with children of special needs. DCCW is one of the big charities in this part of the world, directly benefiting over 3000 children from the underprivileged section of the Indian society. Very soon we are also going to introduce music therapy for teaching our special needs children, hence footprints and piano keys are so symbolic of this.
Her paintings at the intersection were so impressive that I decided to emulate it at one of our DCCW centers however adding footprints of our children to her concept of the piano keys and the compass.
I thought that I was crazy owning 4 pianos and a flute in my family but Polly is crazier as she has about 32 pianos in her house and teaches over 500 people through online lessons and piano camps.
To me the world is just a large village. It was while we were finishing our online piano lesson on 23rd May 2017 that Polly said that they were going to paint the Four Corners at Bennington with piano keys and by 14th June, 2017 we had adopted and modified her idea at one of centers in New Delhi.”
I want to thank the Bennington Banner for following up with this international story as it proved that Art is Powerful because this project definitely put Bennington, VT on the map!
My parents, Rosamond and Rein van der Linde, started Sonatina in 1969 when I was 10 years old. As a family of seven pianists (4 siblings and my parents), we were nicknamed the Vermont Von Trapp family of pianists. Growing up with piano camp in my life every summer, I played numerous roles at Summer Sonatina, from camper to counselor to director, until eventually, I took over the ownership of the business in 1998.
The Vermont Von Trapp Family of Pianists, an early camp picture by Lisa Hughes, and Polly at Sonatina’s first location in North Bennington (note an early version of the wheel.)
As the years went by, and I had two of my own children, I had this little secret hope that one of my own might take an interest in Sonatina to continue the family tradition for another generation. It was nothing I ever expected or requested, much like how my parents never had the conversation with me. Things moved organically and we all morphed with the flow as was customary in our family.
Bringing up my own two boys, Taylor and Austin, I required them to know about what I do so taking piano lessons was a part of their daily lives. Both of them got quite far in their playing ability but neither of them wanted to go into music. Both went to college studying fields other than music, and I was therefore not confident that either would be interested in joining the family business. Until this year, the boys have been involved in the business as campers, Junior Counselors and Junior Faculty for Summer Sonatina.
Summer Sonatina Campers: Young Austin and Taylor on the left with Polly.
But then last year COVID-19 hit. Sonatina needed to speedily move our operations online. While I had been offering one on one online teaching since 2013, I had never given master classes, group classes or discussion groups with a collective number of people. I knew I needed help at home and to find someone to help our participants with the new technical aspects of having camp run remotely.
Austin stepped up to the plate to work for the business as our resident chef for these past few months. Being pretty much tied to the piano bench 16 hours a day during online camps, I had no time to make meals. Austin enjoyed the work so much, he has offered to cook for the in-person children’s camp, Summer Sonatina, this coming June which will give me time to hire a new chef for our forthcoming adult camps running in-person from August through November.
Austin at Piano and Austin as Chef
While Taylor had a mechanical engineering degree, he had hesitated about making engineering his full-time career. Suddenly there appeared to be a perfect confluence of circumstances for Taylor to help our business. He had always been very quick with computers and technology and so we leaned heavily on him during the infancy of us going online. Our participants were ever so grateful that they could call upon him for any technical advice. Taylor became quite excited and felt truly valued as a regular part of our business beyond his experiences with Summer Sonatina.
For months now, Taylor has ironed out technical snafus, done the enormous task of scheduling a massive number of online lessons on seven different Zoom channels, coached our participants in getting the most out of Zoom by working on microphone and camera placements and being on call throughout the day for the online camps. Our participants have stated that without this peace of mind of having tech support, they would not have opted into joining us for our online camps. Taylor was the key to us managing the challenges of online piano camps!
Need tech help? Taylor has your back!
Around this time, Taylor also revealed to me that he liked the idea of being a more central part of our business. He had been aware that for several years I had been concerned about my energy levels during Summer Sonatina, the camp held in the summers for children, and whether I could keep on directing it. My parents had passed the baton onto me to run the children’s camp when I was 23 years old so considering Taylor for this position at this time was a natural one.
And with that, he is our new Summer Sonatina Co-Director as he will be running the 2021 season together with Claire Hamilton, who has been a Co-Director with me for many years. This will allow me to step away from the day-to-day running of summer camp and focus on hiring faculty, teaching masterclasses, and coaching kids with new music selections in the capacity as Artistic Director.
