Intermissions: A Spotlight Conversation Series
Intermissions: A Spotlight Conversation Series was an 8-week series that took place in the evenings during the summer of 2020. These one-hour weekly events hosted by BUTI’s Director of Education and Student Life featured conversations with alumni and friends working in the field. All events were recorded and are available on YouTube. We hope you enjoy the conversations!
Intermissions Guests
Nico Muhly (BUTI’96,’97) • June 24, 2020
Anthony McGill (BUTI’95) • July 1, 2020
Joseph Conyers (BUTI’98) • July 8, 2020
Innovation Panel featuring Angelica Hairston (BUTI’08,’09) & Beth Morrison (BUTI’89, CFA’94) • July 15, 2020
Wynton Marsalis (Photo credit: Joe Martinez for Jazz at Lincoln Center) • July 22, 2020
Sarah Vautour (BUTI’11) • July 29, 2020
Olivia Staton (BUTI’12,’13,’14) • August 5, 2020
Teddy Abrams (BUTI’03) • August 12, 2020
Student Vault
The BUTI Student Vault was designed in summer 2020 for our students and community, aimed at inspiring and helping them continue to grow. Throughout the summer, we added information weekly pertaining to skill development, college resources, health & wellness, and more. We hope this information will continue to be useful in years to come. If you would like to contribute to The Vault, please email us at tanglewd@bu.edu.
AP Music Theory
Whether the school year starts with in-person, hybrid/blended, or online learning, students can use these free, digital online classes and review sessions for AP Music Theory to practice and study from anywhere. Topics include “Tonicization” and “Secondary Dominant Chords”.
As an additional resource, Justin Casinghino, Director of the Electroacoustic Composition Workshop and Young Artists Composition Program, put together a list of pieces typically studied in post-tonal theory with brief descriptions of elements typically discussed. Take a look! [updated link needed]
At BUTI, we offer a variety of different music theory courses for all levels throughout all programs. The concepts described in Mr. Casinghino’s list are used in post-tonal theory for the Young Artists Composition Program at BUTI. It is not necessary that students know these terms and concepts prior to attending BUTI.
Scholarships for Music Students
Studying music can be both deeply rewarding and financially difficult. Earning a scholarship can relieve some financial burden allowing musicians to focus more on their chosen field. That’s why it is especially important to search for additional scholarships to support your studies. With that in mind, check out some scholarships that music students should know about.
Chopin Foundation of the U.S.
The purpose of the Chopin Foundation Scholarship Program is to support and encourage young, talented American pianists between the ages of 14-17 through up to four years of preparation for the National Chopin Piano Competition of the United States, which is held in Miami, Florida, every five years.
Davidson Fellows Scholarship
The Davidson Fellows Scholarship awards $50,000, $25,000 and $10,000 scholarships to gifted and high-achieving students, 18 years old or under, who have completed a significant piece of work. Application categories are Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Literature, Music, Philosophy and Outside the Box.
ICEBERG New Music Young Composers Awards
These awards are intended to reward composers and music-makers of exceptional ability who hail from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds. Winners will receive a $1,000 scholarship. Awardees may be active in any musical style/genre.
The Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award
In addition to performing on NPR’s From the Top, recipients of the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award receive up to $10,000 to help offset the costs of studying classical music at a high level. Each year, we choose approximately 20 exceptional pre-collegiate musicians ages 8-18 to receive the Award.
Lift Up Our Voices
The Lift Up Our Voices Scholarship focuses on broadening the number of female-identifying students and students of color in the field of music composition.
Marine Band Concerto Competition
“The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, in conjunction with the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation and NAfME, announces the Marine Band Concerto Competition for high school musicians.
The Music Center’s Spotlight
Southern California High School students of ALL skill levels are encouraged to apply for free. Much more than a competition, Spotlight is a scholarship and arts training program, which empowers students by emphasizing preparation, courage, critical thinking and perseverance while providing an invaluable opportunity for students to hone their skills! $100,000 in cash scholarships are awarded each year to students.
VSA International Young Soloists Award Program
Each year outstanding young musicians with disabilities from around the world receive the VSA International Young Soloists Award and the opportunity to perform at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. This program is open to soloists and ensembles of any instrument or genre including classical, jazz, Hip Hop, rock and more!
There are many more scholarships available for music students. To check out a more comprehensive list, visit. majoringinmusic.com/scholarships-for-music-majors.
National YoungArts Foundation
Apply now for YoungArts 2021! National YoungArts Foundation was established in 1981 by Lin and Ted Arison. YoungArts’ signature program is an application-based award for emerging artists ages 15–18 or in grades 10–12 from across the United States. Every year, there are many BUTI alumni named YoungArts winners! Check out some alumni in action at YoungArts:
“Concerto for Bass Tuba”
Practice Tips with Civic Orchestra of Chicago
What is the best way to practice? How can we use our time efficiently? How can we maximize our joy in music along with our progress? Through a partnership with DePauw University’s 21st Century-Musician project, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago tapped into the wisdom of their musicians and alumni for practice tips. Take a look at their series of instrument specific practice methods.
