Practical Strategies for Emerging Composers

This class covers the business side of composition and how composition students can strategically organize themselves to get the most out of their compositional output. Topics to be covered include: self-publishing, navigating performing rights organizations (i.e. ASCAP and BMI), and applying to competitions and grants. 

 

Maximizing maxMSP

Through Haddad’s works Shifting Sands and Clarinet Concerto, this class introduces the basics of maxMSP and explores its adaptability, potential, and value for 21st century composers.

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Takht: The Ensemble Music of Saad Haddad

This class uses Haddad's chamber and orchestral writing as a template to guide students through orchestrational technique, engraving practices, and methods for collaborating with ensembles. 

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Writing for Brass: Part 1

This class includes an overview of general brass techniques led by all members of the Brass Project, followed by specific presentations that delve into idiomatic writing for each individual instrument. Topics include: mutes, extended techniques, and performance practice. This class is centered around live demonstration of techniques and concepts. 

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Writing for Brass: Part 2

This class focuses on historical and compositional elements of brass chamber music. The Brass Project will present an overview of brass chamber music throughout history, highlighting iconic and important works as a subject for the discussion of orchestration, scoring, and style.

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DIY Brass Composition

This course offers composition students the opportunity to write short works for The Brass Project, which will be workshopped, recorded, and available to students. The Brass Project will meet with composition students and workshop their rough drafts of 2-3 min works for sextet. At a later date, the Brass Project will return and present readings of the final drafts to each student. This course works best as an extension of “Writing for Brass” Part 1&2. 

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Instrumental Masterclasses

Students will have the opportunity to perform for members of The Brass Project, who in addition to having chamber music oriented careers, each have extensive international orchestral experience in ensembles such as: The Finnish Radio Symphony, Malaysian Philharmonic, New York City Ballet, Ensemble Connect, the International Contemporary Ensemble, amongst others.

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Chamber Ensemble Coaching

Chamber ensembles will perform for the Brass Project and receive feedback from all six members. In a digital setting, this could take the form of pre-recorded videos and remote multi-layered recording projects. 

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Forming a Chamber Ensemble

From creating a name to incorporating as a non-profit, the members of the Brass Project will share case studies and best practices for every element of forming and operating a chamber ensemble. Topics include: mission and vision creation, finances, promotion, finding performance opportunities, website and social media curation, member roles, repertoire selection, programming, and organizational structure. 

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Commissioning New Works for Chamber Ensemble

The Brass Project believes that commissioning and performing new works should be a part of every ensemble's artistic endeavors. With over 40 new works commissioned for brass sextet, The Brass Project members are uniquely positioned to share what they’ve learned about the commissioning process. Topics to be covered include: finding the right composer, approaching a composer, forming terms and contracts, finding funding, grant applications, and the collaborative process. 

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Interactive Performances and Community Engagement 

The Brass Project has performed hundreds of community engagement performances across the United States. This class breaks down how to plan, script, present, and tailor interactive performances to a diverse range of audiences. 

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The Physics of Brass

In this class, Brass Project members discuss the intricacies of sound production, the role of the harmonic series, as well as the fundamental differences between cylindrical and conical brass instruments. This session can be tailored for composers and brass players. It can also be presented as a curated lecture-style recital for general audiences.