Hamburg

KLANGMANUFAKTUR, HAMBURG

Klangmanufaktur (Sound Manufacturers) is a group of former Steinway piano builders who conceived the admirable goal of restoring old Steinways to their former glory. Participants will be able to tour the workspace and gain valuable insights on the inner voice of a truly great instrument, and just how that voice is brought, ay, coaxed into full-throated song.

The Institute will take place in Studio E, the small concert space normally inhabited by two fully restored Steinway Concert D grand pianos. Practice facilities, also with fine, fully restored Steinway grands, will be available for rental at very reasonable rates. Please book practice times in advance.

We have yet to confirm dates for this institute; if you are interested in attending at this particular venue, please do let us know.


Berlin Participants
   
German Institute August 2016

OPEN TO ALL INTERESTED PIANISTS

Are you hesitant to attend? Feel you are not advanced enough? Not well-enough prepared? Don't worry; Alan welcomes all, no matter what your ability, no matter what the state of your program. The Institute really is open to all interested pianists:

  • students who wish to improve their sound and agility
  • amateurs who wish to feel more in command of the instrument
  • teachers who want new ways of teaching technique to their students
  • professionals who wish to hone their skills to the highest possible level.

There is no limit to improvement!

INSTRUMENTALISTS & VOCALISTS ALSO WELCOME

Alan's Feldenkrais-informed approach to performance also helps instrumentalists and vocalists, transforming their sound by making minute postural adjustments that release hidden physical blocks. If you have a friend or colleague with a specific performing issue, why not invite them to come along.


SCHEDULE




STRUCTURE OF THE DAY

The institute is a mixture of piano lessons, Feldenkrais lessons and lectures on piano technique from the viewpoint of Piano Somatics. On Friday morning we come together over coffee to meet each other and discuss our goals for the week. Coffee and donuts at 8:30 Friday morning, opening session at 9.

Although the institute runs for 3 full days, partial attendance is completely acceptable. You are also not obliged to take the maximum number of lessons. See the registration procedure for instructions on how to tailor-make your participation to your own needs.

DAILY SCHEDULE
8:30-9:00 Coffee & Tea
9:00-10:40 2 Lessons
10:40-11:40 ATM: Group Awareness Through Movement™ lesson
Please bring your own yoga mat or blanket for this class.
11:40-12:30 1 Lesson
12:30-2:20 Lunch
2:20-4:00 2 Lessons
4:00-5:00 ATPM: Seminar & Group Awareness Through Piano Movement™ lesson
5:00-6:40 2 Lessons
6:40... Evening Meal & Chill Out

The seminar-ATPM format is new. Alan will begin by lecturing on a topic, then field some questions about the material, and then create an Awareness Through Piano Movement™ lesson that grows out of that lecture's focus.


Studio F
   
Practice Studio

You are free to attend the entire day or take a break from watching the lessons to rest or do a little bit of practicing. Each entire session is recorded and offered to you free of charge for future reference.


3-DAY SCHEDULE
Friday 8:30 - Informal meetup, registration confirmation, coffee & tea
9:00 - introductory session.
9:50 - Daily Schedule
4:00 - Seminar: Update on hand structure & function as applied to music performance.
Saturday 8:30 - Daily Schedule
4:00 - Seminar: How can that pesky thumb give 100%? When it relates functionally to the whole.
19:00 - Participant Recital (Optional Participation)
Sunday 8:30 - Daily Schedule
4:00 - Seminar: Shaping phrases with the arm is our ultimate tool for higher musicianship.
18:00 Closing session... and party!

The question period in each seminar is a chance to take the discussion in a whole new direction. For instance, the conversation could veer towards one of the topics below covered in a past institute. Which of these topics is of special concern to you? Make note of it, and make sure you bring it up with Alan in a seminar.

LECTURE 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?


Studio E
   
Studio E

TRAVEL




GETTING THERE

The Institute will take place at
Wendenstraße 255
20537 Hamburg

Take the elevator to the third floor, and follow the series of old pianos in ruined halls to Klangmanufaktur. Studio E is down the hallway on the right.

PRACTICE ROOMS

Practice rooms can be rented by the hour for a very reasonable price at Klangmanufaktur Rehearsal Studios.


ACCOMMODATION




LODGING

There are many hotels in Hamburg, all easily available at Booking.com. Airbnb is another viable option.

MEALS

There is a small Turkish restaurant quite close, and many others a short bus ride away.


Studio F
   
Intimate Performance and Teaching Setting

REGISTER




FEES & REGISTRATION

  • The active participation fee covers a daily individual lesson, daily group ATM and ATPM lessons, daily seminar lectures, and observation of all other lessons.
  • The passive participation fee covers full participation in all activities but no individual lesson.

COMBINE ACTIVE AND PASSIVE DAYS

  • If you want to take full advantage of Alan's presence in Hamburg, book three active days.
  • If three lessons over three days is too intense for you, book only two or even only one active day, and attend the other days 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 all three days but only have two individual lessons, purchase two Active Participant days and one Passive Participant day for a total of three.
At completion of your registration, please return here to fill out the PARTICIPANT QUESTIONNAIRE, indicating which institute you will be attending (Berlin), and what days.

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

Hamburg Institute one day two days three days
Active Participation $157 $308 $457
Passive Participation $45 $90 $132

Discounts

We offer discounts for senior citizens, students up to 25 years of age, and those in reduced financial circumstances. For more information, please contact Ivona Despotovich and let her know your status. If you qualify for a discount, you will receive a partial refund on your initial payment.


BEFORE & AFTER THE INSTITUTE




INFORMATION SHEET & FOLLOWUP QUESTIONNAIRE

After registering, please return here to fill out the REGISTRATION QUESTIONNAIRE.

After you have completed your institute, please come back to fill out this FOLLOWUP QUESTIONNAIRE. This helps us evaluate your experience, tailor your ongoing regime to facilitate further progress, and fine-tune the structure of future institutes to better meet participants' needs.

Pierre etc
   
The Elbphilharmonie (also seen in the background of the footer photo below)

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 concerns or questions about your participation in the institute and would like to address them directly to Alan Fraser, send him an email.

MARTIN GAWRICH

Martin is a pianist and Feldenkrais practitioner who works mainly as an IT project manager. Alongside classical music, he enjoys performing jazz and other forms of more popular music. He began studying with Alan in 2017. Email Martin here with your questions.

KLANGMANUFAKTUR

Dedicated to restoring fine Steinway pianos, the team at Klangmanufaktur is highly skilled and passionate about their work. They are happy to take the participants through the various workshops for a "hand's on" experience of just what goes in to making the voice of a piano sound its very best. .


COVID-19 ADVISORY





COVID-19 ADVISORY

If Covid-19 restrictions are still in effect, we will ask that all participants be vaccinated against Covid-19, or that you have proof of a negative Covid-19 test done less than 72 hours before your arrival at the Institute. We can discuss your vaccination status when you register.

Alan has been vaccinated three times, with the Astra-Zeneca vaccine in March and June 2021 and a Pfizer booster in November 2021. He has also contracted Covid-19 three times: in November 2020 before the vaccines were available, then twice with the Omicron variant in January and July 2022. Thankfully he had only mild symptoms and quickly recovered.

If national Covid-19 restrictions are still in force during the institute, the following measures will be followed for the protection and comfort of all participants:

  • Masks will be worn whenever the 2-metre social distancing rule cannot be followed.
  • Hands must be washed frequently and hand sanitizer will be provided.


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.