1/14 News-Flash! We’ve just recently have been able to make an exciting addition to our string faculty: Ina Litera, a member  of “Eight Strings and a Whistle” (the trio which also features faculty members Suzanne Gilchrest, flute, and Matt Goeke, cello) will join us to teach violin/viola during the weeks of June 17 and June 24. Complete information about Ms. Litera will soon appear on our web-site, but I can personally assure you that she possesses those qualities we particularly value at SummerKeys: lovely person, well-versed in teaching adults, not only a fine teacher, but a fine performer, with much experience. This might also mean that coached ensemble would become available during those weeks, but you’ll need to check back with us about that.

Ho-ho-ho? Well, let’s hope so!

Certainly, the coming Winter Holidays always signal the arrival of your new SummerKeys brochure. And we’re pleased to tell you that tuition fees will not increase for the summer of 2013! 2012 was a wonderful year for us! Having welcomed our first students in 1992, many friends decided it was time for a twentieth anniversary celebration.

Frank Van Riper, who, with his wife, Judy Goodman, head our Photography Workshop, joined forces with Fred and Nancy Hastings, owners and editors of “The Downeast Coastal Press” to assemble a special issue of that newspaper virtually dedicated to SummerKeys. Frank, a writer for “The Washington Post”, did the lead article and both he and Judy assembled pictures they’d taken over many years, highlighting what goes on at SummerKeys. Adding to this wonderful tribute was an outpouring of affection from many townspeople and local businesses, which took the form of a truly generous gift to our “tuning fund”, assembled and presented at our final concert by Sue Baker, of The Peacock House. And, as if all this were not enough, yet another honor was bestowed then by Frank and Judy: a framed, signed original of a photo they’d taken of me twenty years ago (in one of our original “egg-cartoned” piano studios – looking just like a padded cell) for their book, Downeast Maine, a World Apart, nominated for a Pulitzer the year it was published. Frank also conducted a SummerKeys 20th Anniversary faculty/staff interview, see: YouTube/user/cobscookbaymusic, “SAIL TV – September 2012 Pt. 1.”

Bruce Potterton/SummerKeys
32 North Main St.
Boonton, NJ 07005

Another new faculty member will be Sara Schimelpfenig (violin and viola); Sara was enthusiastically recommended by our long-time friend, June Romeo. She has a truly impressive background, both in working with adults and solo and chamber performance and will be joining us for the week of July 8 – 12. And regarding staff, I’m pleased to announce that our invaluable “B3” (so noticeable when he’s needed and quiet when he’s not) finally has the title of the job he’s been doing anyway for so many years: “Associate Director” of SummerKeys!

One sad note sounds among all these joyful ones: our professional affiliation with The Passamaquoddy Bay Symphony Orchestra has regretfully, and by mutual agreement, been terminated; so there will be no Orchestra Weeks or Weekends offered in the future. Both groups came to realize that neither had the staff to cope with the volume of detail needed for these programs to function at an efficient level.

Sensing that pianists, in particular, might miss the “Concerto Privilege” program, we’ve added a new program, “Piano Trio Privilege”, in which a pianist may collaborate with two of our faculty members for a daily rehearsal (leading to a performance) of specific works by Beethoven, Bruch, Durufle and Haydn (two sessions with a piano coach, plus daily scheduled solo practice and all group classes are also included in this program). Ongoing also is the Piano Privilege program, in which an advanced pianist may sign on to work a pre-determined piece from the major repertoire with any one of our faculty. Please note that both programs described above require the director’s approval – and that they are the ONLY programs thus restricted. The driving force behind all other SummerKeys programs is still NO auditions, NO requirements!

