VMAC differs. VMAC (the Vermont Music and Arts Center) is a workshop for serious amateur musicians who would like to play chamber music in an informal and congenial atmosphere – to “take a vacation with music.”

Our faculty, professional musicians with extensive chamber music experience, often play with us, coaching from within the group, and inspiring us with their example.

In addition, instead of relying on assigned groups or pieces, we choose our own repertoire from the suggested Works of the Week, from the music we bring with us, or from VMAC’s extensive library of over 1,000 chamber works.

Groups may choose to cap off a week of studying a particular piece by playing a movement in the Friday night participant concert. Open readings for larger ensembles, early music, choral and visual arts workshops, folk dancing, plus exciting faculty performances round out the opportunities for participants to create their own musical vacation.

VMAC is unique.  Many participants eagerly look forward to the freedom of a VMAC week – the freedom to form one’s groups, ask a coach to play within or coach from without the group, and to play as much or as little as desired. There is, however, a fundamental pattern to each day: five playing sessions of 85 minutes each at 9:00, 10:35, 2:00, 3:35 and 7:30, punctuated by meals in the dining hall, optional madrigal singing at 1:00, free time at 5:00 and a social hour with snacks at 9:00.

Participants make their own schedules within the daily structure, playing as much or as little as they want. Sheet music may be checked out from VMAC’s thousand-piece library at any time.

Early Music sessions, at 9 am daily in the harpsichord room allow both newcomers and veterans to make music together without scheduling anything in advance. Other open sessions include the Wednesday afternoon Bach Bash and the opening night Large Ensemble.

Many participants look forward to completing various projects in the well-appointed art room, from stained glass to tie-dye to print-making to other media.

Morning walks through the campus with the mist still rising from the mountains, folk dancing, faculty concert, voluntary performance in Friday night concert, and the ever-popular Saturday night Fun Night full of zany skits and uninterrupted laughter bring great variety to a VMAC week.

How, you may be wondering, does scheduling actually work? Newcomers are assigned to two, get-acquainted, ensembles for the first full day (works to be played are agreed upon).  Participants find a variety of other ways to connect:

• the faculty runs a “Bookie Table” at breakfast, pairing you with others who are free at various times

• some participants use meal times and social hours to book same-day sessions and beyond

• some arrange to play specific pieces with specific musicians before VMAC begins using the list of participants by week emailed in advance

• newcomers can request a ‘buddy’ who can introduce them to other players.

The Faculty can be invited to play with you.  At VMAC the faculty looks forward to playing in your group or to coaching it from without. More intensive coaching can also be arranged through the popular WoW (Works of the Week) format. Other coached multi-session groups are easy to create, especially before the program begins in July. Slots are scheduled for pre-formed groups that are in contact with VMAC’s volunteer scheduler by late spring. Even if a participant opts for the maximum of two WoWs (or two other coached, multi-session groups), 24 other sessions during the week are still available for forming ad hoc groups or enjoying other activities.

Wind players tend to organize their playing sessions more fully than strings at the beginning of the week due to the nature of the wind repertoire. Pianists have a broad selection of chamber works in the VMAC library to choose from. Vocalists can arrange sessions with a variety of instruments and with other singers.

How Participants Derive Maximum Benefit From The Program. To derive maximum benefit from the program, participants should come prepared to play at least a few works from the standard chamber literature. The staff will gladly provide coaching on prepared works. Elementary instruction is not offered, but experienced musicians who are new to playing chamber music are very welcome.

At home we may not have the right combination of good players for larger works or unusual instrumentation, but VMAC provides winds, singers, strings, pianos, harpsichord, and an extensive music library. It gives us the opportunity to revisit works we have studied in other workshops, and to introduce other musicians to our lesser-known favorites. Most participants play with a great many others and encounter a wealth of new pieces as well as the old favorites.

The Center maintains a library of over 1000 performing editions of chamber music, from baroque to contemporary, for strings, winds, keyboard, and voice.

Participants in VMAC are automatically members of the Vermont Music and Arts Association (VMAA). The members elect a governing board, which administers the Center.