CREATIVE STRINGS

CREATIVE STRINGS IMPROVISERS ENSEMBLE

Programs that engage and inspire young musicians' self expression through improvisation, composition and global music.

We develop the complete artist in young musicians

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Gwen Laster - Founder/Artistic Director
Damon Banks - Co-Founder

Gwen and Damon lead residencies, masterclasses, workshops and concerts based on concepts developed over the past 10 years of working with students who've been educated in the Creative Strings Improvisers curriculum. We design personalized and intuitive residencies to broaden, develop, & expand your ensemble's repertoire, technique & capacity to experience multi genre music through a wide angle lens. Our curriculum is created to provide students with a rigorous, performance-based workshop that will develop and enhance their overall musicianship. Help students define and embrace their individual talents, strengths and abilities. Assist students in the understanding and appreciation of music from cultures other than their own. Create a safe, supportive, non-competitive environment where students can be free to experiment, take creative risks and explore different ways to express themselves through musical interaction. Email us for your personalized program, scheduling and fees.

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CSIE OVERVIEW OF WORKSHOPS OFFERED ROOTS AND RHYTHMS

Roots and Rhythms - Introduction to rhythms, songs and improvisation derived from Global Music. Concepts from this workshop are included in Gwen's violin method book- Music for the Creative String Player.

Songs, Improvisation, Composing - Utilizing specific rhythms and melodic ideas from songs to develop improvisation collective improvisation & introductory composing.

Concepts from Roots/Rhythm, Songs, Improvisation, Composing workshop are included in Gwen's violin method book - Music for the Creative String Player

Play Through Changes - Utilizing traditional skills to improvise through various Jazz and Blues forms from North and South America.

Improvising Beyond Borders - Exploring traditional and experimental Jazz and Improvisation genres.

Blues and Jazz - Instructors guide students through the playing and analysis of selected blues standards, jazz standards and traditional song forms (including 12,16 and 24 bar blues formats)

Spoken Word/Multi Media - Instructors guide students through the history of (and various approaches to) “performance poetry”. Music students collaborate with each other to create a performance-based poetry performance. They have the option of using popular works of poetry and/or original poems written by the students themselves.

Mixed World Ensemble - Utilizing rhythms and musical tonalities from around the world to help students compose and improvise using non-Western aesthetics and musical environments.

Gwen and bassist Damon Banks- https://damonbanks.net/ lead residencies and workshops at various schools, colleges and summer camps. Contact us here for an overview and personalized curriculum.

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CREATIVE STRINGS IMPROVISERS ENSEMBLE - WINTER / SPRING CLASSES

2nd Cohort: Creative Strings Little Learners

Location:

J.V. Forrestal School, Beacon, New York

Instructors:

Gwen Laster and Teaching Intern Gabriel Salcedo

Class Schedule:

Days: Mondays and Wednesdays

Dates: October 16, 2023 - January 10, 2024

Time: 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Grade Levels:

2nd and 3rd graders

Program:

Beginning Violin

Creative Strings Improvisers Ensemble

Location:

Beacon, NY

Instructors:

Gwen Laster, Founder and Artistic Director

Private Lesson Fees:

Beacon, NY:

30 minutes: $50

45 minutes: $70

1 hour: $90

30 minutes (duo): $60 ($30 per student)

45 minutes (duo): $80 ($40 per student)

45 minutes (trio): $105 ($35 per student)

New York City:

1 hour: $150

Additional Information:

Sliding scale rates available

Family rates available

CSIE's TEACHING ARTIST AFFILIATES

We are thrilled to offer the best and brightest teaching artists who are world class performers and innovative, intuitive educators. We collaborate with these teaching artist affiliates to help support our personalized residencies. To schedule private lessons with any of our TAA's, please email takeasolo2020@gmail.com.

