Chamber Music Protocol

PACO feels that chamber music is essential to a musician's growth and is the gateway to playing well with others. All students are placed in a chamber ensemble and get a chance to work with our faculty, our pedagogical ambassadors and perform on one of our concert sets. 

1. Per the forms filled out in the summer, students will be grouped in ensembles of similar level and schedule to accommodate rehearsals. 

2. Rehearsals - all groups are expected to rehearse weekly, receiving up to 5 professional coachings and supported by our PA’s. In a ten week set, we expect ten rehearsals.  For SuperStrings and Prep, with your 17 week set, we expect 10-12 rehearsals. For SuperStrings and Prep will be given priority to our pedagogical ambassadors as coaches at your non-professional coachings - this can be challenging to arrange, but we do our best to accommodate the complexities of everyone’s busy schedules. Debut and Sinfonia will receive additional student support when available. 

3. Coachings - All Non-academy chamber groups will be given coachings with professional coaches.  Pending the orchestra level and number of rehearsal per set, coachings will be assigned to support student growth. This will be managed and organized by our Chamber Music Director, Eugene Sor. All coachings will be with our PACO faculty. Coachings with faculty will be held at the UUCPA in Palo Alto (.3 miles from Cubberly).  Non-professional rehearsals (PA’s or uncoached) will be held at one of the quartet members homes or occasionally the hallways of Cubberly. 

4. Performance - each non-academy chamber ensemble will have the opportunity to perform on one of their concert sets.  This is determined by availability.