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Dr. Sera Jane Smolen
Home / Performance & Discography / Teaching / Creative Ability Development / Publications / Current Projects / Links

Teaching

TEACHING EXPERIENCE:

Cello Studio, Ithaca, NY, 1988-present; Certified Suzuki Instructor, ages 3-up, Pre-Twinkle to Book 10; Creative Ability Development at all stages;Waldorf School cello instructor: See teaching calendar and videos below

Ithaca Waldorf School, Ithaca NY, 1988-1999, 2008-present

Cello, Improvisation, Improvising Chamber Music, The Kanack School, Rochester, NY, 2006-10

Cello, double bass, Mansfield University, Mansfield, PA., 1999- 2005

Music Therapy Department, Mansfield University, from Spring 2000. Research, design and implement an ongoing Improvisation workshop series, topics spanning a 4 year program.

Adjunct Professor, Alfred University, Alfred, N.Y., 1995-1996

Cello  instructor and Program co-ordinator, Ithaca Talent Education, Ithaca, N.Y.,1987-1994

Suzuki Teacher training,  graduate and undergraduate, Ithaca College, 1987-1994

Sabbatical replacement for Cello, Hobart-William Smith College, Geneva, N.Y.,1983-1984


Sera by her mailbox!! 210north Corn St. Ithaca NY 14850 (Between Seneca and Buffalo)

Guest Clinician at Regional Suzuki Workshops, U.S and Canada, from 1988

Instructor at annual Summer Suzuki Institutes from 1989:
rrrr- Ithaca Suzuki Institute, from 1989-1994
rrrr- North Eastern Suzuki Institute, ME., from 1994-2005, 2011
rrrr-Southwestern Ontario Suzuki Institute, Wilfrid Laurier University, 1997-present

-Edmonton Suzuki Institute, University of Alberta, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010

-Ogontz Suzuki Institute, New Hampshire, - 2006-2008

-Music As Play: All-Improvised summer program-Ithaca, NY- from 2009

rrrFestivals 

New Directions Cello Festival: Assistant Director, Educational co-ordinator, Steering Committee, performer, workshop presenter, writer,  1991-present

Young People's  Festival (for young improvising cellists,  at  NDCF, above): Teacher, Steering Committee, Co-ordinator, 1997-present

Chiron Festival of the Creative Spirit:  Performer, consultant, from 1988-1999 Young People's  Composition Festival:  Co-ordinator,  (for young composers, part of Chiron, above)1996-2000

Binghamton Cello Festival: Workshop leader, consultant, 1989-2007

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Below is a small sample of our annual end-of-the-year dance. We all gather with family and guest musicians, a dance caller, as well as guests and family members for a rousing session of dances and music from around the world. All the musicians look forward to next years dance when they will know more songs, while seasoned improvisors also love to offer their music. This is an event which pedagogically combines elements of reading music with improvisation, and musical styles found around the world. It integrates private practice with community service. This particular dance is one of our favorites: a Ukranian dance..

2011 - 2012 Performance/Teaching Schedule

Dr Sera Smolen researched Anthroposophical principles of Rudolf Steiner in order to understand how Waldorf based curriculum and the Suzuki philosophy relate to one another. Lessons and classes are taught using pedagogical principles from both these world-changing teachers. Dr. Smolen teaches according to the "mother tongue" method of Dr. Suzuki, while allowing students to develop into whole musicians by combining performance by heart, music reading, world musics, improvisation and composition at all levels. Dr. Smolen has been working for 25 years with Alice Kanack to develop the Creative Ability Development method, educating the creative part of the brain. Scheduling for lessons and classes are indicated below. Mondays and Tuesdays Dr. Smolen teaches at the Ithaca Studio. Wednesday at the Ithaca Waldorf School, Wednesday afternoon and Thursdays at the Studio indicated below.

210 North Corn St.--Green house with Green trim, with mailbox, see picture above

(Between Seneca and Buffalo--Park either in driveway or on opposite side of street)

Ithaca, NY 14850

607-277-0761

September | Ocober | November | December | January | February | March | April | May | June

= Group classes in Ithaca Studio

Ithaca Studio= Lessons

No Lessons= No lessons, no class

= Performance, holiday or special event

September

monday tuesday wednesday thursday

special events

5

6

7

8

How is the Triangle Working this year?

