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Birch Bay Workshop

The 2010 Birch Bay String Teachers' Workshop, an activity of the Washington unit of the American String Teachers Association, will be presented   August 2-6, 2010.

The Birch Bay String Teachers' Workshop is presented annually during the first week of August in Ferndale, Washington—a pleasant small town located fifteen minutes north of Bellingham, fifteen minutes from the beach at Birch Bay, and fifteen minutes from the Canadian border.  The workshop is of interest to private studio and public school string teachers at all levels, and to college/university students preparing for a music education career.

The resident faculty includes:

  • Ian Edlund, workshop director, reading orchestra, rehearsal techniques
  • Charles (Chip) Schooler, assistant director, cello techniques and pedagogy
  • Grant Sears, violin/viola techniques and pedagogy
  • Joe Dyvig, double bass techniques and pedagogy
  • Bette Ann Schwede, site manager
  • Kristina Snyder, registrar and site manager

Photo presentation of the 2009 workshop

Music: "Campfire" from "A Birch Bay Celebration" by Richard Meyer


To download the photo presentation of the 2009 workshop, click here. (Requires Windows Media Player - click here to download.)

SPECIAL GUEST: PEGGY WHEELER

Peggy Wheeler, is an Associate Professor of Music Education in the Crane School of Music where she teaches courses in string music education. She has a BA in music from Carleton College, a MM in viola from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a DMA in viola from the University of Illinois where she studied with Guillermo Perich. She also studied at the North Carolina School of the Arts with Sally Peck while teaching strings in the Winston-Salem Schools.

String pedagogy is now her primary research area. Her vision is to help integrate and correlate studio and school pedagogy.

Since 2000, Dr. Wheeler has collaborated on a project in string pedagogy with Mimi Zweig of Indiana University. The web site, www.stringpedagogy.com, uses streaming video of teaching topics with written commentary and explanation to document Zweig’s methodology. Dr. Wheeler is the editor and co-author of the website. She is also a member of the state-wide Iowa Comprehensive Musicianship Project Team. She is also the author of exciting new materials for teaching comprehensive musicianship which will be explored at the workshop.

She is a member of ASTA, MENC and the College Music Society.

The workshop is made possible in part by generous support from businesses and organizations such as Century Strings, Eastman Strings, Hammond Ashley Violins, Henry Bischofberger Violins (Kirkland), R. L. Ray Violin Shop, D'Addario Bowed Instrument Strings, Scherl and Roth division of Conn-Selmer Corp., Southwest Strings, String Instrument Specialists, Music Centers Inc., J. W. Pepper of Tacoma, Ted Brown Music Co., and the Washington unit of the American String Teachers Association.

 

2010 Tentative Workshop Schedule

Monday: Registration (8:00 AM); Reading Session #1 (8:30); Instrument Techniques; Conducting Master Class; Elementary Class Organization; Peggy Wheeler Session #1; Reading session #2 (publishers); out 4:15. 5:00: No-host get-acquainted margarita party and Mexican dinner at Chihuahua’s restaurant.

(Workshop sessions run 8:30 AM-4:15 PM Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday)

Tuesday: Reading Session #3; Instrument Techniques; Conducting Master Class; Middle School Class Organization; Peggy Wheeler Session #2; Reading Session #4 (publishers). Free evening.

Wednesday: Reading Session #5; Instrument Techniques; Conducting Master Class; Elementary Pedagogy; Peggy Wheeler Session #3; Reading Session #6 (Elementary). No host dinner with Peggy and staff at Birch Bay.

Thursday: Reading Session #7; Instrument Techniques; Conducting Master Class; Teaching Literature for High School Level; Peggy Wheeler Session #4; Participants “Make and Take” session; Instruments, Dealers, and Advocacy. Salmon BBQ on the beach and String Teachers’ Campfire at Birch Bay State Park.

Friday: Reading Session #8; Peggy Wheeler Session #5; String Teachers’ Forum; Evaluation. Workshop ends 1:00 PM.

Accommodations

A variety of accommodations are available in the Ferndale-Birch Bay area, including hotels, motels, B-and-B’s, and bayside cottages.

These motels offer a special rate to guests who reserve before July 11 and identify themselves as Birch Bay String Workshop participants:

  • Super 8 Motel 360-384-8881
  • Hampton Inn 360-676-2800
  • Silver Reef Hotel/Casino 866-383-0777

Lodgings at Birch Bay include:

  • Jacob's ’s Landing 360-371-7675
  • Inn at Semiahmoo 360-371-2800
  • Haishan Inn Cabins 360-306-5322

Campsites in nearby Birch Bay State Park, some of which have trailer hookups, may be reserved by calling 888-226-7688. Early reservations for campsites are advised. Conveniently located RV sites may be reserved by calling Cedars RV Park at 360-384-2622.

For assistance with other types of accommodations, e-mail your query to lodging@stringspecialist.com.

Registration

FEES AND CREDITS

(Please read carefully)

 

Advance registration (prior to July 11) workshop fee is $175, which includes materials, refreshments and traditional salmon dinner on the beach. After July 11, the fee is $200. Central Washington University offers 3 quarter credits at a very nominal fee which may be paid on site.

 

Thirty clock hours are available at no charge for WMEA members only. Clock hour arrangements may be made on site.

 

THE WORKSHOP CAN NOT ACCEPT PURCHASE ORDERS OR CREDIT CARDS FOR FEES OR CREDITS. CHECKS OR CASH ONLY!

 

Members of Washington ASTA may attend any two consecutive days for a special fee of $100. Contact Ian Edlund at 360-491-3931 for schedule details.

 

Cancellation policy:  $100 of the workshop fee will be refunded if cancellation request is received prior to July 11, 2010.  No refunds will be allowed after  July 11.

To register:  click here to download the form and mail to:

 

Ian Edlund, director

Birch Bay String Workshop

3445 Hollywood Dr NE

Olympia WA 98516

Note:  This document must open in PDF.

2009 Camp Photo

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String Instrument Specialists
3445 Hollywood Dr NE
Olympia Washington 98516
E-mail: webmaster@stringspecialist.com
Last update 06.04.10