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CelloChanWoods Experiences 2023
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Ethan Y.
What an oasis. It's a place void of the chaos that life can be. Traffic, work, ......eh, ok, maybe life's not that chaotic. Pretty great actually. But still an oasis, because it's a place of singular focus. Cello, body, and mind become one thing here. If only all days could be like this. Like I'm floating. I’m also used to a fair amount of discontent among people around me. Not my family per se, but most groups of people have at least someone who naturally complains, or infuses, a dose of negativity into t situation. Maybe I our group met outside of CCW then some of us would assume that role, but in this space I see none of it. I see friendship, deep talks, discussions, harmony, bonding, fun, community. I marvel every year at how close people become in such a short amount of time. I suppose it's a result of that singular focus. It brings out the best in individuals. It brings out the best in groups. It makes you wonder what the world would be like if more people devoted more of their time to meditation, mindfulness, and music. And did it with their whole selves.
Paul T.
Here has been a place (and group) centered in a commitment to allow ourselves to make music
in a way we're not so able to do in the rest of our lives. But this week has also let us into one another's
lives. In the context of a common focus on the cello, there was no shortage of attention or interest. Early on, insecurities gave way to joy, but it became clear that the joy we felt in playing was not going to be confined to this week, but was the fruit of a love for the cello and for music that was permanent. I spoke with people two generations above me and heard how their experiences and frustrations with learning the cello were still similar to mine. My hope is that I can continue to improve my playing and that it can be a more joyful experience. I have restored faith.
Milner N.
I did not know what to expect from this week other than the opportunity to play together, have lessons, and have time to practice. I am not necessarily a "spiritual" person and I am not very conversant with non-western schools of thought about the mind-body connection.
Suzanne is masterful in weaving together the concept of cello playing and increased awareness of the self. I arrived with a mind full of life's issues and problems. After the first meditation ( a first for me) I found my mind to be free of cluttered thoughts - I could relax; I could go to sleep easily, and I felt more at peace. At the end of the week we had a group discussion of the week, and 90% of the comments included the meditation experience. It was a wonderful week. Don't miss it.
Kevin F.
As I was driving into Vermont this year I tried to pull/yank myself into the space I recalled from CCW22. I ended up very far rom my intended destination as the first day was very challenging for me. I wasn't receptive to that quiet place from which progress is made. My "monkey mind" as they call I in Zen, was chattering away.
But over the next couple of days I released my grip only own mind and was drawn to a good place, to the extent that silent Illumination sessions brought strong insights and breakthroughs for me. Relaxing the body and sensing the mind come up from nowhere brought a sense of openness and power that is as applicable to cello playing as it is in very moment. CCW provides a quiet home (an OM), that helps brings minds and bodies together. Indescribable and Invaluable, especially the second time around.
Hope C.
My experience at camp was limited in scope due to a family emergency. I missed the opening evening and all of the first day, and then was only able to attend a portion of each day, catching the chamber group rehearsals, the improvisation group work, lunch, and on one day, Dory’s vocal workshop. I was sorry to miss all of the individual lessons and the fun. On the concert day I came early to participate in meditation, and stayed through dinner, the concert, and the beginning of the after-dinner entertainment.
The friendliness, caring and respect for all participants, working at wherever they are in their cello journey is really one of the precious attributes of CelloChan Woods. I also love the initial quiet time in the morning, both as we start the day, have breakfast, and then head down to group meditation and Suzanne’s talk. It really helps set the tone of the day, emphasizing that we are each on our own journey with awareness and the ability to see what is going on in our bodies and in our cello playing. It evokes a reverence for our time together. Meditation and playing the cello are both practices; when meditation principles are applied to cello playing results can be amazing.
Jason G.
As a returning staff member, I got the privilege of seeing how CCW grows and changes over time. Each group, in a funny way, feels much like learning a new piece of music by the same composer. While there might be similarities in tendencies and structures, there is always room for surprises. The elements of meditation, space, and community in music making are always present. But there is always internal work, and personal growth and that is ever changing. Our music making really is a mirror of ourselves and CCW provides a space where we are free to be vulnerable, free to explore those vulnerabilities, and see how that work manifests and begins to transform not only our cello playing, but overflows into all other aspects of our lives.
Josie S.
Thank you, Suzanne, for taking such keen interest in each player. The individual attention was so valuable. I feel that I was "seen" as person and a player. I was given specific ways to improve my playing by so many super-pros. How wonderful. The performance of the the pros last night is still reverberating. even, Ethan, and Jason were electric. Especially Jason's arrangement of Tanks! These guys are oozing with talent, taking a week to participate in everything on top of teaching us with respect and humor. Honestly, it makes my cry with gratitude.
Jeanne P.
My experience at the Cellochan cello retreat in Vermont this year was wonderful. As someone who began learning to play the cello as an adult, I have only ever played for myself and with my cello teacher. This cello retreat gave me the opportunity, for the first time, to play with a chamber group within my range of ability. Being with other cello players of all ages and abilities has enhanced and broadened my relationship with my cello, music and with myself as a cellist. Spending a week focused solely on playing the cello was a valuable investment in myself and in something I love – playing the cello. The location of the retreat in Vermont was beautiful and serene. The focus on the retreat was for each participant to better their skills and knowledge of the cello in a supportive and non-competitive environment. There was a lot of individual attention and time devoted to each participant by the staff. And a wonderful byproduct of the retreat was the development and nurturance of relationships between the staff and participants. I would recommend this retreat – this experience – wholeheartedly to anyone interested in spending some time devoted to strengthening their cello practice.
Sarah W.
One of the things that struck me about CCW this year was the way in which the staff helps create a
judgement free space helping people to be brave, take risks, explore, be silly, introspective, and work toward integration of all theses things to allow a holistic expression of one's musical voice. It's easy to say that "there's no judgement here" but it's another thing to actually help that manifest in a real way. One of the things that made this possible was the camaraderie and support of my fellow participants. I can't say enough about what a great group of folks we had this year. I'm already looking forward to next year.
Allison A.
CelloChanWoods is a life affirming experience focused on the cello, but extending far beyond
it. This year I was able to reframe my relationship with my cello to include more joy and curiosity. Exercises such as cello relaxation, meditation, and improvisation helped loosen my mind and body to learn more and feel more present in the day to day learning process. Mentors and fellow players were so supportive helping to create a "brave" space in which to share music, discuss challenges, insecurities, and successes! Overall, a wonderful way to spend my week.
Tom M.
This is my 10th CelloChanWoods. I never quite know how the process is going to go
or what I'm going to take away from the experience. But I feel like CCW has always
made me consider my connection to music/cello playing In some ways CCW has become my touchstone,
reminding me of why I play and what I want to accomplish through music. The community,
reliably built from year to year, has somehow always brought together a varied collection of musicians who come together to help each other stay on the path.
