Reflections, from Alex Bliss

This summer is my third year attending the SPA summer program. Every time that I attend SPA I leave feeling like my playing has gotten worlds better. In the summer of 2010 before I went to SPA I made a recording of myself and then made another after I returned from SPA. They didn’t even sound like the same person playing. There wasn’t a Single part of my playing that didn’t improve in some way. Spending so much time with your instrument and working with people that know even more than you do about music takes your understanding of music to a new level.

SPA is a Fantastic music camp, but to say that’s all its about would be selling it very short. At Spa U learn a new way to look at the world community. The people who attend SPA have all been in the same situation that you have been in. That situation is being singled out for being a minority. In my high school orchestra I was always the only person of color. No mater what you do you cant shake the feeling that you are different and independent. SPA gives you the opportunity to Learn Music in a community.

Something that sticks out the most to me about SPA is the fantastic faculty. Being able to work with such skilled musicians and hearing them play just makes you want to become a better player. I am never as inspired with my music than when I am at SPA. To put all these things simply, “ My time at SPA is what makes me want me to be a musician".

SPA Oberlin 2011: A message from the Dean

SPA Oberlin 2011 has kicked off, and I think our students are really
enjoying themselves.  While there is a lot of practicing and
rehearsing that goes on, on July 3rd our students traveled to the
Blossom Music Center where they were treated to a performance by the
Cleveland Orchestra and a fireworks display. Pretty cool - but they
were up early and hard at work the next day preparing for an upcoming
masterclass with Eliesha Nelson, Cleveland Orchestra violist, not to
mention the final concert on Saturday.  The quartet pictured here is
working on a Mozart quartet and is trying to capture the character of
one of his quirkier menuettos just right.

Tuesday night, my group, the Catalyst Quartet, is performing at 7 pm
in Kulas Hall.  We're excited to pair a classic work with something
totally new: Beethoven's quartet Op. 95 "Serioso," followed by Michael
Nyman's second string quartet, which I love.  The Nyman strikes me as
especially genre-bending; it's reminiscent of mid-80s rock music, but
was inspired by a performance of Indian dance.

We're so grateful to the good folks at Oberlin Conservatory for
hosting us for this period of time; the facilities are excellent.
More blog updates from students are in the works.

Chris Jenkins
Dean, SPA