Faculty and staff are now trying to establish guidelines for controlling the length of Performance Classes during busy weeks. This is a sensitive issue, to say the least – one that affects us all – and one that could result in hurt feelings or chafed egos, both things we truly want to avoid! Accordingly, feedback from all of you would be most welcome. Along with the new faculty listed above, all of our wonderful instructors have signed on to return during the same weeks they taught in 2012, except that Greg Biss will start a week earlier and skip one week in the middle of his time. (Please also note that Peter Lewy will be teaching the final two cello weeks and Matt Goeke will be here in the early summer, just as they were in 2012); regretfully, there will be no Mixed Media Arts program since Susan Fleminger can’t be with us in 2013. However, John Rule’s exciting new Creative Writing Workshop will continue to alternate weeks with Photography; and both Coached Ensemble and Piano Privilege will be available most of the summer, so start making your plans – the harbor seals and I will be watching for you!

All Best Wishes, Bruce Potterton

• June 17-21
• June 24-28
• July 1-5
• July 8-12
• July 15-19
• July 23-26
• July 29-August 2
• August 5-9
• August 12-16
• August 19-23
• August 26-30

Instructor: Bruce Potterton, Charles Jones, Gregory Biss, Richard McIntyre, John Newell

Accompanist: Carol Rundberg

( click name to see their bio in details )

Private lesson and daily practice in a private studio; weekly performance class; a new hour long class, “Piano Problems, Resources and Materials” meets three times each week.

Tuition: $595 per week
Coached Ensemble Option: $135 per week.

Piano Programs A, B and C are available during
ALL weeks listed below.

Piano A ($595) - Three 60-min pvt. lessons weekly; 3 hours practice daily

Piano B ($595) - 45-min pvt lesson daily; 2 hours practice.

Piano C ($570) – Two 60-min pvt. lessons weekly; 3 hours practice daily.

Piano Programs A, B and C are available EVERY week listed below.

Piano Duet ($595) – Five 45-minute private lessons; 2 hour daily practice.
Duet repertoire; pianists paired based on skill level.

This piano program is available EVERY week listed below

2 Pianos/4 Hands ($595) - Five 45-minute private lessons; 2 hour daily practice.
Two piano/four-hand repertoire; pianists paired based on skill level.

This piano program is available EVERY week listed below

*Piano/One Hand ($595) – Five 45-minute private lessons;
2 hour daily practice

This piano program is available EVERY week listed below

The object of these instructors will be to help you work at the piano in way that are rewarding for you, weather you’re an absolute beginner or an accomplished player. While the work level will be intensive, it will be tailored to your musical interests, and you’ll find the atmosphere relaxed and non-competitive.

Tuition Fees:

Each program is planned to cover the span of five weekdays. Absolute beginners (no previous instruction) are asked to spend a minimum of two weeks in Program A or B. The programs can be combined and taken on consecutive days (including week-ends) if desired.

*New Program: Piano/One Hand, being offered throughout the summer, is designed not only to explore the vast literature already available, but also to PROVIDE music for each student’s particular wishes/needs(arranged by the instructor from classical and/or American Song Book sources), this program can provide the tools and impetus toward real progress for students challenged in this way.

Both Piano Duet and Two Pianos, 4 Hands will be offered throughout the summer; our instructors are well-versed in this repertoire and we have a large library of 4-hand music. Students may come with a partner or we’ll try to arrange one; if this doesn’t work out, your teacher will function as your partner.

Class Meetings: Usually 3 or 4 per week; two to attend concerts in Lubec, Machias or Eastport, one purely social and another where students who choose to do so may perform for each other.

Facilities:  We have many pianos: among them, 6′ and 7′ Steinway grands, a 7’4″ Yamaha, a 6’3″ Baldwin, a 5’10″ Yamaha and a 5’7″ Chickering each in a private, sound-dampened studio.  All are in excellent condition, and kept tuned to A440.

Scheduling: We can accommodate sixteen students per week.  Practice and lesson time will be arranged to run consecutively (leaving time for other activities), extra or split sessions scheduled accordingly.  It’s recommended that persons choosing more than two hours practice time have some experience with such a regimen.

A typical day might begin with your 9 AM Piano Problems, Resources and Materials Class; your lesson and practice time may be preceded or followed by (lobster for?) lunch at a restaurant on the water and a round of hiking, site-seeing, whale-watching or golfing.  On Monday evenings we have a social, Tuesday and Wednesday evening we attend professional concerts and Friday is the student performance class where those who wish to perform for colleagues and friends may do so.