DAMON BANKS

Co-founder

Having been exposed to a wide range of musical genres, and "schools of thought" expanded Damon’s curiosity as a composer, producer and global music history devotee and musician. His ability to adapt creatively and remain open-minded yielded countless collaborations with genre-bending, musical trendsetters worldwide. Teaching electric bass, upright bass and composition.Traditional, Jazz and Global music. More about Damon here.

TODD ISLER

Drummer, Teacher, Author

Teaches and performs the South Indian Rhythm system to help musicians ground and expand their sense of rhythm. More about Todd here.

TRINA BASU

Violinist

Trina Basu is an adventurous violinist, improviser, and teacher living in Brooklyn, NY. Her music draws from Western and Indian classical, jazz, and creative improvisation traditions. More about Trina here.

ARUM RAMAMURTHY

Violinist

Arun Ramamurthy is a versatile violinist, educator and organizer rooted in his lifelong training of South Indian Carnatic music. Arun is a disciple of the celebrated violinist brothers, Dr. Mysore Manjunath & Sri Mysore Nagaraj, the distinguished violinist Sri. Ananthakrishnan as well as many early years with western classical violinist Jim Mate. More about Arun here.

AYODELE MAAKHERU

Multi Instrumentalist

Ayodele Maakheru - Multi Instrumentalist playing guitar, banjo, mandolin, and ukulele. A performer with numerous Broadway/Off Broadway experience, studies in ethnomusicology, theory and composition. More about Ayodele here.

MELANIE DYER

Violinist

Performs and composes in creative, improvised and through-composed music spheres. Her performances are influenced by experimental jazz, avant garde and creating unique sound adventures through viola. More about Melanie here.

JAKE CHARKEY

Cellist

Jake Charkey is an acclaimed cellist with a strong background in both Western classical music and Hindustani music. He is also an eclectic improviser, drawing from his extensive training in both Eastern and Western musical traditions. More about Jake here.

POET GOLD

Writer, Spoken Word Performance Artist and Community "Artivist"

Poet Gold is a published writer, spoken word performance artist, poet, and community “artivist”. Her work is driven by the desire to to triumph over personal challenges and the belief that everyone has greatness inside of them. More about Poet Gold here.

FREDDIE BRYANT

Guitarist, Composer and Educator

Highly versatile as a jazz, classical, Brazilian and world music genre player. More about Freddie here

CREATIVE STRINGS ENSEMBLE - OUR HISTORY

Ongoing Programs and Events

Creative Strings Improvisers Ensemble
- Private and Ensemble Lessons: Ongoing
Ravinia
- Professional Development: August 2023
Piedmont Learning Academy for Youth
- 3-day Residency: Raleigh Durham, NC, Summer 2022, 2023
Beac-Klyn Strings Collaborate!
- Concerts:
  - With Brooklyn Violin House and Brooklyn Conservatory of Music: November 2022
  - With Brooklyn Violin House: May 2021 (Brooklyn Violin House)
Beacon Program
- Virtual and Outdoor: Winter/Spring 2021
- At Howland Cultural Center: Fall 2019 - Winter/Spring 2020
- At Compass Arts: 2018-2019

Past Engagements

Teaching and Workshops
- Poughkeepsie Day School: String Faculty, 2009-2015
- Monthly Workshops in Brooklyn: 2013-2015
- Sphinx Performance Academy: Summer Workshop, Roosevelt University
- Midwest Young Artists: Summer Workshop, Chicago
- Summer Intensives:
  - ShapeShifter Lab, Brooklyn: 2013
  - Chapel Restoration, Cold Spring, NY: 2010-2012
Workshops:
- Eastman School of Music: September 2012
- Sphinx Prep Academy: February 2011
Institute at Interlochen: 2008-2011

GWEN LASTER

CREATIVE STRINGS

Gwen Laster - Founder/Artistic Director
Damon Banks - Co-Founder

CREATIVE STRINGS IMPROVISERS ENSEMBLE - WINTER / SPRING CLASSES