We sincerely hope that you all are healthy and safe. Keeping everyone's safety and comfort in mind, we are planning to forgo an in-person institute this summer in Ithaca. We are, however, planning to "go virtual"! We will host the Ithaca Virtual Suzuki Experience for one week, July 5-10, which will include our esteemed faculty giving masterclasses, repertoire classes, enrichments (including some new ones!) and technique classes. Our daily student recitals will still take place, as well as our daily parent talks (more than ever!) We plan to have special events throughout the week, including concerts from our guest artists as well as a performance by the Heifetz violin program.
We are still offering a virtual one week advanced program (all instruments) as well as the Heifetz violin program. This virtual camp will be packed with lessons, repertoire class, technique class, performance class, practice boot camp, and master classes with guest artists.
All virtual classes will be held over Zoom, fully supported by the tech team at Ithaca College.
We are looking to strike a balance between offering things that have always been a part of the Ithaca Suzuki Institute and also introducing a few new ideas that have come about through this crazy new situation we all find ourselves in. We see this as a one-time occurrence and fully expect to be together in person next summer on the beautiful Ithaca College campus.
We sincerely hope that you will take the virtual plunge with us this summer! Here's what you need to know:
•Online registration will remain open through June 1st at www.ithaca.edu/suzuki
•All attendees of the 2020 Ithaca Virtual Suzuki Experience will receive 10% off of tuition for the 2021 in-person Institute at Ithaca College
Before deciding whether you plan to attend our Virtual Suzuki Experience, please carefully consider the following:
•Do you have enough available devices for everyone in your household to participate as needed? Devices should include a well-functioning video camera and microphone. An external microphone is a plus but not a necessity. Chrome books do not tend to do well with music-making over Zoom, but other desktops and laptops are a good option, as are most up-to-date cell phones and tablets.
•Is your household internet connectivity and bandwidth strong enough to manage a day of classes and recitals, possibly on multiple devices (if siblings are also involved)?
•As we all know from the last few weeks, Zoom isn't perfect! There is always a chance that due to an internet glitch or some other unknown factors, you just might miss a class or a lesson once in awhile. Please understand that there will be no refunds issued for any missed lessons.
We hope to make music together across the world this summer, and while we can't be in person, we hope to still make a meaningful connection with you all.
Wish all of our very best wishes to you and your families,
Natalie, Carrie, and Sarah