CelloChanWoods Retreat Experiences 2022
Ethan Young - CCW Cello Staff ~ Arkansas Symphony Orchestra
"Having spent a few summers already at CCW, I came into this session knowing what to expect for the most part. I have also worked hard in daily life to incorporate what I had learned in past summers. But even still, I have been shocked and encouraged at how much I can open my awareness of my self and cello playing when I come to a retreat where that is the prime focus. The musicians here exhibit a similar recharged joy in reflection and self-improvement, and those in my chamber group can't help but exclaim out loud that they never thought they could improve this much, this fast. They/we seem to bond and connect all the more because of it, and the general friendship and camaraderie is through the roof and worth the trip alone. We have full days but are relaxed, work hard on our cellos but play with ease, and discuss the virtues of Chan/Zen in a gorgeous mountain refuge. I couldn't ask for a better week and am determined to take it home with me. "
Paul Thurber age 17 - CCW Cello Student Participant
"I couldn't have come here expecting anything but an addition and expansion of perspectives. I have been exposed to new perspectives here - those of Zen, the lives of others who have somehow been drawn to the cello, the lives and experiences of professional cellists - but this has not been my primary or most important lesson. Most of what I have pondered here has been in regards to the purpose and effect of art, namely music. Music has such varied effects on its listeners that it is nearly impossible to know what you are communicating when performing. Music brings people closer to memories and strong feelings but what exactly those will be is unpredictable. I have come to believe that there is no use or reason in trying to use music to evoke certain thoughts, impulses or feelings in the listeners. Rather, I think music is it's more genuine self when it is playing primarily as a fluent and informed conversation between the musician and his/her instrument. It is a meditation with the focal point being the beauty of the work, both kinetic and potential. Playing cello is important to me for many reasons besides performance. It sits across from sections of myself which I am not proud of. It shows me where I am weak. It stubbornly insists that if I do not face my most wayward and inept self, then I will not ever feel quite at home where I am stronger. This retreat allowed me to observe my messy humanity and asked me what I plan to make of it."
Keven Flynn - CCW Staff Cellist
“My time at CCW 2022 was extremely insightful -- it is a fantastic opportunity to study the connection between meditative practice and instrumental practice. Each morning's guided meditation presents an opportunity to set an intention for the afternoon and evening's cello practice, and throughout the week we collected a new vocabulary and set of practices to deal with the interconnected physical, musical, and spiritual issues in cello playing. The setting in rural Starksboro and shared meals drew all of the participants and staff close together.For me personally, CCW gave me a chance to engage with some of my personal cello-related struggles with a fresh perspective that I found very rewarding. I thought and reflected a lot on the connection between practice and trust, and recent concert experience has shown me that the work I put in during the retreat at CCW and afterwards did stick. I feel more present and engaged on stage, and more of my work in the practice room stays in performances.”
Clara Rosenblum - Muzik age 19 - CCW Cello Student Participant
"When I cam here I was nervous about a few things. One of those things was playing in front of other people and performing. But practicing as much as I did this past week has made me a much more confident player and has inspired me to practice more at home because of how good it has been for my confidence.
But my fear of playing in front of others was actually driven by a deeper fear: that I am not good enough. That I haven't tried hard enough and that I have already failed, even though I was unsure what there was for me to fail at. At one point this anxiety came up in a group meeting and I began to cry and left early to panic in my room. It's not even really just about cello. This fear is about me as a person.
This fear got in the way of me being the best version of myself. I'm the happiest I've ever been and yet I still carry a lot of anxiety. I know I've been through a lot of trauma, but I've never attributed my struggles to my trauma, but rather the character of my person. I was mad at myself for being imperfect.
Suzanne, I can't begin to express how much this retreat has meant to me, especially our talk. I respect you so much, and to hear you say "you've been through hell" and ( regarding lessons during the hard time) "I never expected you'd be able to function as if there had been no trauma" in repose to me essentially saying "I'm not good enough." It lifted a HUGE weight off my shoulders. I'm beginning to understand that I'm the only one who had the unreasonable standards I held myself to.
I struggled with the question "What is self love?" but I think I have now come up with at least one answer: Self love is accepting every part of you and/or past, not making yourself miserable over the things ou can't change. I will leave this retreat a different person than I was when I came in. I will leave more confident and on a path to self love and elf forgiveness, and I will work at the cello more. I've loved every time I cam here, but this year was particularly special. Thank you for everything.
Hope Baker Carr Adult - CCW Cello Student Participant
This has been my second year at CCW. I also attended four years ago and again it has been a wonderful experience. I treasure the opportunity to play with a group of cellists that are of a similar level in development. (And get music that we were able to practice ahead of time.) The staff are awesome - have provided a number of tips and personal assistance - unlike other teaching pointers. They seem to be devoted to helping all of us to become better cellists. It's interesting to see how each of them have become such well-rounded, knowledgeable and extremely complete musicians in their own right. It's really an honor to be here with them. CelloChanWoods has it's very own flavor - the development of our musicianship and an invitation to learn to use mindfulness and meditation in our daily practice to help balance and ground us. Self care is an important part of playing the cello, being mindful of how we come to the cello and how we use our bodies in our playing. We get a taste for Zen Buddhist thinking.
Most importantly, the spirit of CCW is very open and welcoming to all and there is fun built in. Humor, games, community building campfires, marshmallows, swimming, mosquitos and good food. 3 meals a day and mid morning/afternoon snacks. Staff seem to have as much fun as participants. Some people return year after year, a testament to the importance of the experience and the growth it nurtures.
I am also so appreciative of Suzanne ( founder and director) who gives so much to all of us by providing this experience. Her knowledge, inspiration, warmth and caring.
Improvisation is also a unique offering and a very liberating experience for musicianship.
Jason Gong - CCW Staff
The premise of CellochanWoods is magically simple--retreat into nature, and apart from the distractions of daily life, grow as a musician. It is easy to reduce problems in cello playing to things like intonation, shifting, or rhythm. And while these things are important, they often appear as symptoms of a greater issue, rather than being the main issue itself. It would be more difficult to address the problems as things like being impatient, not actively listening, or being anxious. Working on the rhythm of a passage might involve counting out beats, playing the passage under tempo, and gradually speeding it up with a metronome. What would working on listening involve? CellochanWoods provides a setting where these seemingly intangible issues can really be worked on. All of the aspects from meditations, to group seminars, to improvisation sessions all work together to provide a supportive environment where participants can really work at the heart of the issues they are dealing with and are able to take ownership
of their work and progress.
Zoe Potts age 18 - CCW Participant
Coming to CelloChanWoods with a hand injury made me worried for a number of reasons. I thought I would feel like a lesser cellist to the other participants. I thought I would compare myself to others most importantly though, I thought I would be in pain. However, because of the wonderful and talented staff and students, I was able to push past my fears and overcome them. At CCW I not only learned how to relax my body, but also my mind. I found peace with my chronic pain, both physically and mentally. Through meditation and workshops. At the beginning of the session, Suzanne told us to leave comparisons at the door., and whether it was due to the pure compassion of the other participants, r Suzanne's words, I believe we did. When I'm at Cellochanwoods I feel the most supported to be who I am and to play at the level I'm at. I feel as though gaining a zen perspective on self and playing has been integral to my growth. I will miss everyone and I can't wait to come back.
