Viola da Gamba Society of America

Circuit Rider Application Circuit Rider Program Application We are a: * New Applicant Established Circuit Ride We are applying for a: * Introductory Half Circuit (2 visits) Full Circuit (4 visits) Piggy-back on existing Circuit (What is a piggy-back Circuit?) Location of Proposed Circuit: Proposed Teacher: Total Expected Travel Expenses (for all visits): Round trip fares and rental car rates are based on current prices. For teachers who decide to drive their own vehicle to their destination, mileage is reimbursed at the current IRS rate. Travel Amount Requested (total for all visits): No single travel funding amount may exceed $2000 for the year ($1000 for Half Circuit). We are in Canada and requesting the teacher subsidy to cover the difference between USD and CAD. (If requesting) We have estimated this amount to be (in USD): Proposed Start Dates for Visits (choose two for a Half Circuit and four for a Full Circuit): Date One: * required Date Three: Date Two: * required Date Four: Agreement: The above-named teacher has agreed to visit our location on the specified dates and for each visit is prepared to provide at least 10 instructional hours—any combination of lessons and group coaching—(or 5 hours in the case of a piggy-back Circuit). As hosts we will guarantee to pay the teacher a minimum of $600 (or $300 if piggy back), covering the first 10 hours (or 5 for piggy backs). Any additional teaching will be paid at the rate of $60/hour. We, as hosts, will provide housing and food to the teacher for each visit. The teacher will submit travel receipts directly to the VdGSA after each visit. The local host will write a review of the completed Circuit Ride for possible publication in the VdGSA Newsletter. I agree to these terms Contact Person: Additional Comments: Thank you for applying to the Circuit Rider Program, we'll be in touch soon! Submit

Members' Area 2025 Online Conclave Registration For those who are unable to attend Conclave in person, we offer a way to take part in some of the activities and festivities from afar. Online attendees may enroll in one or both of our Hybrid Classes. These will be taught as regular Conclave classes, but will also be accessible to registrants on Zoom, where they will be able to play along on mute and benefit from the teacher’s instruction. The final period will offer a live-streamed class for all, at no extra charge. The two available classes will take place during 2nd and 3rd periods in hopes to make them most readily accessible to members across the country: Second Period (11:00 - 12:15 EDT: Monday through Friday) Teacher: Patty Halverson Title: Delightful on Viols Level: UI - all sizes Description: Dance suites in 4, 5, and 6 parts by Valentin Haussman and Johann Schein, including suites from Schein’s delightful collection, Banchetto Musicale. Third Period (2:00 - 3:15 EDT: M, T, Th, F and 9:00 - 10:30: Saturday) Teacher: Martha McGaughey Title: Spacious Firmament Level: UI - all sizes Description: J.S. Bach, one of the brightest stars in the musical firmament, provided a wealth of chorales which can be a starting point to discuss musical issues, using text to inform performance, and how to lead an ensemble. Two Bach chorales a day, in various clefs, with doubling. Free live-streamed class: Fourth Period (3:45 - 5:00 EDT: M, T, Th, F and 11:00 - 12:15: Saturday) Teachers: Graham Christian (dance leader) & Jack Ashworth (dance musician) Title: A Lively Shape of Dauncing Level: ALL - no instruments necessary Description: Discover the beauties of the dance of court and country from the height of the Renaissance to the Baroque and beyond. Learn characteristic step sequences, rhythms, and forms, as we explore pavans, galliards, bourrées, minuets, country dances, and cotillons, while also considering their social meaning and context. Learn to move with energy and elegance or join in accompanying the movement. Important Details for Online Conclave: The tuning pitch is a’ = 415Hz. Conclave times are all in Eastern Daylight Time Classes will be on Zoom. Public events like concerts and lectures will be streamed on our YouTube channel . (Feel free to subscribe to our channel now!) We recommend using the highest speed internet connection you have available. Ideally you should set up your Conclave class area close to the Wi-Fi router or use an ethernet cable to connect to the internet. Make sure you can see your computer or tablet, and that you are close enough to be in the camera view. You will receive important messages with information and materials for your classes in your email inbox, so please make Conclave Manager a trusted email contact. We don’t want our messages going to your junk or spam folders! Tuition and Fees Tuition: $125 Late Registration fee (June 1–June 30): $50 Conclave T-shirt (sent by USPS): $26 (includes postage & handling) Deadlines Late registration fee applies from June 1 Registration closes June 30 Last cancellation date with full refund: July 4 Course Selection Course descriptions can be found above. Second Period Selection Halverson - Delightful on Viols No selection Third Period Selection McGaughey - Spacious Firmament No selection Photo and Video Release I hereby authorize the Viola da Gamba Society of America, Inc. ("VdGSA") to photograph and record video of me during the Online 2025 VdGSA Conclave, and to use these photographs and videos, and my likeness, in any media and for any purpose. These photographs, videos, and media will be property of the VdGSA. I understand that I might not be given the opportunity to inspect or approve them. I understand there will be no compensation for the use of these documents. Allow Don't Allow Archival Video Release I understand that the Viola da Gamba Society of America, Inc. ("VdGSA") may save archival video recordings of classes and events. These will only be used for archival purposes unless further permission is obtained. Select an item ($) * Tuition +Late Fee - $175 Tuition + Shirt + Late Fee - $201 Shirt Size Men's S Men's M Men's L Men's XL Men's XXL Men's XXXL Women's Fitted S Women's Fitted M Women's Fitted L Women's V-neck S Women's V-Neck M Women's V-neck L Women's V-neck XL Registration Closed Thanks for submitting!

