Courses
New Klezmer Studios
Fall 2023 klezmer courses are here!
Building on more than a decade of study and work with Ezekiel’s Wheels Klezmer Band and at festivals, reading groups, jam sessions, and in the practice room, I've created the classes that I always wished I could take as I was learning about klezmer music.
Each is roughly equivalent to an undergraduate course and is designed for advanced students or for serious amateur or professional musicians looking for a deeper grounding in klezmer.
Each course runs weekly for 10 Wednesdays between October and December 2023. Attending the full sequence will give you the most complete educational experience, but you may elect to sign up for specific sessions on the registration form.
All classes will take place over Zoom and are open to interested learners from anywhere in the world. I’ll be limiting the class size so we can maintain a proper workshop atmosphere, so sign up early to confirm your spot.
***The New Klezmer Scholarship Fund is open to professional musicians and students who would like to study through New Klezmer Studios and for whom the $300 course fee would be a financial hardship. For more information and to apply, visit the scholarship page.***
The Modern Klezmer
Define your voice as a klezmer musician. The Modern Klezmer will develop your personal style through repertoire study, arranging, and composition in an interactive workshop setting. By the end of the course, you’ll have a tunebook of your original music, recordings of your solo work and arrangements, and a well-developed artistic statement about what you’re trying to achieve as a klezmer musician.
Price: $300/semester or $35/individual class
Time: Wednesdays from 10:00 - 11:00 am Boston time or semi-synchronous*
The Klezmer Clarinetist
The Klezmer Clarinetist is a detailed introduction to playing klezmer music on the clarinet. We learn the performance practice that goes with this distinctive music: the ornamentation, time feel, vibrato, and more. We'll talk clarinet specific stuff like messing with reeds and tricky fingerings. We'll use warmups, technical exercises, and etudes that are specific to klezmer sound and modes. And we'll review key repertoire and musicians you should know to keep going as a klezmer musician.
Price: $300/semester or $35/individual class
Time: Wednesdays from 2:00 to 3:00 pm Boston time or semi-synchronous*
The Classic Klezmer
The Classic Klezmer is a semester-long introduction to klezmer music. We review the history of our music, key musicians, recordings, and readings you need to know, and learn some of the core repertoire you’ll use for concert or simcha performances. We also cover the basic music theory of klezmer, including modes, cadences, time feel, and ornamentation. By the end of the course, you’ll be prepared to perform with a traditional klezmer band, or maybe even start your own!
Price: $300/semester or $35/individual class
Time: Wednesdays from 5:00 to 6:00 pm Boston time or semi-synchronous*
*Semi-synchronous
Wednesdays don't work as well for you? That's why we've added the semi-synchronous option. Here's how it works.
- You receive the class videos and any supplemental materials each week by Thursday afternoon.
- You schedule 2 30-minute check-ins with the instructor at mutually agreed upon times, once near the beginning, once near the middle, and once near the end of the course.
Available only for full semester.
Price: $200/semester
What students are saying about New Klezmer Studios
“Nat's The Working Klezmer class is a wellspring of information and inspiration which dramatically clarified the path in front of me. The detailed organizational framework for how to put together a career alone is worth the cost of the class. But in addition to sharing his own systems, processes and experiences, he's finely attuned to the circumstances and goals of each student, offering tailored advice, inspiration and vision to each student.”
“Nat Seelen proves that klezmer lives!”
“There is a great balance between learning about the music's context, engaged and focused listening to examples, and then applying the skills and knowledge via our instruments. Nat has conceived of the course along a scaffold, so that we revisit information from early on in deeper, more specific ways that are really satisfying.”
“Nat’s Classic Klezmer course opens the door into the workings of klezmer and to what makes klezmer, well, klezmer.”
Nat is a great teacher, I’ve found his ideas re improvisation in klezmer really enlightening
“Super engaging and informative class! Nat brought us into the music from the get go and walked us through interesting examples of the music and explanations of the form and style.”
Don't see what you're looking for? Consider filling out a new course request form and we'll see what we can do for next season.