Sarah Watulak adult - CCW Participant
After a long gap, I picked up my cello again for a couple of reasons. 1. To revisit a practice that had been a big part of my life a long time ago. ( With curiosity about what it would be like to play as me now years later. 2. To have something in my life that is mine outside of work and family. In that spirit, I cam to CCW, excited for a solid week to focus on the cello ( and me). I didn't have a lot of other expectations.
Sitting here now at the end fit week, in the pleasantly achy feeling of muscles that have been stretched and worked to their potential, I can say with certainty that my cello playing has improved. The structure of CCW, ensemble work, improv, individual lessons, and reflect time, allowed me to revisit in multiple ways and contexts, the skills that I was working on. That kind of deep immersion just isn[t possible in everyday life. In that way, I would say that CCW is like an immersion learning program, for cello
I didn't expect, but appreciated, the community and camaraderie between campers that was carefully fostered and supported by the staff. CCW had many elements of a typical summer camp experience 9 including s'mores but field!)
The excellent staff were central to making this a positive and productive experience-bravo!
In addition to improving sills, the format of CCW made space for a-ha moments to emerge. A big a-ha momentI experienced at the end of the week; one of my goals for playing has been to have a good sound, and in the past I relied on others ( teachers, competition judges, conductors) to tell me if my sound was good. Here, I realized that do't need that external validation at all, if I'm playing authentically for me. I need to please me and no one else.
Allison Ebrahimi adult - CCW Participant
I was drawn to CelloChanWoods at a time in my cello life where I wasn't quite sure what I was doing or who I was as a musician. I didn't feel very comfortable as a cello player, and certainly didn't' consider myself and artist. Through gentle guidance and camaraderie, I think that's changed.
This was my first opportunity to play in an ensemble, since I learned cello as an adult in a rather isolated area,, geographically and in my life. It was a great opportunity to learn technical sills and gain confidence as a slyer in an entirely supportive, noncompetitive atmosphere.
Through cello relaxation and improv I improved my relationship with my cello, and began to see playing as a fun and relaxing endeavor ( even practice!) The instructors found fun exercises to present music theory, technical skills, and the art of EXPRESSION THROUGH CELLO PLAING. Having integrated mindfulness into playing, I think I've become a much more patient student. Learning the art of slow practice as a tool for diagnosing and addressing issues, rather than a grueling exercise. It's certainly not in my nature, so I consider this welcome rebalancing of my energies . I can be the artist I now I have the potential to be.
Martha Edelson adult - CCW Participant
When Suzanne first sent me the music, I thought, "WHAT?" How the h-ll am I ever going to play this, much less perform this. The music was just above my comfort level, and I thought; If I had 2 months to prepare this, maybe I could do this. I only had a few weeks, however. I had a lesson with Suzanne, who gave me the fingerings, many of which avoided the dreaded thumb position. And I practiced those fingerings. When I came to camp, those fingerings were not serving me well for the tempo at which we were taking the piece; much faster than I could play it with the many shifts. So Ethan helped me with fingerings and reminded me to dig into the string, close to the bridge to bring out the sound.
In addition, he taught me suble ways to color notes, varying vibrato, drawing the bow rapidly, etc. to attain the quality of sound that I wanted to play.
As a result my playing and my confidence took a leap in just 5 days that could have taken months to attain.' Playing with Pablo and Paul was a treat, and I loved watching them blossom, and then experiencing our blossoming together as a group, from separate seeds to one rose.
I thought that the hardest part of CCW was going to be morning silence, and the first minutes of the 1st day were a little tough. After that though, I grew to love it and I'm going to try having a quieter beginning of my day when I go home that dovetails with technical work. I loved being away from the chatter of my phone and I hope too, that I can continue my separation from technology and release my addiction to my phone a Is reenter my life.
Suzanne's morning talks and meditation were, for me, transformative in many ways besides the cello. So much of what I contemplated goes far beyond the cello and into the rest of my life, and relationships. The parable of the monks and the lady was particularly resonant for me.
Thomas McCarthy adult - CCW Participant
My poetry teacher in college had certain poems she called touch stone poems - Poems that reminded her of what poetry was, why she wrote poetry, and reminded her of her poetic roots.
For me CelloChanWoods is my touch stone to why I play cello. It's not that I ever stopped wanting to play cello, but it's easy to lose sight of your roots. In the past couple of years we weren't able to do cellochan and returning reconnected me, in a lot of ways, to the cello. Daily life can get in the way. Work gets in the way. A lot of stuff gets
in the way. Even regular lessons can get in the way, in a way...........stepping away from daily life and focusing on my cellist journey for a bit grounds me better.
Pablo Aquiles Sanchez adult - CCW Participant
This has been my third CelloChanWoods experience I've been to in the span of 10 years. It was because I was too young the previous two times, but this experience has been nothing short of life-altering in a way that I was not anticipating. The week prior to arriving, I was stressed with work, nervous about a couple of impending changes in my life, and anxious about my life trajectory in a more general sense. Even on the drive from Michigan to Vermont, however, I could feel those worries shedding away, At the end of the first day, I knew I was where I was supposed to be.
I had reflected on this with one of my chamber group mates, but it truly is astounding how much growth I've felt in the span of a week; growth as a cellist, growth as a Zen practitioner, growth as a young adult still trying to find y voting on the fleeting plane of existence. Just being able to look over a quiet, dewy green hill at 6:30 am and seeing the rosy morning sun over the trees has been like a breath of fresh air. Rediscovering my love of music specifically - was like finding a whole in my heart I never knew existed, and this short "Patch" of a weeks worth of Beethoven is simply not satisfying enough. Do I still have my worries in my life? Sure. But, I also know it's a future that will have more cello, more insight, more awareness. Knowing that makes the challenges all the more surpassable.
I can't begin to express my gratitude for this opportunity, for the staff who have been so helpful in more ways that they might know, and to Suzanne fo making this possible. Perhaps the best way I know who is to simply put everything I've learned into practice. Even if you all may not get the chance to see it. I am excited to become a better, stronger, more confident person as a result of your teachings Suzanne. In the meantime, sharing this last moments together is more than a blessing.
Elizabeth Wilson adult ~ CCW Participant
I was nervous when I arrived.....that took up a bit of energy. I think maybe after I had that first day
adjustment. I didn't know how I would do, how it could come together. From the start, I've been impressed with the instructors - positive, focused on giving constructive feedback.
The instructor has been super, the food has been great, and the other cello players fantastic. It's fun to be with people at so many different levels.
Over the course of the week, I've gotten more comfortable with playing and also with my cello. The improvisation
class was daunting at first, but now they are really fun. I can feel the "cello conversation" starting to emerge.
I have loved the meditations. While I am not a Zen practitioner, I have taken a lot from the sits. I find myself wishing at times, that the talks were better linked to the cello, I have learned so much when they are.
I thank Suzanne for her generosity in creating this space for us all.
Nancy Baxter adult - CCW Participant.
I have learned so much the last 6 days at CCW. I enjoyed the daily meditations lead by Suzanne. I feel my foundation is restored and my creativity is recharged.
the faculty is wonderful. They are knowledgeable and always willing to listen and answer questions. ( I only wish I could have met with them more one on one ) Than you Suzanne, Jason, Ethan, and Kevin for your guidance and expertise! Thank you friends and fellow campers for support and laughter throughout. I'm excited and motivated to practice and explore more when I get back home!
