California
National Road Scholar Recorder/Early Music Workshop
Program No. 6254RJ
Heighten your recorder, viola da gamba or reeds talents in large and small ensembles with world-class instructors — and end your week with a concert in bucolic Carmel Valley!
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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date.
Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
7 days
6 nights
What's Included
16 meals (
6B, 5L, 5D
)
26 hands-on experiences
2 performances
An experienced Group Leader
6 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-in, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
Location:
Carmel Valley, CA
Meals:
D
Stay:
Lubow Lodge
Activity Note
Check-in available from 2:00-5:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
Program Registration: 2:00 p.m. When you arrive at Hidden Valley’s campus, come over to the main office next to the parking lot to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing the up-to-date schedule that reflects any changes, other important information, and to confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in. At 5:00 p.m. in the Fireside Room, we’ll meet our fellow participants for a wine and cheese reception. We’ll enjoy some California wines and/or juices and savor cheese and crackers before dinner.
Dinner:
In the Dining Room.
Evening:
Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This is a Road Scholar Retreats program. Our programming at Retreat locations includes opportunities for light morning exercise, interaction with members of the local community, locally sourced meals, and evening entertainment. Every day before breakfast, there will be a very popular class of long, slow stretching and breathing in the dance studio. Toast and juice will be available in the Dining Room before class. This is not an aerobics class and there is no need for special clothing or shoes and no need for a shower afterwards. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Public bus service will be available across from the campus driveway. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local conditions/circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. We will end the evening with an orchestra introduction in the theatre where seats will be assigned and reviewed. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Day
2
Early Music Classes with Expert Faculty
Location:
Carmel Valley, CA
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Lubow Lodge
Activity Note
Pre-breakfast class of long, slow stretching and breathing in the Dance Studio. Toast and juice will be available in the Dining Room before class. Sitting and playing your instrument during music classes.
Breakfast:
In the Dining Room.
Morning:
Music class options are given in advance and are assigned based on preference and skill level. During each class period (A, B, C) there are several classes to choose from, divided by instrument, skill level, and/or subject matter. Your assigned classes remain the same throughout the program week. Expert faculty are Letitia Berlin (recorder), Frances Blaker (recorder and orchestra), Lawrence Lipnik (recorder), Mary Springfels (viola da gamba), and Wouter Verschuren (dulcian and shawm). Led by expert faculty, these small group classes will focus on areas of special interest and geared towards the application of technique — making music out of notes! Master classes and consort classes are also offered. A “consort” of instruments is an ensemble that may be all of the same instrument, e.g., a consort of recorders, or instruments from different families. Assigned Classes A and B. Please note: Our program was planned far in advance when class details and theme were not available. They will be posted when released by the workshop directors.
Lunch:
In the Dining Room.
Afternoon:
Assigned Class C and Orchestra. All participants will come together to learn in an orchestra setting. We will learn how to play as an ensemble and learn the repertoire we will perform at the end of the week.
Dinner:
In the Dining Room.
Evening:
Freelance Consorts. An opportunity to gather with fellow Road Scholar musicians to play the music you love. Time for creative music exploration, camaraderie, and sharpening our skills for the Friday night performance.
Day
3
Early Music Classes with Expert Faculty
Location:
Carmel Valley, CA
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Lubow Lodge
Activity Note
Pre-breakfast class of long, slow stretching and breathing in the Dance Studio. Toast and juice will be available in the Dining Room before class. Sitting and playing your instrument during music classes.
Breakfast:
In the Dining Room.
Morning:
Assigned Classes A and B. We will continue to learn and polish our techniques.
Lunch:
In the Dining Room.
Afternoon:
Assigned Class C and Orchestra. We’ll continue learning and rehearsing the repertoire, developing as an ensemble.
Dinner:
In the Dining Room.
Evening:
Coached sight-reading and Freelance Consorts. Sign-up sheets for coached sight-reading with instructors will be posted in advance on the bulletin board outside the Dining Room.
Day
4
Early Music Classes, Free Time
Location:
Carmel Valley, CA
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Lubow Lodge
Activity Note
Pre-breakfast class of long, slow stretching and breathing in the Dance Studio. Toast and juice will be available in the Dining Room before class. Sitting and playing your instrument during music classes.
Breakfast:
In the Dining Room.
Morning:
Assigned Classes A, B, and C. This morning we will have shorter class times and all classes will be before lunch to give us time for our free afternoon.
Lunch:
In the Dining Room, sack lunches will be available for pick-up. You are welcome to eat on-campus or take it with you on an outing.
Afternoon:
Free time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you the most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Sightseeing, hiking, kayaking... or sign up for freelance consorts on campus this afternoon.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure. This is also an opportunity for Freelance Consorts and gathering with fellow Road Scholar musicians to play the music you love. Time for creative music exploration, camaraderie, and sharpening our skills for the Friday night performance.
Day
5
Early Music Classes, Faculty Concert
Location:
Carmel Valley, CA
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Lubow Lodge
Activity Note
Pre-breakfast class of long, slow stretching and breathing in the Dance Studio. Toast and juice will be available in the Dining Room before class. Sitting and playing your instrument during music classes.
Breakfast:
In the Dining Room.
Morning:
Assigned Classes A and B.
Lunch:
In the Dining Room.
Afternoon:
Assigned Class C and Orchestra.
Dinner:
In the Dining Room.
Evening:
Faculty Concert. Our expert instructors have been rehearsing all week to present an Early Music concert to students and community members. As we enjoy the music, we will watch and learn as the masters perform repertoire that reflects the musical themes of the week’s workshop.
Day
6
Road Scholar Concert, Open Mic Night
Location:
Carmel Valley, CA
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Lubow Lodge
Activity Note
Pre-breakfast class of long, slow stretching and breathing in the Dance Studio. Toast and juice will be available in the Dining Room before class. Sitting and playing your instrument during music classes and performance.
Breakfast:
In the Dining Room.
Morning:
Assigned Classes A and B.
Lunch:
In the Dining Room.
Afternoon:
Assigned Classes C and Orchestra. Road Scholar Concert. We will perform the orchestra repertoire we have been learning and rehearsing to a small audience of our teachers and Hidden Valley community members.
Dinner:
In the Dining Room.
Evening:
Open Mic Night. We’ll end the program, celebrate the music, and new friends as we enjoy skits, solo and small group music pieces, limericks, and laughter! Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Day
7
Program Concludes
Location:
Carmel Valley, CA
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Check-out by 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast:
In the Dining Room. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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Please Note:
This program has itinerary variations on certain dates.
Nov 02, 2025 - Nov 08, 2025
Oct 26, 2025 - Nov 01, 2025
Nov 02, 2025 - Nov 08, 2025
Nov 2 - Nov 8, 2025 Itinerary Differences:
This date includes dulcian and shawm, open by audition only. Please contact the workshop director at tishberlin@sbcglobal.net to arrange an online audition.