Claire and Taylor, our new Summer Sonatina Director Team
I will continue directing and teaching the adult piano camps and Taylor will continue helping with any tech work needed for those. We anticipate hosting in-person camps this coming summer and fall season but will continue to have online options during the colder months as I can teach remotely from my winter home in Florida. This seasonal streamlining of having camps run from April to November will alleviate the challenges of the hiring process as in the past there was limited work between late January and mid-April for certain positions.
Taylor will also be taking charge of livestreaming all the masterclasses and concerts for our in-person camps. I have no doubt in my mind that he will find multiple ways to contribute both his technical and amazing people skills to all our camps as he is one to give the most of himself in making sure everyone is happy. I am enjoying sharing and teaching Taylor all of the aspects of running our piano camp business.
Rosamond and Polly, Polly with Austin and Taylor, and Taylor with Rosamond. The last two photos by Starling Irving.
I am beyond delighted and thrilled that my son Taylor will be the 3rd generation working at and for Sonatina year-round. Bravo Taylor – you are going to love the work I have enjoyed (and my parents before me) for so many years. It is the best job in the world as we make so many pianists, young and old, play and learn the instrument they love with the friends they make at camp forever. That feeling of accomplishment can’t be beat!
A little over a year ago, I started hearing reports about this new disease that was beginning to spread all over the world. Within about two weeks’ time I went from planning April Sonata as usual, to thinking about how we would accommodate people while cleaning every piano key in the house between practice sessions, to recognizing there was no way for us to safely have a gathering of pianists at our venue.
Now we are a year further and we have a full year of canceled and remote programs behind us. While the end of the tunnel seems to be in view, Sonatina is still some months away from (hopefully) resuming business somewhat as usual at the end of June.
Polly’s virtual camp set up.
When we realized remote camp was our only option, I was extremely anxious whether we could do so successfully. All the video conferencing platforms I checked had serious sound issues with music that would make an online piano camp impossible and most of our participants had little experience with technology. As luck would have it, one of our Sonata family members connected us with the Zoom team. Zoom was eager to improve their sound issues but had a security breach and needed to focus on that. At this point I had nightmares about our pending zoom doom. But, somehow, Zoom agreed to keep working on this very important project, using Sonata as one of their beta testers. Their improved sound launched precisely 7 days before our first online camp was to begin. I will be forever grateful for their making this a priority and of course musicians all over the world benefitted.
Suddenly there was a need to have my son, Taylor Cobb, join our staff to work one on one with each individual so that there would not be any worries about how to connect to Zoom, set up cameras and microphones.
With our reassurance that Taylor would work patiently and individually with them on any technical issues, twenty brave pianists agreed to join our first remote program during the April Sonata time. While remote camp wasn’t the same as being all under one roof, sharing practice space, dorm rooms and delicious gourmet meals, we were able to replicate the camp feel and make the best of things. On the last day of program, in saying our goodbyes, we all cried, thankful that we were able to be together the best way we could given all the hurdles.
The first virtual piano camp.
After the April Sonata Piano Camp, we held remote camps in June, August, September, October, November, and January. We had to cancel all the Intermezzos and May Sonata but about 50% of our regular participants joined a remote program. While this does not sound great, it was much better than I had dared hope at first and with some help from our friends and our government, it kept Sonatina afloat in 2020.
Jeffrey Biegel in one of many virtual faculty concerts this past year.
Summer Sonatina, our summer camp for children, was our hardest disappointment, especially for the kids who had been doing remote school for months already. We held out until May 30th, thinking COVID would be over (who knew back then?) but it became apparent that we could not do an in-person camp. Only 10% would join the one week of remote Summer Sonatina camp. For those who did join us, our excellent Sonatina staff and faculty did an amazing job ensuring that everyone had fun learning, practicing and having classes. The students practiced piano on muted zoom with their fellow campers all at the same time, just like the practice wheel indicates when to practice during in-person camps. We filled each day with piano lessons, theory classes, room mate times, and enjoyed online activities such as origami, playing virtual catch, drumming classes, musical bingo and jeopardy.
Summer Sonatina Origami ActivitySummer Sonatina campers practicing together
In addition to our regular Sonatas and to help fill the gap left by the absence of Summer Sonatina, we created a few one to four-day a la carte virtual camps. By special request and with some trepidation, we hosted six teens in person, asking them to mask, social distance, sleep in single bedrooms, practice on a designated piano, eat and gather only outside and follow our strict rules. Their lessons were all held remotely but they were able to be on site to give them a careful break from their isolated lives.
