The Krakauer Institute for Intensive Summer Study

About the festivals

Stage de Musique for String Players, Clarinetists, and Pianists of all levels in Vaison-La-Romaine, France. A 10-day musical retreat to focus on their personal artistry within a supportive community. Through chamber music, ensembles, lessons, Feldenkrais, yoga, public performances, and opportunities for workshops in technique, theory, composition, arranging, pedagogy, and more, K.I.I.S.S. aims to provide a learning environment for anyone looking to renew and strengthen their relationship with their instrument and their love of music. Our guiding belief is that everyone who loves music deserves the tools to pursue it with confidence and joy.

K.I.I.S.S. exists to carry forward the artistic vision and educational philosophy of violinist Barbara Liebermann Krakauer, whose lifelong commitment to musical excellence, accessibility, and responsive pedagogy inspired generations of musicians. Through performance, education, and cultural exchange, the program seeks not only to honor Barbara’s legacy, but to actively realize it in the present day.

The French term “stage” (pronounced stahj) loosely translates to a focused period dedicated towards the study of an art form or other endeavor. While many meanings and synonyms resonate, such as “training”, “course”, “formation”, “éducation”, and “préparation”, the general intent of a stage is to provide the participants with an environment free from the many distractions of daily life, within a like-minded community of co-learners, in which concentration, progress, and joy can flourish. The Krakauer Institute for Intensive Summer Study represents a revival of this tradition as it was led by the renowned violinist and pedagogue, Barbara Krakauer; now carried on by her former students and teaching assistants: violinists Katie Kresek and Colin Pip Dixon, pianists Barbara Podgurski and Rolando Garza Rodriguez, and joined by new faculty, Arnaud Ghillebaert and Michael Tafforeau.

For frequently asked questions and more information, please visit our website:
www.krakauerinstitute.org
https://www.krakauerinstitute.org/faqs