 

12

Ithaca Studio

13

Ithaca Studio

14

Ithaca Studio

15

Ithaca Studio


Beginning of the year! Tuition is paid monthly, at the beginning of each month.

Practice Marathon begins!

19

Ithaca Studio

No Class

20

Ithaca Studio

No Class

21

Ithaca Studio

No Class

22

Ithaca Studio

No Class

Collect Achievement Cards!

9/24: Sera performs CCO Concert - 8pm

26

Ithaca Studio

 

 

27

Ithaca Studio

28

Ithaca Studio

 

 

29

Ithaca Studio

 

 

October

monday tuesday wednesday thursday Special Events

3

Ithaca Studio

 

4

Ithaca Studio

5

Ithaca Studio

6

Ithaca Studio

 

10

Ithaca Studio

No Class

11

Ithaca Studio

No Class

12

Ithaca Studio

No Class

 

13

Ithaca Studio

No Class

 

17

Ithaca Studio

18

Ithaca Studio

19

Ithaca Studio

 

20

Ithaca Studio

 

 

 

24

Ithaca Studio

No Class

25

Ithaca Studio

No Class

26

Ithaca Studio

No Class

 

27

Ithaca Studio

No Class

 

10/29: Sera performs CCO Concert - 8pm

November

monday tuesday wednesday thursday Special Events

31

Ithaca Studio

1

Ithaca Studio


2

Ithaca Studio

 

3

Ithaca Studio

 

In Class Recitals

7

No Lessons

No Class

8

No Lessons

No Class

9

No Lessons

No Class

10

No Lessons

No Class

Special Projects Begin

14

No Lessons

No Class

15

No Lessons

No Class

 

16

No Lessons

No Class

 

17

No Lessons

No Class

 

Tom and Sera Concert Tour in Europe

 

21

No Lessons

No Class

22

No Lessons

No Class

23

No Lessons

No Class

24

No Lessons

No Class

Thanksgiving Vacation

Tom and Sera Concert Tour in Europe

 

December

monday tuesday wednesday thursday Special Events

28

No Lessons

No Class

29

No Lessons

No Class


30

No Lessons

No Class


1

No Lessons

No Class

 

Tom and Sera Concert Tour in Europe

 

 

5

Ithaca Studio

6

Ithaca Studio

7

Ithaca Studio

 

8

Ithaca Studio

 

Special Projects Continue

12

Ithaca Studio


13

Ithaca Studio

14

Ithaca Studio

 

15

Ithaca Studio

 

Special Projects Recital - Trinity Lutheran Church

 

19

Make up Lessons
Day

20

Make up Lessons
Day

 

21

No Lessons

No Class

22

No Lessons

No Class

Dec 20: Group Class Concert at Loaves and Fishes soup kitchen Ithaca NY

26

No Lessons

No Class

27

No Lessons

No Class

28

No Lessons

No Class

29

No Lessons

No Class

Holidays

January

monday tuesday wednesday thursday Special Events

2

Ithaca Studio

No Class

3

Ithaca Studio

No Class

4

Ithaca Studio

No Class

5

Ithaca Studio

No Class

"Unschooling Month" Begins: Choose something you have always wanted to learn about, and we will explore as much as we can about it.

9

Ithaca Studio

 

10

Ithaca Studio

11

Ithaca Studio

 

12

Ithaca Studio

"Music at the Movies"

16

Ithaca Studio

No Class

 

17

Ithaca Studio

No Class

18

Ithaca Studio

No Class

 

19

Ithaca Studio

No Class

 

"Unschooling Month" continues

         

23

Ithaca Studio

 

24

Ithaca Studio

25

Ithaca Studio

 

26

Ithaca Studio



Phase 1 of Composers Project begins

February

monday tuesday wednesday thursday Special Events

30

Ithaca Studio

 

31

Ithaca Studio

1

Ithaca Studio

 

2

Ithaca Studio

 

 

 

 

6

Ithaca Studio

No Class

 

7

Ithaca Studio

No Class

 

8

Ithaca Studio

No Class

 

 

9

Ithaca Studio

No Class

 

2/11: Sera performs CCO Concert - 8pm

13

Ithaca Studio

No Class

14

Ithaca Studio

No Class

 