Sonatina’s new offering: 2-4 day virtual camps, which will be offered in the winter months.
The a la carte programs have now become a new and permanent part of our offerings. We have named them Virtual Bagatelle Camps and they will be available during the winter months, to tie pianists over until our season opens from April through November. This is yet another positive from having had to contend with new ways to hold camps during COVID. Once again, our creativity has allowed for new ways to learn piano!
In June, a fundraiser was started on our behalf by a group of January Sonata participants with the goal of raising $150,000. This figure was our anticipated financial gap to be bridged due to lowered enrollment. Amazingly, over half of this was raised by our friends and another close to 50% came in from VT government grants. Earlier, in April, we had received a PPP loan which had given us the faith to start remote programs knowing we would be able to pay our faculty and staff during the early part of the pandemic. We couldn’t wait to help our faculty and staff as we knew they were musicians also struggling with no performances or in-person lessons. After that initial PPP loan there was incredible uncertainty about any more help coming so it was the funds raised by our wonderful piano community that kept me from despair. I will never forget you were there for us when we needed you!
Fundraiser by Sonata members to help Polly and Dale through the pandemic.
I continued to find ways to keep our Sonatina friends engaged and eager to learn as well as thinking of ways to bring in more revenue. I decided that I’d provide monthly virtual master classes and these will also continue for years to come. Once again, COVID helped shape these new ways to do business.
So that brings us to today. More and more of us are receiving vaccines (I got mine the other day!) and if all goes as planned, by summer, all adults who want the vaccine can have one.
It is too soon to reinstate our spring programs so we added a Bagatelle in May and an extra Sonata in the fall so that our spring group would have a place and time to join us. We are planning and hoping that all the summer and fall programs can take place in-person in 2021. We can’t wait to be together as we have all been so patient. We will keep you all posted as we check mandates from the VT state on a daily basis.
Of course, our biggest challenge is Summer Sonatina again, as kids will not be vaccinated by late June and July. We are taking this day by day, with our fingers crossed, currently planning a modified on-campus experience with reduced attendance and mitigating adaptations. It is hard to plan when there is no data yet about the prevalence and risks of COVID but signs are pointing in the right direction and we have every intention to offer in-person summer camp if it is safe to do so.
We hope to be back in person this summer!
A year into the pandemic, we are facing a few more uncertain months but are hopeful to put COVID behind us soon. This has been a tough and anxious year for Sonatina and for me personally, but I believe we came through it in good health and thanks to creativity, hard work, and lots of help, Sonatina is still going strong. I feel lucky as it could have been so much worse and has been for so many others. I have gone through a mix of emotions from sad to grateful. I fervently hope that you have made it through these trying times relatively unscathed and that music continues to be a source of healing and hope for you. It has for me and I’m ever so thankful that we remain connected and inspired. May we look forward to much more joy-making in person soon!
I chose this title for my blog because of all the roles I have played inside and outside of this home that houses so many pianos and has had so many stories associated with it. It begs the following question:
I keep reading about documentary films on pianists and their potential to have a career, family support or non-support, the sacrifices made, (i.e. La Calle De Los Pianistas; Seymour; the Olga Samaroff Story, and many more). But, has anyone ever done a film (or written a book) on living in an over-sized house chock full of 30 pianos, living with either 26 adult amateur pianists (or 40+ pianists between the ages of 7 and 16) and trying to have a normal family life?! I had my first baby during a piano camp, my father died during piano camp, my husband was ill for years with chronic fatigue syndrome and we still held the piano camps.
This house in China is making a piano statement!
9/11 occurred just days before a piano camp and the pianists still found a way to get to the September Sonata from as far away as California, finding flights at the last moment. Hurricane Irene ripped through VT in 2011 and tore at the hearts of the pianists who worried about the town in which their piano camp exists so they gave generously to the Town of Bennington in support of fixing a broken water pipe. Weddings have sprung from those who met at piano camp (someone told me that we should charge a premium for the added bonus of matchmaking!). Third generation children of piano camp are now attending Summer Sonatina, keeping up the piano camp bonds that last a lifetime. Flash mobs happen spontaneously in downtown Bennington because the young pianists love having fun, even if only for a few minutes.
My own piano history is pretty wild. At age 15, I commuted to NYC in an orange VW bug, driving myself and my youngest sister to the Juilliard School for our piano lessons and other classes. Public transportation was too expensive and so this was the only alternative. Mom and Dad stayed awake to make sure we were safely back the first trip and from then on, appeared nonchalant about the driving routines.