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Experiences going. back to 2010
*This has been an incredible experience. I came here carrying a heavy weight and having a chance to put that down has reminded me of my light/lightness. I did not view myself as an artist or musician before the retreat. A writer, yes....but as my medium is changing, my identity and self-understanding is as well
I didn't come with many expectations...my experience was incredibly powerful. This location, the humanity + authenticity of everyone, the open and creative pursuit of learning and collective beauty....all of it will be carried deeply with me moving back to "normal life." Though so much has shifted that I'm unsure how palatable my normal life and its many demands on me will play out. I'll seek the support of the approaches we practiced here but I'm simply not the same being who arrived last week.
More details?
I learned ( in a new way) how joyful and peaceful hard work can be, that my kind of striving has hindered me and shaped me, in ways it is time to grow out of.
The heavy structure took some getting used to. I am an introvert so need at least a small amount of time and quite alone to keep y energy up. That got tricky at times, sometimes because of the level of structure, but also because it was hard to pull myself away from such engaging and creative humans that I wish were in my day to day life.
I appreciated the silent mornings, meditation, breaking down how to approach problems at the cello, improvisation......all of it, really.
But most significantly, I appreciate the invitation of imagine ( or re-imagine) my vision and purpose for playing the cello. To bring my whole self to it. I have a lot of re-fertilized ground to till, to muck around in on the cello going forward. The clarity I need to seek is in so many facets of my life right now; I need to trust a balanced approach to that seeking without straining, abandoning, or too quickly coming to conclusions.
At my core ( and probably for the 25 years that I’ve wanted to play cello)I know that as I learn the instrument it will teach me so much of what I want and need to learn way beyond the playing of music.
I'm grateful for and to you, Suzanne. I looked around for 2 years for a teacher. I can hardly fathom the generosity of this universe to provide you as my teacher and cellochan as a sustained experience I need. Thank you.
* Staff member.
CelloChanWoods remains a place of beauty and healing. I was apprehensive attending this year as I felt removed from much of the beauty the experience had formerly held for me. However, I came with a committed and open mindset and very quickly I found myself rediscovering what had temporarily escaped me.
A person I recognized counterpoint in right off was ---. Over the course of the experience our conversations unpacked great healing for both of us. It is not often I encounter someone whose life trajectory has paralleled my own. Just this morning we discovered that many of the songs and music we have listened to in order to direct our energy in positive directions was identical. This is a big testament to the power of music and is whey music is such a good vehicle for the Cellochanwoods experience to unfold within and be found by.
Many beautiful interactions around and it is just such a pleasure to witness the transformations that take place all around. Blossoming friendships unfold and real learning takes place, encouraged by the safe environment provided. Being open is essential because it encourages the other to do the same, but I think the greatest power of openness is releasing our own demons to the wind. As a culture of the openness developed it became self-perpetuating therapy and vast personal achievement is unlocked.
Cello almost feels secondary here to me.....a vehicle of transformation. Great learning did take place across the camp on the cello and it was impressed with the participants willingness to throw themselves into the challenge and improve. All told, it was a warm experience filled with challenge and achievement.
* At the last night, at the campfire, we were asked to write something on a slip of paper - something that we would like to leave behind. We went in turn to share something we wanted to take with us, and leave the slip of paper in the flames. The thing I want to take with me is a reminder that everything is a work in progress. That my success in life and in music isn't defined by what I have or have not accomplished. It was extremely encouraging, inspiring, and also humbling hearing about some issues that others were dealing with regarding fear of change and failure. And seeing so many people keep moving forward. All progressing, and in my eyes, all immensely successful. This week reminds me that despite some uncertainty ahead, I am exactly where I need to be - progressing.
That is what I wrote on my slip of paper before dropping it in the fire. I’ve come to realize that I carry a lot of doubt around with me. At its worst, it is soul crushing, at its best it is a distraction. Throughout the week, I held onto a lot of doubt of aspects and abilities that feel so personal to me. I see myself as a good friend, but am I really a good friend? I love to teach, but am I an effective teacher? I'm an open kind person, but am I really. I want to leave these doubts behind and remember that I'm where I need to be. I'm progressing. I think CCW was very successful. It is amazingly organic and able to facilitate a real sense of community, a space to explore and learn about myself.
* In the past I have always enjoyed CCW. I was always excited to come and sad to leave. However, one of the main reasons I loved it before was because it was an escape from m y expression and anxiety. I've spent the last year in intensive therapy. It has changed me in many ways and I'm a much happier person now. At first, I thought I had left all negativity behind me. That made me even more excited to come here because I thought that everything would be perfect. Unfortunately, it is impossible to go through life without feeling any negative emotions. About a week before coming to CCW I lost someone I deeply cared for. Obviously, my reaction wasn't as bad as my mental state before my therapy, but I was still hurt, confused, and felt alone. After that I was scared to come back here. I had the idea that nobody could help me and I had to suffer alone.
Bust I'm glad I came. I realize now that I can help myself. The silence in the morning and my practice time reminded me that I am the only one that holds me back. I need to be more mindful and listen to myself more often. That is the only way I can solve my problems.
The people here also remind me that I don't have to be alone. Sometimes it's better to have someone else to support you; and in return you can support them. We see this in both chamber music and improvisation. Every part works together, we take turns playing out and we count on each other for cues. I also saw it in my buddy walks with Ian, Joe, and Edorah, and doing communications exercises with Hope. I was also able to have some deep conversations with my fellow teenagers in our free time.
In the end, my biggest lesson was that I am not perfect. I am only human, and I can't blame myself for feeling the way I feel. When I get home, I will start using my capabilities, putting in an effort, speaking up, and acknowledging my emotions, both good and bad.
Thank you, Suzanne, this experience really means a lot to me.
Some past CelloChanWoods retreat experiences
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Suzanne,
This experience has been an amazing one. From the first day I have felt safe and comfortable.
The first individual practice session, Ethan recommended I fill the space around me and not play with the mute. This was the first step to playing more confidently. Later during day one, Carrie came and asked to hear me play and she helped open up my sound. The second day Joe helped me with the bow arm exercises. All of my experiences with the counselors has been an amazing one. They were all encouraging and never let their critique sound negative.
As for the timing of things.....I really like that we all got to have snack time. I know it was probably meant for the little ones, but I truly enjoyed the breaks. Thanks!
Each sectional was perfect. Carrie is an amazing leader and I never felt like she was trying to show off, or show that she was better than us in any way, which was a different experience than last year. I wish I could have exuded more confidence this year during sectionals so I could help Gabriele. I know I could have, I just didn’t feel confident enough to help. For this is my one and only regret.
On a spiritual level, I have been fulfilled every day that I showed up and worked to the best of my ability. I believe this human experience was one my soul will never forget. My mind may not be with me later to remember everything, but my soul will. It was and is a privilege to be a part of this wonderfully illuminating experience.
I thank you for the work you have done and the work you will do in the future. P.S. I also felt really connected with my peers. There was little to no judgment, which was awesome. I felt connected with everyone instead of just seeing the connections we share.
