Valladolid

AUGUST 11-16: ESCUELA DE MUSICA MODULANDO, VALLODOLID, SPAIN

Announcing a once-in-a-lifetime Piano Somatics Institute opportunity! The institute moves to Spain for the first time in 2026 for a very special reason: the total eclipse of the sun that will take place the evening of August 12th. On that Wednesday, the Institute will end early so that all participants can move to a site with maximum eclipse visibility.

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The Glories of Totality

Some may wonder what all the fuss is about, but if you have never witnessed totality, you should know that it is infinitely better than a partial eclipse. The sudden insight into the cosmos it offers is a spectacular, and dare we say, even an intensely emotional event. Don't miss it!


AFTER THE TOTAL ECLIPSE, A TOTAL MAKEOVER OF YOUR PIANO TECHNIQUE

The Piano Somatics Institute itself will last four complete teaching days, with an opening session Tuesday evening and a closing session Sunday morning.

Acquiring the Piano Somatics skill set allows pianists to play with more agility, more power, more sensitivity, and more expressivity - with a deeper, more rewarding artistry. The surroundings of the Modulando Music School in downtown Valladolid are especially conducive to high-quality learning: a recital room with an excellent grand piano and plenty of floor space for the Feldenkrais lessons, plus enough practice facilities to house even a very large group comfortably.


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Inner courtyard of a 15th century monastery in the Valladolid town center - unfortunately not the institute venue

ESCUELA DE MUSICA STAFF & STUDENTS FREE OBSERVATION, DISCOUNTED LESSONS

Escuela de Musica Modulando students and staff are welcome to audit the institute at no charge, and receive a 35% discount for active participation.

Alan teaches in English or French, with Spanish translation available.


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At the piano, Modulando Music School, Valladolid

OPEN TO ALL INTERESTED PIANISTS

Many relatively inexperienced pianists hesitate to attend an institute, feeling they are not good enough or not well-enough prepared. However, we are here to learn. Alan's approach can help all of us, no matter what our ability, no matter what the state of our program. The Institute really is open to all interested pianists:

  • professionals who wish to hone their skills to the highest possible level
  • teachers who seek new tools for work with their students
  • students who wish to improve their sound, agility and musicianship
  • amateurs who wish to feel more in command of the instrument.

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Learning from watching and hearing

LEARNING FROM EACH OTHER

There is no limit to improvement - and everyone benefits from watching the other lessons. Advanced pianists learn something from lessons with the less gifted pianists - for instance, how to work with their own students - and the amateur pianists get a special pleasure out of watching Alan tell the professionals the same things they've been hearing: "Grow that hand arch more! More lateral arm movements to shape the phrase!" It's always about unlocking the hidden blocks to movement within, no matter what your level of ability.


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A vocal somatics session

SINGERS & INSTRUMENTALISTS WELCOME TOO

Alan's Feldenkrais-informed approach to performance also helps instrumentalists and vocalists transform their sound by making minute postural adjustments that release hidden physical blocks. If you have a friend or colleague with a specific performance issue, invite them to come along - they'll be glad they did.


SCHEDULE



The schedule may be modified according to the makeup and needs of the group.


TUESDAY
17:00-18:00 Coffee, Registration, Meet & Greet
18:00-20:00 Opening Session
20:00 Meal Together
WEDNESDAY
9:00-11:15 3 Individual Lessons
11:15-12:30 Group Awareness Through Movement (ATM)
Please bring your own yoga mat for this lesson.
12:30-14:00 Lunch
14:00-15:30 2 Individual Lessons
15:30-16:15 Coffee - Awareness Through Piano Movement (ATPM)
16:15-17:00 Remaining Lesson
17:00 Leave to watch the total eclipse
THURSDAY & FRIDAY
9:00-11:15 3 Individual Lessons
11:15-12:30 Group Awareness Through Movement (ATM)
Please bring your own yoga mat for this lesson.
12:30-14:00 Lunch
14:00-15:30 2 Individual Lessons
15:30-16:15 Coffee - Awareness Through Piano Movement (ATPM)
16:15-18:30 Remaining Lessons
18:30 Relax for the evening
SATURDAY
9:00-11:15 3 Individual Lessons
11:15-12:30 Group Awareness Through Movement (ATM)
Please bring your own yoga mat for this lesson.
12:30-14:00 Lunch
14:00-15:30 2 Individual Lessons
15:30-16:15 Coffee - Awareness Through Piano Movement (ATPM)
16:15-17:45 Remaining Lesson
19:00 Closing recital (optional participation)
SUNDAY
9:00-11:00 Closing Session
11:00 Farewell

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Alan lecturing

LECTURE TOPICS



Participants will be invited to select from this list of lecture topics for the daily seminar-ATPM:

