Residencies
We offer expertise in improvisation and commissioning for a unique instrumentation that provides students with valuable insights into exploring and pushing the boundaries of music. We enjoy sharing what we have learned through our collaborations, partnerships, and experimentation through a variety of residency activities.
Residency Activities
Chamber Music Coachings and Masterclasses
We offer chamber music coachings and masterclasses for small ensembles as well as masterclasses for students on our instruments.
Contemporary Improvisation
Improvisation is a great practice for any musician. We lead improvisation workshops for all ages and experience levels, and offer side-by-side performances with students.
Composition Workshop
We workshop and present performances of student composition pieces, providing feedback for student composers and give instruction on the nuances of writing for our instruments, especially in the context of notating extended techniques.
Commissioning Process
As an ensemble we have been commissioning pieces since our founding, resulting in 15+ new works to date. We offer a seminar discussing how to approach a composer, fundraise for a new piece, create a commissioning contract, and collaborate effectively.
Open Rehearsals
We welcome students into our rehearsals to observe our collaborative and democratic rehearsal process, and answer questions along the way. We offer a view into the process of rehearsing brand new works.
Leveraging your Student Status Seminar
Having founded during our undergraduate studies, we offer students advice on ways to use the resources and connections that come with student status to get their personal projects and ensembles off the ground.
Entrepreneurial Musicianship
Each of us has administrative duties to keep our ensemble running, much of which we have developed by applying entrepreneurial thinking to our musical endeavors. In this presentation we talk about starting an ensemble, professional development, marketing, financial literacy, and the importance of networking.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
In addition to our work as Else, if Else we each have diverse performance careers. In this presentation we touch on the work we do with dancers, visual artists, and other disciplines. We discuss how to approach interdisciplinary work and how rewarding it can be.