*
I had thought I picked up cello for the intellectual stimulation of learning something new and for the beauty of the music. Now I find it’s becoming more of an expression of my sprit, a safe place to explore and a place /way to connect with other musicians. I had been less interested in performance before cellochanwoods, but now I aspire to perform and play with others. It’s pushed me to wan to challenge myself more and see the values of practice, including scales, warm ups, and other techniques we learned here, to help move forward more quickly. The focus is shifting from being able to play a piece to being able to express myself and share playing with others.
Intellectually, we’ve discussed many of these topics in lessons, Suzanne. The retreat has made these teachings more experiential, focused and memorable, again on a physical and emotional level.
*
This has been an extraordinarily rewarding and inspiring experience.
*I am a firm believer in the development of character, leadership and team building through the engagement and study of canoeing. Learning how to speak as a leader/follower.
I was very intrigued by Suzanne’s description of mandalas. As a teacher, I view my students as a sort of mandala. I treasure every relationship I have built here. I have a good story that I will hold onto from each person and I have done my best to share my knowledge and passion for improvisation and creative music with you, and now we scatter.
*The meditations helped me get calm. They also helped me focus. Some meditations I didn’t get.
*
Many a man and woman have compared life to many things. In truth, life can be one thing, it can be another thing, and it can be everything and nothing too.
I think life is like the cello. In truth, you can do whatever you like with a cello or you can do whatever you fancy with your life. But as with life, you can simply throw you’re cello, you can break it, or you can just do nothing at all with it. Yet there are those who go to the cello and play beautiful music. In order to play beautiful music, one must labor very hard. In life, no one gains anything without a price to pay. The road through life is an arduous journey, like the road to the cello. Yet the trip is worth the pain.
These thoughts and more have blossomed in my minded due to the 3 days I have spent here at CCW. Nature is a thing of beauty and being exposed to its cool ecstasy brings a sense of enlightenment to me. I have often compared CCW to blue lake, which in both places I have discovered two sides of being human. At Blue Lake, I found the social animal carelessly enjoying the company of others and the ripe fruits of life. There, I discovered the psychology of others, but not myself. Here, I have learned about myself. I have taken a journey to myself, discovering my own mind like never before. Here I take the fruit of life, ponder over it, question the ripest part. I and only myself breathe the ecstasy off the woodland, bathing in my solitude. I and only I breathe ecstasy of the forest as the dew slowly dries under the morning sun.
*
*Throughout my time here at CelloChanWoods, I feel that I have channeled a calmer and more focused version of myself. I find myself able to clear my head and center myself in the day’s various activities, which is exactly what I was hoping to achieve here. I am so excited to continue exploring meditation and the many tips and tricks we learned in physical therapy and daily warm ups. As for my role as a counselor, I can’t begin to express how much I have treasured this experience. I feel that I have gained so much knowledge to put towards my teaching. In working with each camper and observing my fellow counselors, I am so humbled by, and grateful for ,this amazing opportunity. It isn’t often that a community such as this one comes around, and I will sincerely miss each and every person. I have never encountered such a unique group of people where I learned something new from every body. It has been a joy for me to get to know this family and community and I truly hope to return next year. CelloChanwoods has helped to renew my passion for what I chose to do with my life, and there are no words that can explain what that means to me.
*
My experiences at this camp have been great as a whole. I have learned a lot about myself as a person and cellist. I feel that being a year older has really helped me take all of the lessons to heart. I think that because of that I felt more comfortable with the camp and what you were saying, Suzanne. I really like that you had the option to camp out overnight here, which is something I would really like to do next year. The main difference from my perspective this year was that the group seemed even closer. That is probably a result of us not going straight into meditation but instead being more social at the breakfast table. I like both the social and more silent approaches but I think you should try to balance them.
I also found that being more advanced as a cellist allowed me to use more of the instruction and feel less lost during activities. I came to realize I could potentially be using my practice time much better to get greater results. The exercises we did I am going to do on a daily basis because they really helped my tension in my back and shoulder which made playing so much easier. To me, it also helped to have the counselors really enjoying their time teaching us. It seemed to me that this year’s group got a lot more into it and were fun to be around. I also really appreciated the normality and flexibility of our activities. Overall, I really enjoyed this year and I really hope that next year is even better so I continue to progress.
*
I feel like I got more out of CelloChanWoods this time than I had previously. The camping experience seemed more effective to me than the day camping experience. It removed me more from the day-to-day experience of my daily life and seemed more efficient. The CelloChanWoods experience never stopped. Where as, as a day camper, I would leave at night and go back to my normal life.
I really enjoyed taking lessons from the different counselors. They all had different ways of teaching and were all effective in some way. I also really like the conductor. He was really good at bringing the different parts together and I feel like the ChelloChanWoods pieces came together better because of that.
I wish we had had more time for sectionals. It was fun to work with the counselors in the sectionals and I felt like it helped to incorporate the different aspects of cello plying you had talked about in the morning talk, Suzanne.
The guest speakers did this too.
Leaving, I feel like I have a more concrete sense of how I can improve my cello playing. Physically through better from and mentally through better mind set. This is partially because the counselors did a good job of transferring topics we’d discussed to the music we were playing and because they were really good teachers.
*When I was younger and even into college, I never wanted to practice. The only time I ever really enjoyed playing the cello was in orchestra, mostly because I had very enthusiastic and nurturing conductors. I was never really pushed to be better, to work at the cello. At this retreat, however, I have found that I actually want to practice and play. That I enjoy making music and learning new things. Over the past year and few days, I’ve gotten more relaxed in my playing, more into my playing. The exercises and meditation have helped me to relax even more. I’ve developed more of an ability to practice slowly, working on just one aspect of my playing instead of jut hoping I’ll get the notes or relying on my sight-reading. I wish I could have had more time here to practice and work more. I didn’t have time to work on the Popper to get it to where I’m completely comfortable. But overall, I had a great experience and I hope to be back next year.
*I think that this camp is just a beautiful place and time. It is more than just an idyllic setting and a peaceful get away. I have found a real sense of community among everybody and was shocked at how well I knew everybody even after the first day. We work and think as a team and we’re all holding each other up so that we’re all functioning on a higher level than we could have on our own. It’s amazing how a group can improve the individual and the individual can improve the group. Since we are all our better selves here, we are all out better cellists. Having to walk around and coach, I haven’t had much time to practice, yet I fell like I’m making long strides in my own playing. Just being immersed in a community whose goal is peace of mind and ease of cello playing, I’m gaining valuable tools with which to move forward from here. I love the way my body feels after the stretches and meditation, and I’ love the way my cello sounds when my body feels so good. This is clearly the answer. My deepest thanks to Suzanne and everybody else that worked hard to make this happen. It’s invaluable.