POSSIBLE ATPM TOPICS
Hand Structure & Function The Celestial Hand Arch - The Voice of the Piano
Weight Technique Arm Weight, the Anti-Gravity Function, Elasticity and Biotensegrity
The Thumb I Pass And Do Not Pass The Thumb Under: It's Complicated.
Rotation Rotation at the Micro and Macro Levels
The Hand as a Mini-Body Lying, Standing, Walking & Running: Organic Development of the Hand on the Keyboard
Pianimals Use The Pianimals Exercises & Compositions in your Teaching and your Playing
Musicianship & Technique Physical Strategies to Enhance Phrase, Polyphony & Orchestration
Feldenkrais & Piano Expressively Directed Micro-Timing: A New Musical Aesthetic
Q & A Which Aspects of Piano Somatics Intrigue You... Frustrate You... Mystify You... Satisfy You?

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The Law Faculty of the University of Valladolid, the second oldest university in Spain -
with the Cathedral spire in the background

TRAVEL




GETTING THERE

Click here for travelling directions to:

Escuela de Musica Modulando
C/Guardería 5-7,
47007 Valladolid
Espana



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Hotel Catedral, Valladolid

ACCOMMODATION




LODGING

There are several accommodation options in the Valladolid area.

• To book a hotel we recommend Booking.com.
www.airbnb.com also offers several listings. Book early to get the best choice and the best price.


MEALS

We look forward to exploring Spanish Tapas, paella and other delicacies at the many restaurants not far from the music school.


REGISTER




FEES & REGISTRATION

  • Active participants have a daily individual lesson, daily group ATM and ATPM lessons, daily seminar lectures, and observe all other lessons.
  • Passive participants take part fully in all activities but receive no individual lesson.

COMBINE ACTIVE AND PASSIVE DAYS

  • If you want to take full advantage of Alan's presence in Leusden, book two active days.
  • If two lessons over two days is too intense for you, book only one active day, and attend the other day as an auditor. To combine active and passive registrations, hit the back button on your browser to add another purchase item to the same payment procedure. For instance, if you want to attend both days but only have one individual lesson, purchase one Active Participant day and one Passive Participant day for a total of two.
At completion of your registration, please return here to fill out the PARTICIPANT QUESTIONNAIRE, indicating which institute you will be attending (Leusden), and what days.

Click on your preferred option below to pay by credit card at our retail partner, Stripe.com.

Participation 1 day 2 days 3 days 4 days
Active participant $157 $308 $457 $598
Passive participant $75 $145 $132 $172

Contact us for other registration options

If you have a particular registration request, for instance to book extra pre- or post-institute private lessons, or to receive a partial scholarship, please contact Ivona Despotovich. She will answer all your questions and do her best to meet your specific needs.



BEFORE & AFTER THE INSTITUTE




INFORMATION SHEET & FOLLOWUP QUESTIONNAIRE

We'd like to get to know you better. After registration, please come back to fill out this PARTICIPANT INFORMATION FORM.

After you've completed your institute, we'd like to keep in touch. Please return here to fill out the INSTITUTE FOLLOWUP QUESTIONNAIRE. This helps you and us to evaluate your experience, plan your ongoing regime for further pianistic advances, and fine-tune the institute structure to better meet your needs.


CONTACT




ABOUT US - CONTACT

ALAN FRASER

Canadian pianist Alan Fraser gives master classes and recitals worldwide and conducts ongoing research and refinement on the ideas put forth in his books:

He is at work on several new volumes. Visit here for more on Alan Fraser. If you have questions about your participation in the institute and would like to address them directly to Alan Fraser, please feel free to send him an email.

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Alan Fraser

ROSA GONZALEZ GIL (Music School Director)

Rosa Gonzalez became passionate about music education when she met Jacques Chapuis, a disciple of Willems. From then on she has remained convinced that music can be learned in a different way than the traditional one. As Alan Fraser's teacher Phil Cohen said, "There is always another way."

Rosa's clear philosophy: the ultimate goal of music must be to create more sensitive, intelligent, and happy people. Music is a language, which must be learned in the same way as one learns one's mother tongue. This approach helps create the special nurturing atmosphere of Escuela de Musica Modulando.

Contact Rosa González Gíl.

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Rosa González Gíl working with two music school students

Cancellation Policy

If you must cancel your registration, reimbursement will be as follows:
Cancellations more than two months before Institute opening date: 100% reimbursement.
Cancellations more than one month before Institute opening date: 75% reimbursement.
Cancellations more than two weeks before Institute opening date: 50% reimbursement.
Cancellations more than one week before Institute opening date: 25% reimbursement.
Cancellations less than one week before Institute opening date: no reimbursement except in cases of doctor-certified illness or acts of God.
We reserve the right to cancel the institute due to insufficient enrolment; in this event, all registration fees are fully refundable.