SCHEDULE Folk Seminar 2013

Sunday, July 21, 2013

5:00 pm – 7:30 pm — Check-in and Orientation

Students will have an opportunity to meet each other, meet many of the instructors and hear them demonstrate their instruments, become familiar with the Music Academy location and rehearsal halls, rent instruments (if necessary), make final decisions on classes, and resolve any logistical problems. There is no charge for this introductory session and we strongly recommend all students attend. A short dance party will be held at the end featuring the Bitov Ensemble from the Music Academy in Plovdiv.

Monday, July 22 – Saturday, July 27, 2013

Daily Schedule

Instrument Classes:

There will be a division in the instrument classes between beginning and experienced students. The morning group classes are 1¼ hours long and will begin at 9:15 am. For example, a student can choose to take the experienced gaida class followed by the beginner tambura class. In the afternoon there will be individual and/or small group instrument classes lasting 30 minutes each. Please bring your own instrument(s), if possible. If you don’t have one, or it is too difficult transport, the Academy will make arrangements for instrument rental for 5 leva per day.

A Bitov (traditional instrument) Ensemble class has been tentatively scheduled for experienced students late each afternoon starting Tuesday, July 23, 2013.

Singing Classes:

There will be two consecutive 1¼ hour group singing classes every morning, and each class will focus on a different regional style. As with the instrumental classes, afternoon singing sessions will last for 30 minutes each, and be for either individuals or small groups.

Dance Classes:

There will be four (non-concurrent) dance sessions each day. Teachers from each village will teach four dance sessions with the last session being a review.

Language Classes:

A 1¼ hours long Bulgarian language class will be held daily, beginning at 6:00pm. The goal is to help students acquire basic communication skills in Bulgarian that they can use during their Seminar classes and in everyday life. The class will be oriented towards students who have never spoken Bulgarian before. There will be no Bulgarian language class on the last day of the Seminar.

Daily Student Gathering:

A brief student gathering will be held daily from 12:00-12:15 pm in the Dance Hall to discuss special events, guest performances, evening activities, administrative matters, etc.

Evening Activities:

Some evening activities will be planned for those who wish, such as restaurant outings, dance events at the Music Academy, a Seminar final evening gala in Voivodinovo village (just north of Plovdiv).

	Session 1	Session 2	Daily Student Gathering (Dance Hall)	Lunch Break	Session 1	Session 2	Bulgarian Language
Daily Schedule — July 22 – July 27, 2013
Class	9:15am- 10:30am	10:45am- 12:00pm	12:00pm- 12:15pm	12:15pm- 1:45pm	1:45pm- 3:00pm	3:15- 4:30pm	4:45pm- 6:00pm
Beginning Rhodope Gaida		X			*	*
Beginning Tambura		X			*	*
Beginning Gûdulka	X				*	*
Beginning Kaval	X				*	*
Beginning Tûpan	X				*	*
Experienced Gaida	X				*	*
Experienced Tambura	X				*	*
Experienced Gûdulka		X			*	*
Experienced Kaval		X			*	*
Experienced Tûpan		X			*	*
Bulgarian Folk Singing	Instructor 1	Instructor 2			*	*
Violin		X			*	*
Accordion		X			*	*
Clarinet		X			*	*
Bulgarian Folk Dance	X	X			X	X
*Note: From 1:45 — 4:30 pm, individual or small group classes will be conducted for ½-hour segments for Instruments and Folk Singing. Times are subject to change.
Bitov Ensemble class 4:45pm-6:00pm starting Tuesday, July 23, 2013.

Note: 2013 Schedule — subject to change