Members' Area StoryChords set-up Got a great memory about when the viol entered your life? Planning a trip to see a VdGSA veteran, and interested in hearing some of their stories about the early years of the Society? Please help the VdGSA by recording an interview for our StoryChords project! These interviews are part of a growing archive on the history of the Society. Here are a few tips and guidelines for gathering interviews. Once you've got an interview subject selected, all you need is a relatively quiet space to have a chat and a digital video camera (more on the cameras below). We've found that it's often useful to give your interview subject just a couple of minutes of "think prep" while you're setting up the camera—let them know what types of questions you'll use to start off (see below for some good samples to get going). One really useful thing is to have the subject get in the habit of always repeating the question you've just asked before launching into their answer. That way, we have the choice of editing out the interviewer's question itself and can instead just include the interviewee's answer, complete with question rolled in. For example, ask the interview subject when they first began playing the viol. Prompt them to say, "I first started playing the viol when I was in college, and the Collegium director nabbed me in the hallway." Don't worry overmuch about this, we aren't looking for perfection in these, and we'd certainly rather have people speaking comfortably for the camera, instead of worrying about redoing sections of the interview in order to repeat the questions. Equipment: We have two cameras available to borrow, both of which are easy to use. The Flip camera will come with the camera and tripod. It has a USB port "arm" that flips out to plug into a USB port on your computer. This is both how you charge it and how you'll transfer the newly created video files onto your hard drive. The Kodak Zi8 camera will come with the camera, tripod, and external lavalier-style microphone, which optionally can be plugged into the camera to capture sound in hard-to-hear environments. This camera also comes with all necessary USB cords to transfer the files onto a computer, as well as an extra memory disk, should you need it. CAUTION: If you decide to use the lavalier microphone with this camera, you must be SURE that it is plugged all the way into the camera, and that during the interview, it doesn't become loose! If you think it may have jiggled loose, take a second to readjust (we can always edit out your adjusting time)—we've found out the hard way that this is a necessary step to make sure you're capturing all the sound and picture you intend to! When you first receive either of these cameras, it's worth it to do a couple of quick tests before launching into your interviews. Try recording a few seconds of someone talking, and then plug it into your computer to check the playback. That way, you'll not only ensure you have sound and the camera is actually capturing the expected field of view, you'll also gain experience with retrieving files off the camera! Note that each of the cameras comes with its original instructions in the box as well, which should answer any lingering set-up questions (but the general idea is that this should be a point-and-shoot type of scenario). To borrow a camera for interviewing, please contact our Historian . Sample questions: Here are a few questions that can serve as a starting point—but we have no fear that there will be plenty to talk about once two viol players get going on a conversation.... And while we're of course especially excited about hearing memories and stories about early years in the VdGSA or Conclave, we are also thrilled to learn more about how our unique instrument has been, well, instrumental in people's music-making lives in general! When did you first hear about the viola da gamba? Why did you start playing? How did you get your first instrument? When did you first attend a Conclave and/or how many Conclaves have you attended? What is it about playing the viol that you like the most? What is your favorite viol repertory to play or listen to? What effect has the viol had on your professional or personal life? Are there any players or mentors who particularly inspired you? What springs to mind as your favorite or most memorable thing that has ever happened at a Conclave you have attended? What would you like to say to newcomers to the viol? For more ideas, watch some of the videos in our StoryChords archive !