Click Here to Register for the SummerKeys  2013 Piano Workshop 

The Maria Corazón Buenconsejo Scholarship, for a pianist, is described on the Piano pages, with a link to an application.

 * indicate limited availability for that week

• June 17-21
• June 24-28
• July 1-5
• July 8-12
• July 15-19
• July 22-26
• July 29-August 2
• August 5-9
• August 12-16
• August 19-23
• August 26-30

Instructor: Peter Lewy, Kathleen Collisson, Joachim Woitun, David Bakamjian, Matthew Goeke

( click instructor name to see their bio in details )

Tuition: $595 per week
Ensemble Option: $135 per week.

Five private lessons; use of private practice studio two hours daily; daily group classes, ensemble work, 2 “master class” style instruction classes, end of week performance classes. An accompanist is available.

The Cello Workshop at SummerKeys opened its doors in 1995, utilizing the same basic precept as the original piano program: an intensive practice/study vacation for busy adults (who rarely have this kind of time to devote to their instrument during the rest of the year) in a breathtakingly beautiful setting.

Each day begins with an hour-long group class for all participants at 9 AM; The formation of ensembles is encouraged not just among the cellists but also with the overlapping instrumental and piano programs. For those selecting the ensemble option, faculty set up coaching sessions for these according to student schedules. Late afternoons are given over to group rehearsals.

Evening Activities involve a Social (Monday), a Faculty Concert (Wednesday) and performance classes (Thursday and Friday for those who wish to participate). There is no audition and no minimum skill level. Like the entire program — the premise is: “Come as you are to enjoy the study, the work and the beauty of our historic fishing village”. Absolute beginners with no previous instruction are welcome.

Please bring your cello to the SummerKeys Cello Workshop.  Your instructor will email any additional materials needed for the workshop.

Click Here to Register for the SummerKeys 2013 Cello Workshop

• July 29-August 2
• August 5-9

Instructor: Setsuko Otake

Tuition: $595 per week
Ensemble Option: $135 per week.

Five private lessons; use of private practice studio two hour daily; daily group classes which includes two reed making sessions; end of week performance classes. An accompanist is available.

The Oboe Workshop at SummerKeys utilizes the same basic precept as the original piano program: an intensive practice/study vacation for busy adults (who rarely have this kind of time to devote to their instrument during the rest of the year) in a breathtakingly beautiful setting.

Each day begins with an hour-long group class for all participants at 9 AM; practice time and private lessons are scheduled throughout the day.  The formation of ensembles is encouraged with the overlapping instrumental and piano programs. For those selecting the ensemble option, faculty set up coaching sessions for this according to student schedules. Late afternoons are given over to group rehearsals.

Evening activities involve a Social (Monday), a Faculty Concert (Wednesday) and performance classes (Thursday and Friday for those who wish to participate).

There is no audition and no minimum skill level. Like the entire program — the premise is: “Come as you are to enjoy the study, the work and the beauty of our historic fishing village”. Absolute beginners with no previous instruction are welcome.

Please bring your oboe to the SummerKeys Oboe Workshop.  Your instructor will email any additional materials needed for the workshop.

• July 8-12
• July 15-19
• July 22-26
• July 29-August 2
• August 5-9
• August 12-16
• August 19-23

Instructors: Anna Maria Baeza, Joachim Woitun, Eve Friedman, Sara Schimelphfenig, Kathy Collisson, Suzanne Gilchrest , Andrea Maurer , David Bakamjian, Setsuko Otake, Margret Hjaltested

( click instructor name to see their bio in details )

Tuition: $995 and a $450 deposit is required by April 1st.

The higher deposit is due to the fact that once we have told our professional faculty to expect you on their schedules (this happens on April 1st), we must pay them, whether you attend or not.
Cut-off date for application to most weeks of the Piano Privilege program (and this program only) is April 1st.
Completed registration form, deposit, reg. fee, and Director’s approval must all be in by this date.