Violin • Viola • Cello • Double Bass • Oboe • Clarinet • Bassoon • Horn • Trumpet • Trombone
Health and Wellness
Our Health and Wellness Program is designed to expose students to tools they can use to maintain healthy practice and mindsets as they strive for peak performance. We offer a variety of events and classes including yoga, Body Mapping, the Feldenkrais Method, and physical therapy. Learn more from our practitioners on how you can continue these practices at home and dive deeper into each practice.
Body Mapping
Body Mapping clarifies the “how” of music-making. Anatomical models and images illuminate the body’s amazing design for movement and support. Combining this information with movement exploration guides musicians to experience and fine-tune movement.
Vanessa Mulvey is on faculty at the New England Conservatory and Long School of Music Bard College. Her popular Body Mapping courses combine Body Mapping with movement experiences to unlock the artistry within each musician. She is a frequent guest artist, presenting workshops at music schools, conferences and festivals, including Boston University Tanglewood Institute. Learn more about how you can dive deeper into the practice on your own with resources recommended by Vanessa.
Feldenkrais
The Feldenkrais Method uses gentle movement and directed attention to help people learn new and more effective ways of living the life they want. You can increase your ease and range of motion, improve your flexibility and coordination, and rediscover your innate capacity for graceful, efficient movement.
Stephen A. Paparo is Associate Professor of Music Education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and conductor of the University Chorale. His research interests include the application of the Feldenkrais Method to singing instruction in the choral setting and non-traditional choral ensembles. In addition, he teaches Feldenkrais to Boston University Tanglewood Institute students every summer. Learn more about how you can continue Feldenkrais at home and dive deeper into the practice on your own with resources recommended by Stephen.
Physical Therapy
Regina Campbell offers PT Assessment and Triage sessions for our students every summer. Sessions look at everything from students’ playing environment to their underlying health issues, but focuses especially on how each one works with their instrument.
Regina Campbell’s physical therapy practice has focused almost exclusively on musicians for more than 25 years, including members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and faculty and students from the Boston Conservatory. Regina offers suggestions on how to prevent injury in musicians and tips for training the performing musician’s body.
Yoga
Einat Peled-Katz is a Boston-based yoga teacher offering private and public classes in the area. Einat offers both private instruction and public classes for students who wish to address recovery from injury, injury prevention, refining alignment, and create an at home practice. Learn more about what she offers on her website and watch this video for some tips and tricks.
Arts Boarding Schools
An arts boarding school is a place for students who are passionate about the arts and want a stronger arts focus during their high school years. There are a few arts-focused boarding schools in the United States including Interlochen Arts Academy, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and Walnut Hill School for the Arts. Learn more about their offerings and stay tuned on social media to hear from BUTI alumni about their experiences at an arts boarding school.
Interlochen Arts Academy
Located in northern Michigan, Interlochen Arts Academy boarding high school prepares young artists for rewarding careers and fosters academic excellence. Major areas of study include music, theatre, interdisciplinary arts, creative writing, film and new media, dance, and visual arts.
Interlochen Center for the Arts and Boston University Tanglewood Institute share a long history and hundreds of student musicians who value their experiences with both organizations. And now, Interlochen is offering 2020 BUTI students a minimum $10,000 scholarship to the Arts Academy. Learn more on how to apply!
Read about Julia Reiss (BUTI’19,’20) and her experience at Interlochen Arts Academy and BUTI.
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
The high school program at UNCSA allows students to focus on their passion for music while balancing their education with traditional academic courses. You will complement work in the studio and private lessons with ensembles, chamber music and courses in music theory and literature designed to prepare you for the demands of a typical undergraduate music program. High school music programs are open to students in 9th through 12th grades, with the exception of voice, which is open to 11th and 12thgraders only. Learn more on how to apply!
Read about Lucy Calaway (BUTI’19,’20) and her experience at University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
Walnut Hill School for the Arts
Walnut Hill School for the Arts is an independent boarding and day high school offering a transformational educational experience purposefully designed for student artists in grades 9–12, with a postgraduate year also available. We offer unparalleled training in dance; music; theater; visual art; and writing, film & media arts, complemented by a robust and innovative academic curriculum. Learn more on how to apply and Discover Walnut Hill School for the Arts!
Read about Sam D’Amico (BUTI’19,’20) and Yelim Song (BUTI’19,’20), and their experiences at Walnut Hill School for the Arts and BUTI.
Supportive Environments: From Internal Dialogue to the Rehearsal Space
Presented by BU College of Fine Arts faculty members, Karin S. Hendricks and Tawnya D. Smith, “Supportive Environments: From Internal Dialogue to the Rehearsal Space” discusses how to manage self-talk and create supportive rehearsal spaces.
So Your Child Wants to Major in Music?
So Your Child Wants to Major in Music?
“So Your Child Wants to Major in Music?” is a workshop presented by Laura Conyers, Director of Admissions at BU School of Music, geared for students and parents and focuses on how to navigate the pursuit of a music degree – from protocols for setting up trial lessons and preparing applications, to choosing the right schools to pursue.
Our programs are made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.