Young Players' Weekend "I feel that overall the Young Players’ Weekend was a very insightful event that guided me on the right path to not just becoming a better viola da gamba player, but a better musician as well." -Jack Meyer Young Players' Weekend 2025 ! The twelfth VdGSA Young Players' Weekend will take place March 28–30, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin. We are thrilled to welcome Joanna Blendulf of the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and Erica Rubis as guest faculty for the weekend! The workshop will include a range of activities for viol players of all ability levels including coached consort sessions and special sessions led by our faculty. Evening activities will include a play-in on Friday, a masterclass led by Joanna Blendulf on Saturday, and of course, informal late night consort playing. There is no upper age limit to attend Young Players’ Weekend (although participants must be over age 18). If you feel that you are a “young player,” you are welcome to attend. Register Here Brochure Cost & Deadlines Early Bird registration - $150 by February 14, 2025 Late registration - $175 by February 28, 2025 About The Young Players' Weekend Approximately every other year, the Society hosts a weekend retreat specifically geared toward younger players. The workshop is subsidized by the Society so that the cost is affordable to students, young professionals, and those of limited means. The primary goal of this workshop is—what else?—to get together and play the viol, but it also serves several secondary objectives for the Society and its members: to provide those who may not have the means to attend Conclave every year (or at all) with opportunities to learn from professional players and scholars to provide younger players who may not know many other viol players with the opportunity to connect with others who have similar interests to provide a warm welcome to the VdGSA family and to share information about all the fantastic opportunities available to VdGSA members For more information about the 2025 Young Players’ Weekend and future events, sign up for our YPW mailing list, or contact the YPW director Eric Miller using the link below. Email Join the YPW Mailing List! Eric Miller is the current YPW director. Past Directors: Pedro Funes-Whittington, 2013–2022 Jessica Powell Eig, 2013-2016 Josh Lee, 2008-2013 FAQ Who qualifies as a young player? There is no age limit for YPW attendees. If you feel that you are a young player, you are welcome to attend. How much does it cost? The total fee for tuition, room and board in 2025 was $150. Fees may fluctuate from year to year, but the VdGSA has committed to keep the cost affordable to those of limited means. How good do I have to be? Every year, YPW includes players who run the gamut from absolute beginner to professional track. We value this diversity of experience and benefit from it. Whether you've been playing for 15 minutes or 15 years, there is a place for you at YPW. Do I need to bring a viol? Loaner instruments of all sizes are available for those who have difficulty traveling with an instrument and for those who are interested in trying a new size. Please let us know in the registration form if you need a loaner instrument. More information: Email YPW Director Eric Miller or find the VdGSA Young Players group on Facebook .