July 8th- Anna Maria Baeza and Joachim Woitun
(Beethoven Trio Opus 11, I-Allegro con brio)
(Bruch 8 pieces Opus 83, No. 1&2 or 6)

Eve Friedman and Joachim Woitun
(Haydn Trio in D, for Flute, cello, and piano Hob XV, No. 16 1-Allegro)

Sara Schimelpfenig and Joachim Woitun
(Beethoven Trio Opus 1, No. 1, I-Allegro)
(Beethoven Trio Opus 1, No. 2, II-Largo con espressione)

July 15th- Eve Friedman and Kathy Collisson – (Haydn-as above)

July 22nd- Anna Maria Baeza and Joachim Woitun – (Beethoven and Bruch-as above)

Eve Friedman and Joachim Woitun – (Haydn-as above)

Eve Friedman and Margret Hjaltested
(Duruflé, Prélude Récitatif et Variations Opus 3, complete)

August 5th- Suzanne Gilchrest and Margret Hjaltested – (Duruflé-as above)

August 12th- Andrea Maurer and Margret Hjaltested – (Duruflé-as above)

Andrea Maurer and David Bakamjian – (Haydn-as above)

August 19th- Andrea Maurer and Margret Hjaltested – (Duruflé-as above)

Click Here to Register for the SummerKeys 2013 Piano Trio Privilege

* indicates limited availability for that week

• July 8-12
• July 22-26
• August 5-9 
• August 19-23

Instructor: Frank Van Riper Judith Goodman

( click instructor name to see their bio in details )

Spend a week of hands-on learning and location photography with award-winning husband and wife photographer-authors Frank Van Riper and Judith Goodman. Working from their stunning home in west Lubec overlooking Morrison Cove, Frank and Judy will cover basics of portraiture, landscape and documentary photography during morning instruction, followed by assignments in multiple locations including Quoddy Head State Park, Campobello Island, NB and the colorful town of Lubec itself. Daily critiques and one-on-one instruction. Minimum age for attendance is 16. Single-digit class size assures personal instruction. Students must supply their own digital camera.

Basics in Paradise

Carla Benton

“As an art teacher I’ve taken many artistic workshops over the years. But this one ranks up there as one of the best”-Nancy Smith, Machiasport, ME

Brian-Flynn

Brittany-Gibbons

Scott-Newall

“It was structured to provide both group, as well as individualized instruction. Frank and Judy make a great team who work one-on-one with each student to help you progress, no matter what your skill level” -Nancy Smith, Machiasport, ME

Theresa-Ainsworth

Robert-Sullivan

Rik-Michaud

“We learned how to take control of our cameras manually and many challenging photo shoots were arranged for us to practice what we had learned”-Nancy Smith, Machiasport, ME

Ken-Dubie

Nancy-Smith

“The class was a nice blend of photographers from around the country which provided a rich collaborative learning experience”-Nancy Smith, Machiasport, ME

Kathy-Jones

“Thank you Frank and Judy and Summer Keys for making this excellent photographic experience available”-Nancy Smith, Machiasport, ME

Karen-Long

Frank-Van-Riper

“I had an amazing time in beautiful Lubec and very much enjoyed meeting you all. Thanks for all the help, tips, use of equipment and lifts around the place. It was great to see what everyone had produced at the end of the week and how differently each of us saw each place, interesting to see what everyone else was looking at whilst I was crawling around on the floor!”-Fiona Michie. Kent, England

Judith-Goodman-(2)

Judith-Goodman-(1)

“Frank and Judy can make hanging out in a cemetery in the dark of night not only an educational and interesting experience, but a whole lot of fun as well. Imagine what they can do during the day” Robert Sullivan, Washington, DC

Dennis-Day

Gana-Browning

“What I gained in confidence and knowledge from this workshop was equaled only by the pleasure of camaraderie with classmates and instructors, and by the enjoyment of a week well spent” Robert Sullivan, Washington, DC

“Not taking and enjoying Frank and Judy’s Summer Keys photography course can be hazardous to your health”Brian W. Flynn U.S. Assistant Surgeon General, U.S. Public Health Service, Ret. Millersville, MD

Barbara Fox

Fred Keeney

Fred Keeney

Fred Keeney

” The Lubec Photo Workshop was great. I learned to shoot in manual mode in numerous situations and get results that worked! Frank and Judy are knowledgeable and enthusiastic teachers. I’m already looking forward to next year.”