The Juilliard School as it looks today
Our family and about 7 pianos at the time, moved into a former convent in Old Bennington after having outgrown the small house in North Bennington. I remember that the pianos got moved first before all the furniture. I stayed at the house as I had a big performance coming up and needed to do a lot of practicing. It was freaky sleeping all alone in such a large house with hissing steam radiators going off at all hours of the night. The pianos seemed not to notice!
A newer orange VW bug now graces our driveway!
In short, what happens at piano camp does not stay at piano camp! My incredible extended family of pianists (over 4000 pianists have come through our doors) have enriched my life but what I have also found is that the people who have come to piano camp have had their lives indelibly changed forever as well.
Please feel free to share YOUR story about how piano camp has impacted you. Thank you!
Several weeks ago I received an email from a Francis Ricci, inquiring about the Intermezzo Piano Camps that we offer. These are 5-day immersive camps for adults, the shorter version of our very popular 10-day Sonata Piano Camps.
I wrote Francis right back saying we’d love to have him join us. You see, I knew Francis as a young pianist when he attended Summer Sonatina International Piano Camp as a young pre-teen. Francis came every summer between 2006 and 2011, first as a student and eventually as a camp counselor which was a common progression after aging out of camp.
Francis at Summer Sonatina in 2008
I loved that Francis was inquiring about the Intermezzo and that I’d be able to work with him again after a 7 year hiatus. I remember Francis was a very fine pianist. As a young camper, he played the Second Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody and other very technically challenging pieces. He loved playing duets and was a quick study when asked to join other young pianists. I recollect a wild rendition of Gershwin’s First Prelude that he had arranged with another camper in a hilarious Victor Borge style of crossing hands and jumping around the bench as well as the Rachmaninoff’s Elegie in E-flat minor, Op. 3
While it’s common for a Summer Sonatina camper to go from a student to counselor, it’s a little more rare for them to return to the adult piano camps in their 20’s. Most young adults haven’t established firm jobs yet and even if they do, may be too busy with their lives to slip away for a couple of days of piano camp. So, it was an added treat to have Francis team up with us.
Francis during sports at Summer Sonatina 2008
Francis was embraced by all of the other adult campers during the Intermezzo camp. They were in awe of his playing and marveled that he was so modest in regard to his own playing.
Personally, I can’t wait to host other former Summer Sonatina campers who are in a place in their lives to come back to camp no matter how long their hiatus is from attending or even playing the piano. It is my hope that I can welcome someone back when I’m in my 90’s and they might be in their late 30’s or 40’s. Wouldn’t that be a hoot?!
I invited Francis to share a little history about himself:
“Growing up, there was an old upright piano in my house which had been “gifted” from some relatives who didn’t want it anymore. After lots of persistent begging, my parents finally let me take lessons when I was 7 years old, and I started studying with Kathy Burns. At that age, I was too short to reach the pedals, so I used to ask my brother to sit under the piano and I would kick him once to press the pedal down and again to lift it back up. Fast forward to middle school, when some of my friends started going to band camp over the summer, I decided that I wanted to go to a piano camp. A quick search online brought up Summer Sonatina, and as soon as I saw 3 hours of un-interrupted practice per day, I was sold! In high school, I transitioned from a student to a counselor at Summer Sonatina, and really started to get a lot out of the instruction I got from the faculty there. It was also the time when I realized that although I loved piano, I knew I didn’t want it to be a career for me, but that I still wanted to fill my life with as much music as I could. I jumped on every musical opportunity I found – organist at my church, rehearsal accompanist and pianist for musical theater productions, choir and jazz ensemble accompanist, NY State Fair talent competition, and so on. While studying chemistry at Princeton University, I studied piano with Dr. Jennifer Tao and kept up with some performances and accompanying. One of the most rewarding experiences I had in college was performing Mozart’s double piano concerto with Dr. Tao and the Princeton University Sinfonia. After graduation, I began working as a software engineer for Facebook, and kept up with music as the organist at two small Catholic churches, and by accompanying some middle school and high school musical theater productions.”
Francis performed the Liszt Benediction de Dieu dans la Solitude for a master class during the May 2018 Intermezzo. He was the last one to play so I didn’t get a lot of time to work with him. But, you can see and hear the wonderful comments from his colleagues and enjoy his first performance of this piece. I hope that he gets to play it a couple of times now that he has it under his fingers as it truly is a very difficult piece to play. Here is the master class video:
Piano Roles 