A Typical Day

What does a typical day look like at the Rafael Mendez Brass Institute?

Here is a brief overview of a “day-in-the-life” of a student at our summer brass seminar:
This schedule is subject to change.
 

7:30-8:30 am – Breakfast: Dorm residents

8:30- 9:45 am – Career Seminar

  • Each morning (M-F) there is a discussion-based seminar with a faculty panel. Topics change day to day. Past seminar discussions have included topics such as dealing with performance anxiety; preparing for orchestral auditions; or the business side of professional brass ensembles. Topics TBA.

10:00- 11:20 am – Master Classes

  • Participants will break into instrument sections to get in-depth pointer specific to their instruments. Participants can sign up to play in class. It is requested that participants only sign up for one master class during the week, in order to allow everyone the opportunity to play. 

11:30 am- 12:45 pm – Coaching: Groups A OR Lunch: Groups B

12:55- 2:10 pm – Coaching: Groups B OR Lunch: Groups A

  • During the lunch hours, the institute participants are split into two groups. One group will go to their brass chamber ensemble rehearsal with their faculty coach; the other will go to lunch. After an hour and 15 minutes, we switch groups. Those who were eating, now rehearse; those rehearsing, now eat.

2:20- 3:20 pm – Ensemble Rehearsal 1
3:30- 4:30 pm – Ensemble Rehearsal 2
4:40- 5:40 pm – Ensemble Rehearsal 3

  • Each brass ensemble is assigned an afternoon rehearsal time where they can meet and go over their music without their faculty coach. It’s a time to work on a tricky passage, work on ensemble, or any suggestions their coach may have made. This is an optional time period, that the ensemble can use at their discretion.

2:30- 4:30 pm – Summit Brass Rehearsal

  • The Summit Brass will be rehearsing throughout the week in preparation for the finale concert that closes the week’s events on Saturday night. These rehearsals are open, so participants who want to can sit in and see how a professional brass ensemble rehearses and works through problems. Quiet is requested for observers.

7 or 7:30- 9:00 pm – Evening Activity

  • At night, there are various activities during the week, including Artist-Faculty Recitals, Denver Brass Concert, Mock Audition Competition, and Summit Brass Finale Concert.