*
Dear Suzanne,
Thanks for facilitating such a fabulous summer cello camp. It was a wonderful experience for me, from swimming in the lake and boating to meditation, exercises, master class, individual practice time with help from the great counselors….this list could go on. Highlights for me include evening campfires, which were great for bonding and much fun and orchestra rehearsals with-----. My goals coming to camp were numerous, but my main goal was to become more relaxed in my arms to relieve unnecessary tension. Meditation and bow exercises taught surely helped me overcome that obstacle, thanks to you and the very incredibly supportive counselors. It was nice to get away from home for 4 days and spend it here in the middle of the woods playing cello and getting tips, comments, and feedback from knowledgeable people other than my teachers back in Seattle – so I definitely got a lot out of my experience. The speakers who visited, especially the Eurythmics speaker (Rebecca from the Cleveland Institute of Music) thoroughly impressed me and I learned so much. Thanks again for everything and I really hope I can come back here again next year! I’ll try to persuade my parents. (:
Have a good rest of the summer.
* I loved playing together and orchestra but it was also nice to have individual practice time as well. I like how when we had individual practice, the counselors would help us and give us advice. Swimming and canoeing were also fun and gave us a nice break from cello so we could be refreshed and read to start playing again. The buddy walks I like because you got to know new people. After camp was over each day, it was nice to sit around the bonfire while talking and singing. Thank you for making this camp wonderful.
Your friend and student,
----
*I experienced a lot of compassion/support from the staff and it was very much appreciated. Working on the Popper, which was very challenging (Popper Requiem transcribed for 6 cellos and piano) has given me more confidence to approach difficult pieces / passages. I realized I practice too fast. I tend to approach practice with the same mindset I approach work, there are many things to be done in a given amount of time and it’s very goal oriented. This is because my practice time is quite limited and so I always feel pressure to “move ahead”. I realize this is a completely backwards approach and it actually is slowing down my progress. I need to develop more patience and be more process oriented to experiment more. I gained some insight into the source of my insecurity /fear around playing and I have an idea of steps I need to take to address these issues. I really enjoyed the positive support group that we formed over the 3 days. Technically I came away with a lot of ideas for improving my tone and for shifting into higher registers. I enjoyed being a student and think it’s always good for a teacher to be a student from time to time. This helps me renew my empathy for my students. Also the presence and compassion of the teachers here are things I will use to renew my own teaching in the fall.
My favorite part has been seeing campers from last year again and meeting all the new counselors and campers. I was worried about the kids coming to camp but it has been a wonderful addition – just a different energy. Camping together has been really fun. Dory did a good job making the evenings fun and a good bonding experience.
I found all the counselors to be delightful, knowledgeable and excellent teachers. They all had different things to offer and complimented each other well.
I always dreaded the buddy walks but each one this year was great. I got to know more about a person’s history and story.
As for the cello playing, I can’t say I enjoyed it. I just get SO frustrated I can’t find the positions fast enough. I can’t get my intonation right, bouncing between clefs is confusing and I need more than a couple measures to get it. Some things did improve but I would need a lot more time to ever be able to play the pieces we did smoothly and up to tempo. I also can’t hear myself when we all play together so I didn’t even know if I was playing things correctly. At he very last sectional Daniel gave a 1 minute lesson on how to follow a conductor.
This was helpful. I didn’t know at all what to make of what he was doing. More instructions for beginners on how to follow a conductor would be helpful f.
The improvisation class was very frustrating and for more advanced players. I couldn’t learn the tune fast enough but eventually figure it out. I can’t hear myself otherwise or am too uncomfortable. The only time I felt happy playing my cello this weekend was the one time I “jammed” with ----. It felt really good, I liked what he played and my part (baseline with only 3 notes) was something I could play and also play around with to do my own bay improvisation. I really wanted to cry when you told me to go down to the campfire. I know it was my job; I’m ok with that. It was just really bad timing. At this point I am still not sure if I am going to stay to play in the concert since I mostly don’t “play” at all—only about ¼ to 1/3 of the notes. The only thing keeping me here right now is wanting to hear the counselors play but mostly the 10 minutes Ethan promised to play with me after clean up.
I like camp because it was nice to get away from the frustrating things of daily life.
At camp I had fun singing songs, playing the cello, improving and hanging out with people. I think that we need to do some outdoor activities like soccer or more games. Camp really helped me focus on one thing and not be distracted by others doing other things like playing soccer. I have learned how to stay focused and relax at the cello. If I could take something away it would be that I’m more focused and have gotten to know people like Kaden and Zoe better and met nice people like he counselors.
Sincerely,
-------
*Long story short, I think this camp has just been perfect! It has been such a great time getting to know all of the students. In addition to being so enthusiastic and energetic, everyone is so receptive as well. They were so much fun and were inspiring to work with that it was almost a shame that the camp wasn't longer. Apart from the students, the other counselors are all just amazing. We all got along very quickly and by the end of the first day, it felt like we have known each other for years. I really liked the morning meditations. They really got me energized and ready to take on the rest of the day. I also enjoyed the guest speakers and the presentations. If anything, sometimes it felt like things were too tightly scheduled. I would have loved longer individual practice times to work with more people in an intimate 1 on 1 setting. In addition, to the tight schedule, I found myself thirsty for a little more solitude. I think partially because we spent the individual time helping others, there was not much time to just collect my thoughts.
*. Swimming and canoeing were fun and gave us a nice break from cello so we could be refreshed and help us and give us advice. Swimming and canoeing were also fun and gave us a nice break from cello so we could be refreshed and help us and give us advice. Swimming and canoeing were also fun and gave us a nice break
Staff
This year CelloChanWoods was one big experience. Everything molded into each other. The talks in the morning, the guests, the improvisation, the cello ensembles, all the activities, and the individual advice from every counselor that molded together into one big learning experience.
From the beginning I got the feeling that the strength of the community was growing with every second. I was astonished about the willingness to help in every situation. Students helped each other practice, learn scales, or master a difficult passage. Everyone had their strength and weaknesses and through the act of helping every individual was able to overcome some blockages or difficulties. Even more important than the actual help was the kindness with which every single individual treated everyone else. One big factor in the strength of the community is always the age range. The adults help to create a feeling of comfort, security, and protection. The kids keep the energy level up and are always able to lighten the mood or make people laugh. This combination is invaluable for the dynamic of the community at CelloChanWoods.
Musically speaking, this year was very different from last year. The improvisation was a huge asset for the improvement of the students and also the councilors. Humans are always afraid of making a mistake and in the beginning it was hard to get rid of that fear. As time progressed everyone was more loose and allowed for the music to happen. Mistakes were not bad any more but were reinterpreted as opportunities. This reinterpretation came from one of the morning talks and is just one of many examples of how well everything connected this year.
Personally I felt much more comfortable than last year. I didn’t try to force things to come together, but it all just happened. I took the momentum of the energy in the retreat and created my own interpretation and advice out of it. Even though I encountered challenging situations I never had the feeling of being overwhelmed or out of control as everything seemed to happen for a reason and was solved accordingly.
