Intensives
The Musicianship Intensives are designed to provide musicians with practical skills such as singing, playing, reading, writing and teaching music more effectively.Within the program, musicians will have the ability to develop spontaneous musical creativity at every step in the learning process.
“Run to sign up for her workshop. Taking one is the best investment in your future that you could possibly make.” - Dr.Charles Young, Associate Dean, Conservatory of Music, Baldwin Wallace- Berea, Ohio
“It is hard to explain the magnitude of learning, growth, and inspiration that I experienced through the musical fluency intensive sessions.”- Stephanie Gurga, Professional Collaborative Pianist/Harpsichordist- Freiburg, Germany
“As a result of this four day class, I am now hearing and understanding music on a new level. This has not only helped my own performance, but I am confident I will be a more effective teacher as well. I am eagerly looking forward to continuing my study with Marianne Ploger, and I am encouraging my colleagues to begin study as well. ”- Dr.John Welgand- Professor of Music (Clarinet & Conducting) West Virginia University
Musicianship Intensives Course Content
The Musicianship Intensives are designed to instill the maximum degree of musical fluency at three different skill levels. In contrast to a linear model of teaching and learning, where knowledge, once obtained, is not often re-addressed or put into practice, The Ploger Method® is modeled on the spiral-shape: previously introduced material is consistently put into use and re-incorporated into new topics so that learners are continually applying their knowledge and coming closer to skill fluency on each application. Though each successive level covers new and progressively challenging topics that expand breadth of knowledge, the intensives also continually aim to increase depth of understanding of the basic musical elements of meter, rhythm, melody, and harmony, creating a unique, multidimensional approach to musicianship training.
All three levels use the vocabulary of the fixed-doh solfège system, numerical scale-degree system, and di-chord interval naming system. Marianne's instruction is unique in that it uses concrete sound properties and acoustical markers to provide students with the means to identify musical elements in real-time, as they are heard. Several topics and strategies for application are addressed throughout all three levels, including:
the cultivation of a firm sense of orientation in pitch-space
emphasis on real-time recognition and identification
analysis and understanding of how the mind works to process music
causes of error in performance and how to avoid them
strategies for taking dictation
improvisation as a critical tool for learning
Level I
foundations for literacy and fluency in the fixed-doh solfège system, numerical scale-degree system, and di-chord interval naming system
strategies for developing a sense of orientation in pitch space
hearing and identifying intervals and chords in real-time using concrete sound properties
basics of rhythmic subdivision of the beat
reading in all seven clefs; using clef-reading for transposition
melodic gesture and affect
diatonic modes and Western scales
hearing and identifying modulations in real-time
Level II
tracking of simultaneous, independent musical lines
intervals in atonal contexts and compound intervals
seventh chords
chords in functional, harmonic context
harmonic rhythm; harmonization of melody
in-depth study and real-time hearing of Bach chorales
score-reading in open and closed score
higher level rhythm, including polyrhythms
tuning and temperaments
Level III
comprehensive aural identification of intervals and chords in all inversions in tonal and atonal contexts
focus on application, including keyboard skills and improvisation
focus on atonal melodies and harmonies
further depth of study and real-time hearing of Bach
method for the development of absolute identification of pitches
pedagogical strategies and guidance for the instruction of Level I concepts including interval identification, rhythmic proficiency, and pitch-space orientation
Who Attends the Musician Intensives?
Professionals who perform in classical, jazz and popular music genres
Composers
Conductors
Music Educators
College theory instructors
Qualified graduate students
Subjects
Learn to aurally identify and visually track musical intervals and pitches in real time in tonal, atonal, melodic and harmonic contexts
Divide, map and count rhythmic beats in real time
Understand, use and aurally identify modes and scales
Identify chords by ear in the flow of music
Appreciate how functional harmony works
Learn how to track multiple musical lines simultaneously by eye and ear
Registration Information
These workshops are set up to instill the maximum degree of fluency at three different skill levels:
Level I focuses on fluency in recognizing, at the speed of music, intervals and chords, as well as the development of rhythmic skills. Foundations are set for literacy and fluency in fixed-doh syllables and the scale-degree number system.
Level II dives deeper into the recognition and understanding of musical elements and includes training in the real-time recognition of rhythms, compound intervals, intervals in atonal contexts, seventh chords, and functional harmonic progressions.
Level III workshops are application oriented. Aural recognition skills are comprehensive, including all intervals and all chords in all inversions in both tonal and atonal contexts, and Marianne introduces her method for the development of absolute identification of pitches. Level III offers instruction in pedagogical technique for teaching intervals, rhythms, and other Level I topics.
Level I is a pre-requisite for Levels II and III; Levels I and II are pre-requisites for Level III. It is advisable but not compulsory to attend multiple workshops in the same year.
More Information about the Intensive
Marianne Ploger's philosophy of teaching is that there is no such thing as a "bad musical ear," only inadequate training. All musicians can learn to know, recognize and understand what they are hearing in music, at the same speed that they know, recognize and understand what they hear and read in their native language. The key, she believes, is to have correct information and good attitudes. Correct information is an accurate description of the sound properties of rhythm, pitch and interval; a good attitude is a way of holding one's awareness so that one can perceive accurately in real time.
Students have described Marianne Ploger's workshops and master classes as the opportunity for Olympic-level training aimed at getting their minds to move at the speed of their hearing. The intensives offer an opportunity for total immersion in instant recognition and understanding of musical elements. Real-time musical fluency is the cornerstone of Marianne Ploger's method.
The Ploger Method® uses Marianne's revolutionary ideas and discoveries about the elements of music to help you become better at reading, performing, learning, teaching, and composing music. Marianne's theories and learning strategies are based on how the brain perceives sound, sound combinations (intervals), and sound patterns. The Ploger Method® offers unique strategies for developing musicianship; instruction is based on the hearing and identification of concrete sound properties of musical elements and the cultivation of a firm and consistent sense of orientation in pitch space. Skills and training are always relevant and practical for musicians of any genre.
Each Musicianship Intensive addresses how to more effectively convey the meaning of music through a deeper understanding of perceptual principles and the implementation of specific skills. Specific techniques are provided that enrich musical artistry and expression and help ensure that audiences feel touched, inspired, and energized by the music they hear.