Grants Grants-in-Aid Private Lesson Subsidy Program Workshop Grants Chapter Start-up Grants Chapter Conclave Voucher Program Consort Loan Program GUTSY Grant The Consort Loan Program empowers teachers to begin viola da gamba programs by providing instruments for a two-year period with the possibility of renewal. Applicants for this program must have been members of the VdGSA for at least one year. For more information about the program and the application process, visit the Programs and Grants section in the Members' area, and refer to the Consort Loan Program title on the sidebar. A consort of five viols is available for loan for a period of two years (typically August-July). Renewal for additional years is possible at the discretion of the Consort Loan Program committee. Applications by letter or email to the Consort Loan Program Administrator are welcome at any time and a committee response may be anticipated within a month of receipt. Approval of any application is dependent upon the strength of the proposal and the availability of instruments at the time of application. The application should include: Name of the VdGSA member applying for the consort loan Brief resume of applicant's teaching experience, with emphasis on viol teaching preparation and experience Detailed description of program: type of venue, ages of students served, typical activities planned, how the year's work is organized, sample syllabus for a class Estimated impact of program Specific dates of program Sizes of viol required* *The typical consort in the Consort Loan Program is 2 trebles, 2 tenors and bass, appropriate for high school and middle school. For younger children, a consort of small viols may be available. Please discuss your needs with the Program Administrator. If your application is approved, you will be required to send in a signed copy of the Consort Loan Program Agreement . Costs and responsibilities involved in the Consort Loan Program: A security deposit of $500 is required, which will be refunded after the five viols are returned to VdGSA in the same playing condition as they arrived The applying teacher is responsible for all loss or damage to the viols VdGSA will pay for all viol shipping Periodic reports on the program by e-mail to the program administrator are expected semi-annually throughout the term of the loan, coinciding with the meetings of the Board of Directors Care and maintenance: Instruments will be sent in playing condition. It is the teacher's responsibility to replace any broken strings or frets before returning the consort. Any other problems must be reported to the program administrator to determine what action is to be taken. Teachers may apply to VdGSA for financial help in maintaining the viols; contact the Consort Loan Program Administrator with your request. Shipping: The VdGSA will pay for shipping the consort to the teacher and back to the VdGSA. The teacher is responsible for any costs incurred by the VdGSA in retrieving an instrument, case and bow, including legal fees, and costs of repair of any damage. VdGSA strongly recommends that the recipient save the packing materials for the eventual return of the instruments. Packing materials, including the correct size of box, can be expensive and hard to find, so reusing these items is both convenient and cost effective. The VdGSA will not pay for replacing these materials for return shipment. Before returning the viols, please contact the Consort Loan Program Administrator first for detailed packing and shipping instructions. Please contact the Consort Loan Program Administrator with any and all questions about this program.

Members' Area Grants Grants-in-Aid Private Lesson Subsidy Program Workshop Grants Chapter Start-up Grants Chapter Conclave Voucher Program Consort Loan Program GUTSY Grant The Society encourages and supports the formation of new Chapters by offering two $500 Chapter Start-up Grants per calendar year. These are awarded on a first come, first served basis. Visit the Chapters Info page for more information about the requirements for starting a Chapter and tips for successfully running a Chapter. Download the Chapter Start-up Grant Application . Submit applications to Chapter and Area Representative Amy Domingues .

Online Teacher List This is a list of VdGSA teaching members who offer lessons online. Participants in the Private Lesson Subsidy Program may choose any teacher from this list. The information below is as current as we have. Please send corrections to the Webmaster . Not all teachers teach all levels or all ages. We have provided a rough key to guide you but be sure to reach out to a potential teacher to find out if you're a good fit for their studio. Key to symbols: Sizes : Treble (Tr ), Tenor (T ), Bass (B ), Violone (V ), Pardessus (P ) Levels : Beginner (B ), Intermediate (I ), Advanced (A ) Ages : Youth (Y ) indicates teachers who work with children and young adults Filter by region