My chamber music group this year was challenging but incredibly rewarding. I needed to figure out how to address every age properly as my group had a wide age range. But that was not the biggest challenge. I worked with four individuals that were all completely different:
- One adult, that is still a beginner on the instrument and consequently still struggling with fundamentals like finding the right position or playing the right rhythm
- One teenage boy that had a good rhythmic feeling and was very musical, but could not match a pitch when I would sing it
- One young girl that had a disjunct relation between her awareness of her abilities and her actual abilities and additionally an incredibly hard time to concentrate and focus
- One very talented teenager that is one of the politest and nicest people I have ever met
From the beginning there was a very positive atmosphere in the group and I never had the feeling that we were on the wrong path. Everyone improved so much and did their best to perform well in the group. The breakthrough was on the third day when I let the students take over the rehearsal and just added comments and advice. The idea came from the Tai-Chi exercise. I realized that the group dynamic was not fluent. I thought, that when I step back and let the group find their own rhythm of learning they will find their momentum. And this is exactly what happened. Suddenly it was the student’s responsibility to progress and develop. The group dynamic changed from listening to me and implementing my advice to a self-improvement. I had the feeling that everyone wanted to do it especially well, because it was on them to get better and they wanted to prove that they can do it. This moment was my biggest “Aha-moment” of my teaching at CelloChan.
The improvisation group was also very successful. My goal was, to not only improve their improvisation skills, but also their musicality and their ability to listen to each other. With these goals in mind I focused a lot on reacting to each other and listening to everyone in the group. This needed some time but ultimately will result into a more open person and a much better chamber musician. I was proud of every single person in the group. Everyone played solos, even in the last performance that was video recorded and everyone was able to step over their fears and enjoy music making.
All of those experiences are invaluable to me and were part of one of the most rewarding retreats I was ever a part of. I can’t wait for next year! I’m excited to see everyone and curious of all the surprises that are going to wait for me…and the music will never stop sounding.
CelloChanWoods was a wonderful experience for me. I personally gained many things, some of which were unexpected. The absoluteness of the positive energy at this camp was inspiring. …….I feel everyone has walked away a better person, and cellist.
*
I find myself lamenting the fact that the camp has been “only four days.” I learned great techniques, not so much from the classes as from the practice times in which a counselor would casually mention an improvement and suddenly you not only discovered a problem you didn’t know you had, but also fixed it instantly. These 4 days have been amazing socially too. I am proud to say I have made at least 20 new friends. I also fell that being a counselor here someday would be amazing.
*
As advertised, this retreat was a holistic experience of exploring and understanding what it means to make music with the cello on a personal and communal level. Though I didn’t appreciate what it would feel like, physical and emotionally to approach cello instruction from a holistic approach.
This has been an extraordinarily rewarding and inspiring experience.
*
I think life is like the cello. In truth, you can do whatever you like with a cello or you can do whatever you fancy with your life. But as with life, you can simply throw you’re cello, you can break it, or you can just do nothing at all with it. Yet there are those who go to the cello and play beautiful music. At Blue Lake I discovered the psychology of others, but not myself. Here, I have learned about myself. I have taken a journey to myself, discovering my own mind like never before
Saff
Throughout my time here at CelloChanWoods, I feel that I have channeled a calmer and more focused version of myself. I find myself able to clear my head and center myself in the day’s various activities, which is exactly what I was hoping to achieve here. I am so excited to continue exploring meditation and the many tips and tricks we learned in physical therapy and daily warm ups. ….CelloChanwoods has helped to renew my passion for what I chose to do with my life, and there are no words that can explain what that means to me.
*
My experiences at this camp have been great as a whole. I have learned a lot about myself as a person and cellist. I feel that being a year older has really helped me take all of the lessons to heart. I think that because of that I felt more comfortable with the camp and what you were saying, Suzanne. I really like that you had the option to camp out overnight here, which is something I would really like to do next year. The main difference from my perspective this year was that the group seemed even closer. That is probably a result of us not going straight into meditation but instead being more social at the breakfast table. I like both the social and more silent approaches but I think you should try to balance them.
I also found that being more advanced as a cellist allowed me to use more of the instruction and feel less lost during activities. I came to realize I could potentially be using my practice time much better to get greater results.
*
I feel like I got more out of CelloChanWoods this time than I had previously. The camping experience seemed more effective to me than the day camping experience. It removed me more from the day-to-day experience of my daily life and seemed more efficient. The CelloChanWoods experience never stopped. Where as, as a day camper, I would leave at night and go back to my normal life.
I really enjoyed taking lessons from the different counselors. They all had different ways of teaching and were all effective in some way. I also really like the conductor. He was really good at bringing the different parts together and I feel like the ChelloChanWoods pieces came together better because of that.
I wish we had had more time for sectionals. It was fun to work with the counselors in the sectionals and I felt like it helped to incorporate the different aspects of cello plying you had talked about in the morning talk, Suzanne.
The guest speakers did this too.
Leaving, I feel like I have a more concrete sense of how I can improve my cello playing. Physically through better from and mentally through better mind set. This is partially because the counselors did a good job of transferring topics we’d discussed to the music we were playing and because they were really good teachers.
*
When I was younger and even into college, I never wanted to practice. The only time I ever really enjoyed playing the cello was in orchestra, mostly because I had very enthusiastic and nurturing conductors. I was never really pushed to be better, to work at the cello. At this retreat, however, I have found that I actually want to practice and play. That I enjoy making music and learning new things. Over the past year and few days, I’ve gotten more relaxed in my playing, more into my playing. The exercises and meditation have helped me to relax even more. I’ve developed more of an ability to practice slowly, working on just one aspect of my playing instead of jut hoping I’ll get the notes or relying on my sight-reading. I wish I could have had more time here to practice and work more. I didn’t have time to work on the Popper to get it to where I’m completely comfortable. But overall, I had a great experience and I hope to be back next year.
* Staff
I think that this camp is just a beautiful place and time. It is more than just an idyllic setting and a peaceful get away. I have found a real sense of community among everybody and was shocked at how well I knew everybody even after the first day. We work and think as a team and we’re all holding each other up so that we’re all functioning on a higher level than we could have on our own. It’s amazing how a group can improve the individual and the individual can improve the group. Since we are all our better selves here, we are all out better cellists. Having to walk around and coach, I haven’t had much time to practice, yet I fell like I’m making long strides in my own playing. Just being immersed in a community whose goal is peace of mind and ease of cello playing, I’m gaining valuable tools with which to move forward from here. I love the way my body feels after the stretches and meditation, and I’ love the way my cello sounds when my body feels so good. This is clearly the answer. My deepest thanks to Suzanne and everybody else that worked hard to make this happen. It’s invaluable.
*
Dear Suzanne,
Thanks for facilitating such a fabulous summer cello camp. It was a wonderful experience for me, from swimming in the lake and boating to meditation, exercises, master class, individual practice time with help from the great counselors….this list could go on. Highlights for me include evening campfires, which were great for bonding and much fun and orchestra rehearsals with Daniel. My goals coming to camp were numerous, but my main goal was to become more relaxed in my arms to relieve unnecessary tension. Meditation and bow exercises taught surely helped me overcome that obstacle, thanks to you and the very incredibly supportive counselors. It was nice to get away from home for 4 days and spend it here in the middle of the woods playing cello and getting tips, comments, and feedback from knowledgeable people other than my teachers back in Seattle – so I definitely got a lot out of my experience. The speakers who visited, especially the Eurythmics speaker (Rebecca from the Cleveland Institute of Music) thoroughly impressed me and I learned so much. Thanks again for everything and I really hope I can come back here again next year! I’ll try to persuade my parents. (:
Have a good rest of the summer.