–Robin Kempster, Albany, Calif

Frank Van Riper

Frank Van Riper

Frank Van Riper

” Judy Goodman and Frank Van Riper’s Photo workshop was terrific. They are master photographers who couple expert knowledge of photographic technique with a nuanced aesthetic sense. In addition, they’re very talented teachers, able to impart their knowledge and the many possibilities photography offers. They do all this while working with a group’s diverse styles and skills. All in all, it was a very worthwhile experience. I would recommend it highly.”

–Frank Korahais, Forest Hills, NY

Carla Beaton

John Bigelow

Judith Goodman

Judith Goodman

Kamie Derouin

Robert Ball

Click Here to Register for the SummerKeys 2013 Lubec Photo Workshop

• June 17-21
• June 24-28
• July 8-12
• July 15-19
• July 22-26
• July 29-August 2
• August 5-9
• August 12-16
• August 19-23
• August 26-30

Tuition: $695 per week

Piano Privilege gives skilled pianists an opportunity to coach and perform a pre-chosen work with a member of the faculty. To participate in this program approval is required from the SummerKeys director, Bruce Potterton.** The week in attendance at SummerKeys will include practice time, two lessons with the piano teacher, and three lessons playing with the faculty member to be accompanied. There are master classes three times a week and the student can perform the selected piece on Friday night for colleagues and friends.

**Director Approval Required

Click here to register for the SummerKeys 2013 Piano Privilege Workshop

• July 29-August 2
• August 5-9

Instructor: Jack Ferguson

( click instructor name to see their bio in details )

Tuition: $595 per week

This workshop is for singers of all levels continuing their studies. Program consists of a daily group class, five 60-minute lessons weekly, two hours daily practice and listening, coaching sessions for duet/trios. For this workshop, Mr. Ferguson welcomes all ages and all experiences; he believes that a healthy approach to singing can be applied to any style of music.

The week-long workshop begins on Sunday evening with an informal get together of those participating in the voice program. Schedules will be distributed and questions answered. The week will end with a Friday late afternoon/early evening performance class and reception.

• June 17-21
• June 24-28
• July 8-12
• July 22-26
• July 29-August 2
• August 5-9
• August 12-16
• August 19-23
• August 26-30

Instructors: Margret Hjaltested, Mary Jo Carlsen, Sara Schimelpfenig,  Ina litera

( click instructor name to see their bio in details )

Tuition: $595
Coached Ensemble Option: $135 per week

Five private lessons; use of private practice studio two hours daily; daily group classes.

The Violin/Viola Workshops began during the 1997 season under the same basic precept as the original piano and cello programs: an intensive practice/study vacation for busy adult amateurs (who rarely have this kind of time to devote to their instrument during the rest of the year) in a breathtakingly beautiful setting on the Maine coast. We’re adding more weeks to our string programs, with the goal of offering expanded opportunities for ensemble to all those participants who want this.

Adult violinists/violists at any level are welcome. An absolute beginner with no previous instruction would be encouraged to attend more than one week.

Coached ensembles are encouraged, not just among the violinists and violists, but also with the overlapping programs (piano and/or flute, clarinet, guitar, and cello). Faculty sets up coaching sessions for ensembles according to student schedules. Late afternoons are given over to group rehearsals.

Evening activities involve a social (Mondays), a faculty concert (Wednesdays) and performance classes (Thursdays and Fridays) for those who wish to participate.

There is no audition and no minimum skill level. The premise is: Come as you are to enjoy the study, the work and the beauty of our historic fishing village.

Click Here to Register for the SummerKeys  2013 Violin/Viola Workshop - Tuition: $595