JMI KlezFest London – lasts for two weeks in the summer months incorporates KlezFest London klezmer music as well as Jewish song and dance and Ot Azoy! – Yiddish Crash Course Yiddish Language crash course in its cultural context of song, film, dance and drama. (Students may do one week only - or both weeks) KlezFest A near non-stop schedule of playing, singing, dancing, jamming, and learning from 9 am – 11.pm for six days. Students can choose sessions on one or a combination of song, dance and instrumental playing. They are able to take away not only a wealth of new music and techniques, but also a renewed outlook on life and music in general. (see student comments at the end) The up to 200 expected students who attend may be instrumentalists singers or dancers (all instruments welcome. The schedule which goes on till nearly midnight each day will include: • Yiddish Dance instruction • Learning and singing Chassidic Nigunim • 5 day courses on specialist subjects with lectures and practical work eg 'what is klezmer' 'Jewish music in the Ottoman Empire', or Jewish modes' • Instrumental workshops on style and ornaments • Ensemble creation • Exploring the repertoire, pronunciation and interpretation of Jewish song of different origin, style and language such as Yiddish, Ladino. Judeo-Arabic, Hebrew • Masterclasses for existing bands • Opportunities for working with new found fellow musicians • Jewish song in many languages with emphasis on Yiddish • Yiddish dances – how to dance and how to play for dancing Ot Azoy! 'This is the way' to learn to read, write and speak Yiddish in a Week a unique Crash Course in the almost disappearing language of Yiddish covering reading, writing, speaking and singing. We would expect an average of 40-50 students to work intensively in the mornings on: • The Hebrew alphabet • Yiddish language • Vocabulary • Grammar • Reading and writing And in the afternoons there are cultural sessions on • Learning Yiddish through song • Yiddish conversation • Yiddish drama • Context and history of Yiddish • Learning Yiddish and Yiddish Culture through film Students will have homework each day and help is provided for this. An important aspect of the summer programme is that we invite members of the public to a free klezmer Festival in one of London's Royal Parks for a whole afternoon. They hear a number of visiting bands, learn to dance and are encouraged to bring instruments and we teach them a klezmer tune. There are dance instructors and up to 2000 members of the public of all backgrounds have a great day out immersed in Jewish culture. This gives a platform for Jewish culture alongside the traditional cultures of other ethnic minorities in the UK. There will be one evening when the students hear the Faculty perform in concert, in a public performance so that the general public as well as the students have a chance to hear klezmer at its best.