*
My Journal – My experience:
I loved playing together and orchestra but it was also nice to have individual practice time as well. I like how when we had individual practice, the counselors would help us and give us advice. Swimming and canoeing were also fun and gave us a nice break from cello so we could be refreshed and read to start playing again. The buddy walks I like because you got to know new people. After camp was over each day, it was nice to sit around the bonfire while talking and singing. Thank you for making this camp wonderful.
*
I experienced a lot of compassion/support from the staff and it was very much appreciated. Working on the Popper, which was very challenging (Popper Requiem transcribed for 6 cellos and piano) has given me more confidence to approach difficult pieces / passages. I realized I practice too fast. I tend to approach practice with the same mindset I approach work, there are many things to be done in a given amount of time and it’s very goal oriented. This is because my practice time is quite limited and so I always feel pressure to “move ahead”. I realize this is a completely backwards approach and it actually is slowing down my progress. I need to develop more patience and be more process oriented to experiment more. I gained some insight into the source of my insecurity /fear around playing and I have an idea of steps I need to take to address these issues. I really enjoyed the positive support group that we formed over the 3 days. Technically I came away with a lot of ideas for improving my tone and for shifting into higher registers. I enjoyed being a student and think it’s always good for a teacher to be a student from time to time. This helps me renew my empathy for my students. Also the presence and compassion of the teachers here are things I will use to renew my own teaching in the fall.
*
My favorite part has been seeing campers from last year again and meeting all the new counselors and campers. I was worried about the kids coming to camp but it has been a wonderful addition – just a different energy. Camping together has been really fun. Dory did a good job making the evenings fun and a good bonding experience.
I found all the counselors to be delightful, knowledgeable and excellent teachers. They all had different things to offer and complimented each other well.
I always dreaded the buddy walks but each one this year was great. I got to know more about a person’s history and story.
I As for the cello playing, I can’t say I enjoyed it. I just get SO frustrated I can’t find the positions fast enough. I can’t get my intonation right, bouncing between clefs is confusing and I need more than a couple measures to get it. Some things did improve but I would need a lot more time to ever be able to play the pieces we did smoothly and up to tempo. I also can’t hear myself when we all play together so I didn’t even know if I was playing things correctly. At he very last sectional Daniel gave a 1 minute lesson on how to follow a conductor.
This was helpful. I didn’t know at all what to make of what he was doing. More instructions for beginners on how to follow a conductor would be helpful f.
The improvisation class was very frustrating and for more advanced players. I couldn’t learn the tune fast enough but eventually figure it out. I can’t hear myself otherwise or am too uncomfortable.
*
I like camp because it was nice to get away from the frustrating things of daily life.
At camp I had fun singing songs, playing the cello, improving and hanging out with people. I think that we need to do some outdoor activities like soccer or more games. Camp really helped me focus on one thing and not be distracted by others doing other things like playing soccer. J I have learned how to stay focused and relax at the cello. If I could take something away it would d be that I’m more focused and have gotten to know people like Kaden and Zoe better and met nice people like he counselors.
Sincerely,
----
Staff
Long story short, I think this camp has just been perfect! It has been such a great time getting to know all of the students. In addition to being so enthusiastic and energetic, everyone is so receptive as well. They were so much fun and were inspiring to work with that it was almost a shame that the camp wasn't longer. Apart from the students, the other counselors are all just amazing. We all got along very quickly and by the end of the first day, it felt like we have known each other for years. I really liked the morning meditations. They really got me energized and ready to take on the rest of the day. I also enjoyed the guest speakers and the presentations. If anything, sometimes it felt like things were too tightly scheduled. I would have loved longer individual practice times to work with more people in an intimate 1 on 1 setting. In addition, to the tight schedule, I found myself thirsty for a little more solitude. I think partially because we spent the individual time helping others, there was not much time to just collect my thoughts.
* I found Cello Chan Woods to be a wonderfully rich experience. I learned and reinforced so many of the ideals that I would like to carry into my life. Calmness, playfulness, realizing the savory of each moment, willingness to “fail” in order to learn, and working through meditation to hone and guide the mind are among the principles that I learned something about this summer. The retreat was also a good opportunity for me to take a step back and look at how I have carried some of these concepts into my life so far.
I have been trying to take more action in my life and be more “here and now,” but there is always room for improvement in the implementation of these broad concepts. While I had the time to ponder these concepts that were introduced to me last year, I realize now that “action” does not need to be on a grand scale at all. It can be an action as simple as giving a simple gift or service to a friend to build your relationship with them. It can be realizing that you need to take a step back from something in your life and doing it. It can be going to a concert when you might feel like staying in. Action seems to be anything that you do with the intent of enriching life, large or small. It goes hand-in-hand with “here and now.” In each moment, we aren’t necessarily in a position to make a decision or action that will make giant change or immortalize our footsteps. However, we are always in a position to direct our thoughts in a more productive way. To not think about tomorrow too hard, not think about yesterday, but think about what small good you can do in the moment. I am realizing life is like a balance, with heaviness on one side and a trickle of sand on the other. The change that we can make from moment to moment is small, but these small positive changes eventually collect into a formidable force. Holes can rust into the balance, but we must keep working to patch them. We will go through ebbs and flows. Sometimes we will lose something, sometimes we will gain, but we should always do what we can to help ourselves toward the direction of love and fulfillment.
I’m sure that these ideas will continue their evolution through my life. I do not expect, nor do I want them to stay the same. I like to think about how to live a good life, but sometimes it does get heavy to feel that I am “doing work” all the time. That is why I loved working with the children. The lightness with which they approach everything is always inspirational to me. We teach each other. I have to get them into the “adult mindset,” to think about an approaching time where we need to have something finished, which can be extremely difficult and tiring. The progress that the young ones made was so worth trudging through some of those rehearsals. I realize that they also have a hard time with us adults a lot of the time. They want to play, play, play. Even when they are exhausted they do not want to stop. They try to get us to be silly with them, but we tell them that we have other things to do. We tell them that we are too tired. Sometimes we are just not in the mood. This sounds oddly like the way that they can act in rehearsal. Just like we try to teach them to be more responsible and directed, they are trying to teach us to be more playful, to be less concerned. This is a lesson that I try to take to heart as much as my other ones. It adds a lightness that I really need to my life.
The culmination of all of these ideas for me was the improvisation groups. At first, we had to set out rules, and force people to take small actions outside of their comfort zones. (The first improv session was kind of worrisome to be honest!) As we got people to take these baby steps, these small actions which added to the richness of the organism of the group, the music started to have a life. It really began to mean something. At that point, each and every one of us started to have more fun. We grew comfortable with each other, and it got to the point where we could add silly, over the top elements to the little performance we put on to actually make it funny! I was very surprised at how much progress we all made from youngest to oldest, beginner to professional. A little bit of work, approached from a healthy perspective can go a long, long way.
Suzanne Smith
449 Moretown Common Rd., Moretown, VT. 05660
[email protected] ~ 802.496.5273
COPYRIGHT 2003
449 Moretown Common Rd., Moretown, VT. 05660
[email protected] ~ 802.496.5273
COPYRIGHT 2003