15

Ithaca Studio

No Class

16

Ithaca Studio

No Class

Phase 2 of Composer's Project begins

Feb 19th: CCO - Quartet for the End of Time, 4pm - Unitarian Church

20

No Lessons

No Class

21

No Lessons

No Class

22

No Lessons

No Class

23

No Lessons

No Class



Winter Break

Guest Clinician Royal Conservatory in
Toronto, and Oakville, Ontario

March

monday tuesday wednesday thursday Special Events

27

Ithaca Studio

28

Ithaca Studio

29

Ithaca Studio

1

Ithaca Studio



Cayuga Chamber Orchestra Educational Outreach, 2nd grade classrooms in Tompkins County

5

Ithaca Studio

No Class

 

6

Ithaca Studio

No Class

7

Ithaca Studio

No Class

 

8

Ithaca Studio

No Class

 

Composers Project: Begin Rough Draft
3/10: Sera performs CCO Concert - 8pm

 

12

Ithaca Studio

13

Ithaca Studio


14

Ithaca Studio

15

Ithaca Studio

 

19

Ithaca Studio

No Class

20

Ithaca Studio

No Class


21

Ithaca Studio

No Class

22

Ithaca Studio

No Class

Composer's Project: Final Draft Complete

April

monday tuesday wednesday thursday Special Events

26

Ithaca Studio

27

Ithaca Studio

28

Ithaca Studio

29

Ithaca Studio

 



2

Ithaca Studio

No Class

3

Ithaca Studio

No Class

4

Ithaca Studio

No Class

5

Ithaca Studio

No Class

April 3: Composer's Concert: Trinity Lutheran Church

9

No Lessons

No Class

10

No Lessons

No Class


11

No Lessons

No Class

12

No Lessons

No Class

Spring Break

16

Ithaca Studio

17

Ithaca Studio

18

Ithaca Studio

19

Ithaca Studio


 

23

Ithaca Studio

No Class

 

24

Ithaca Studio

No Class

25

Ithaca Studio

No Class

 

26

Ithaca Studio

No Class



 

May

monday tuesday wednesday thursday Special Events

30

Ithaca Studio

1

Ithaca Studio


2

Ithaca Studio


3

Ithaca Studio

 

7

Ithaca Studio

No Class

8

Ithaca Studio

No Class


9

Ithaca Studio

No Class

10

Ithaca Studio

No Class

 

5/12: Sera performs CCO Concert - 8pm

14

Ithaca Studio

15

Ithaca Studio

16

Ithaca Studio

17

Ithaca Studio

 

21

Ithaca Studio

No Class

22

Ithaca Studio

No Class

23

Ithaca Studio

No Class

24

Ithaca Studio

No Class



 

June-July-August

monday tuesday wednesday thursday Special Events

28

Ithaca Studio

29

Ithaca Studio

30

Ithaca Studio

31

Ithaca Studio

 

4

Ithaca Studio

5

Ithaca Studio

 

6

Ithaca Studio

7

Ithaca Studio

 

11

Make-Up Lessons Day?

12

Make-Up Lessons Day?

 

13

Make-Up Lessons Day?

14

Make-Up Lessons Day?

Dances From Around the World

Make up Days TBA in case of illness or snow days

 

June 26 through July 2

Summer

Institute

NORTH EASTERN SUZUKI INSTITUTE

MAINE

July 5(tues) through July 9(sat) Creative Ability Development MUSIC AS PLAY: ITHACA, NY
July 18 through July 24 Creative Ability Development MUSIC AS PLAY: BLACKSBURG, VA
August 14 through August 19

Summer

Institute

SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO SUZUKI INSTITUTE, Kitchenor-Waterloo, Ontario
August 8 through August 12 Creative Ability Development MUSIC AS PLAY: ITHACA, NY
        What will your summer study be? It is always very inspiring and it keeps you motivated for the entire next year!
         

 

 

 

 

 

Home / Performance & Discography / Teaching / Creative Ability Development / Publications / Current Projects / Links

Questions or comments about this site? Contact Sera: serasmolen@earthlink.net
Website last modified September 2011 rSite design by Nomad DigitalrrGraphics assist:Diana Souza

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