Chamber Music Lab

Program Overview

The AMFS Chamber Music Lab program is open to students in grades 4+ who are working at or beyond a Double Black Diamond level (at the end of Suzuki and/or Essential Elements Book 1). In this program, students will work in small groups to develop ensemble skills, learn new music and techniques, and expand independent musicianship with a dedicated ensemble coach. Students receive a series of private lessons as well as performance opportunities throughout the school year to showcase their progress. 

Chamber Music Lab runs mid-October through the end of April with roughly 20 coaching sessions per ensemble. 

For large ensemble opportunities beyond Beginning Strings, we recommend continuing your musical experience with our friends at the Roaring Fork Youth Orchestra.

Ensembles

Chamber Music Lab participants will be formed into small ensembles as soon as possible according to age, experience, and location. Small ensembles will meet regularly for one-hour coachings with their Chamber Music Lab coach.

Ensemble rehearsal schedules will be set at the beginning of the year based on preferences determined during the registration process. If the listed times/places don't work for you, please let us know and we will try to work with you!

Chamber Music Lab Ensemble Locations:

• Basalt Elementary School, Wednesdays 3:45-4:45pm
• Basalt Middle School, Tuesdays 4:30-5:30pm
• Waldorf School on the Roaring Fork, Mondays 5-6pm (tentative)
• Crystal River Elementary School, Thursdays 5:30-6:30pm
• Glenwood Springs Middle School, Wednesdays 2:30-3:30pm
• El Proyecto de Mariachi, Riverview School, Wednesdays 3-4:30pm

Placement Audition and Student Responsibility

Placement Audition

To accurately access the current playing level of Chamber Music Lab registrants, place students in an ensemble with other students playing at a similar level and assign students to a coach and a private lesson teacher who can best meet their needs, we require all Chamber Music Lab participants to submit a Placement Audition Video.

Within one week of registration, please send us a video that includes the following:

• A piece you have prepared to a performance-ready level (and ideally that you have worked on with your private lesson teacher) that best demonstrates your current playing level
  • Does not need to be memorized. A portion of a piece is fine, as long as it's a representative sample of your best playing.
• G-Major scale, using your best tone production and intonation
  • One or two octaves, your choice. This is your chance to show us how beautifully you can play, so be sure to take your time!

Student Responsibility

Participation in Chamber Music Lab requires a high level of commitment and understanding of the following expectations:

• Chamber Music Lab participants are expected to practice consistently outside of ensemble coachings to make sure they can independently play their assigned parts. 
  • Students will determine a practice schedule with their private lesson teacher. As a general rule, students should aim for least 30 minutes of focused practice per day, at least five days per week. Daily practice is highly encouraged.
  • It's always more fun when everyone comes to coachings prepared so that Chamber Music Lab coaching sessions can be spent making music together, after the individual practicing has happened at home.
• Chamber Music Lab participants are expected to take advantage of all private lessons included in the program.
  • We recommend that Chamber Music Lab students are enrolled in weekly or bi-weekly private lessons throughout the school year. The three lessons included in tuition are intended to get students started in private lessons.
• Chamber Music Lab participants are expected to attend coachings regularly, with no more than TWO excused absences per semester.
  • Please note that this is a 20+-week program and that students should commit to the entire series of chamber music coachings. 
  • Because chamber music typically involves only one student per part, absences can be detrimental to ensemble success. 
  • Conflicts and emergencies should be communicated to the Chamber Music Lab coaches or AMFS Education team as soon as they are known, or at a minimum, at least 24 hours before each coaching.
  • If students have excessive absences or any unexcused absences, they may be asked to leave the Chamber Music Lab program.

After-School Program Cost: $400

Cost includes coachings, ensemble repertoire, and three hours of private lessons (lessons alone are valued at $240!) Students are responsible for the cost of an instrument (either a rented or purchased violin/viola/cello). Some AMFS-owned scholarship instruments are available.

Scholarships & Payment Plans

Tuition scholarships are available to students who demonstrate significant financial need. Additionally, a limited number of instrument scholarships are available to students who are unable to afford the cost of purchasing or renting a violin/viola/cello to use an AMFS-owned instrument while enrolled in Chamber Music Lab. Payment plans for Chamber Music Lab tuition are available and can be requested during the acceptance process.

AfterWorks Refund Policy

Once a student has registered for an AfterWorks program (Beginning Strings, Chamber Music Lab, Lead Guitar, or Maroon Bel Canto Choirs), the following policy will apply to tuition refunds if that student chooses to leave the AfterWorks program:

• Before first class/rehearsal: full tuition refund
• Between first and third class/rehearsal: half tuition refund
• After third class/rehearsal: no refund

Performance Opportunities

• December 2024 – Winter Informance | local elementary schools with Beginning Strings students
• February 2025 – AfterWorks Solo & Ensemble Recital | Harris Concert Hall
  • Select ensembles invited to participate based on work in Chamber Music Lab coachings
• May 2025 – Beginning Strings & Chamber Music Lab Showcase | Harris Concert Hall

To learn more, please contact:
Lindsay Bobyak, Manager of Education and Community Programs
Email | 970 205 5055

Support for AMFS Education and Community Programs comes from Nancy Swift Furlotti and the Pettit Foundation, Dana and Gene Powell, Alpine Bank, Nancy Meinig - Meinig Family Foundation, the Fisher Family Fund at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, Edith Kallas and Joe Whatley, Golub Family Foundation, El Pomar Foundation, and Hensley and James Peterson.