The inaugural Oakland University Strings Day will take place Sat., Oct. 22 in Varner Hall, hosted by the Music, Theater and Dance Department.

The event, with a registration fee of $35, is intended to give high school students interested in majoring in or taking music courses a chance to meet with OU’s string playing faculty.

“I think the days that we have where we invite the students out are very important, because otherwise we’re just a name to them and maybe a reputation,” said violin and viola instructor Elizabeth Rowin. “They don’t know anything about the actual people that they would be studying with.  Maybe they really found this faculty person very funny, very insightful, and thought they played really well.”

The activities began at 9:30 a.m. with a listening and formal analysis of the piece “Geminiani Concerto Grosso op. 3 No. 2 in g minor” led by Jenine Brown, instructor of theory and music analysis.  This session is intended to familiarize participants with a song a string orchestra might typically play.

Following this session, Alan MacNair, director of the Oakland Chamber Orchestra, will lead attendees in a rehearsal of the Geminiani music in preparation for a recital for their parents at the end of the day.  Topics discussed will include bow technique and how to play in an ensemble.

This will be followed by a short faculty recital in Varner Hall, giving instructors the opportunity to show off their skills to potential students.

After the recital, visitors will have the opportunity to attend a master class with instructors for their instrument.  They will also be able to perform a solo and receive an individual coaching session.

“(My) clinic will cover how to improvise music, basically centered around string techniques,” said Miles Brown, associate professor of jazz and classical string bass.  “Sometimes that can be a little different than saxophone or trumpet, the standard improvisation instruments.”

A question and answer session for parents will be hosted by associate professor of music education Joseph Shively discussing Oakland’s program. Festivities will conclude with a recital from the high school students, a culmination of the day-long program. Brown believes these events help recruitment.

“I know a couple students that didn’t necessarily know Oakland had a music program,” he said.  “Now they do.”

Strings day is part of a series of events including percussion, woodwind, brass, voice and piano.  The remainder of those events will take place in January 2012.

Upcoming Workshops:

Jan. 7 — Woodwinds Day

Jan. 14 — Voice Day

Jan. 28 — Percussion Day

Feb. 4 — Piano Day