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World-class faculty in spectacular locations
Workshops in Bar Harbor, ME
Vocal - Tap - Instrumental Programs
Vocal
AUGUST 1-7, 2026
Brazilian/Jazz Immersion
Under the direction of master Jazz and Brazilian vocal artists and musicians, our vocal program seamlessly integrates Jazz and Brazilian repertoire. You are encouraged to bring familiar tunes you'd like to work on, as well as new repertoire to explore. Working towards our end-of-week performance, the vocal program integrates:
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Group & individual coaching with focus on song interpretation and phrasing, including daily sessions with faculty trio
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Technique and intonation
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Scat singing
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Percussion for vocalists
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Participation in one instrumental ensemble daily (vocal, improvisation & percussion)
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Jazz Harmony & Music Theory for Vocalists
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Chart Development / Arranging
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Optional Vocal / Instrumental Collaboration (duets, trios)
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Portuguese pronunciation (for those opting to sing in Portuguese)
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Tap
August 1-7, 2026
Jazz, Brazilian, Afro-Cuban
This innovative program, co-led by internationally renowned tap dancer/educator and SMJ Artistic/Music Director, Nilson Matta, focuses on teaching of tap dance repertoire in the context of Jazz, Brazilian and Afro-Cuban music. Key features of this 5-day program for adults integrates:
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Technique
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Repertoire
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Rhythmic Styles & Phrasing
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Dynamics
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Improvisation
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Live accompaniment by SMJ instrumental faculty
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Percussion for Tap Dancers
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Performance
Instrumental
We’re looking forward to returning to College of the Atlantic once again!
This spectacular campus provides just the right setting to nurture your skills in a musical environment that's challenging, but non-pressured. All participants interact directly with each of our faculty members. With a cap of six ensembles, and a faculty of master teaching artists, participants are assured of a personalized experience and individualized attention.
In addition to, and complementing, participation in three daily ensembles (Jazz, Brazilian and Afro-Cuban), our program includes:
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Harmony & Improvisation
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Instrumental Master Classes
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Brazilian & Afro-Cuban Rhythms, Styles & Phrasing
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Arranging
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Encounters with Faculty – Special Topics/Presentations
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Optional Big Band (if enough interest)
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Faculty-led jams (yes … faculty join in!)
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End-of-Week Student Performance
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Faculty Concert @ Bar Harbor’s Criterion Theatre
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End of Week Performance
August 1 - 7, 2026
Jazz, Brazilian, Afro-Cuban
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Faculty
Vocal
AVIANA GEDLER
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CHICO PINHEIRO
Tap
Members of SMJ's faculty will be accompanying tap dancers during select instructinal sessions and the culminating performance. In addition, our program includes multiple opportunties to develop musicianship by interacting and learning from instrumental faculty members in the context of rhythmic studies, improvisation, and more!
ALEXEI TSIGANOV
GUILHERME MONTEIRO
RAFAEL BARATA
Instrumental
NILSON MATTA
CHICO PINHEIRO
ZAHILI GONZALEZ ZAMORA
RAFAEL BARATA
MARK TIPTON
MIKE TUCKER
Vocal
Overview of the Week
Our week begins on a Saturday wth afternoon registrationm and our Meet & Greet / Faculty Presentation in the evening. Our daily schedule 9:00 am - 5:45pm has a built-in mid-day break for relaxing, practicing, private lessons, swimming, biking, etc.. Evenings include faculty-led jams with teachers joining in to add to the fun. Highlights include our SMJ Cabaret/Jam (teachers join in), Faculty Performance, and of course, our student concert on Friday night.
Program activities culminate on Thursday night. On-campus check-out is on Friday morning (9am checkout).
Our schedule is designed to enable exchange between between instrumental faculty with vocal and tap program.
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Tap
Overview of the Week
Our week begins with Sunday afternoon registration and dinner, followed by our Meet & Greet / Faculty Presentation and jam. The Monday-Friday instructional schedule builds in a mid-day break for relaxing, practicing, private lessons, biking, a jaunt into Acadia National Park or town, etc. Evenings are filled with faculty-led jams, with faculty joining in! Highlights of the week include our SMJ Cabaret/Jam (cash bar), faculty performance at Bar Harbor’s famed Criterion Theatre, and of course, our culminating student concert. Program activities culminate on Friday night. On-campus checkout is Saturday morning.
Instrumental
After Saturday afternoon on-site registration and dinner (either on- or off-campus), all participants and guests are invited to our Meet & Greet Faculty Orientation which includes a short faculty performance, followed by a jam.
Our 5-day Sunday-Thursday instructional schedule (9am - 5:45pm) builds in a mid-day break to allow for jaunts into Acadia National Park (literally minutes away), town as well s private lessons, practicing, or a snooze! Evenings include jams led by faculty, our special SMJ Cabaret/Jam and SMJ’s annual Faculty Performance. Program activities culminate on Thursday night, with on-campus lodging check-out early Saturday morning.
NEW FOR 2026! Participants are invited to book up to three additional nights (Fri, Sat, Sun) on campus after our program concludes on Thursday night - should you wish to spend more time in the Bar Harbor area. While we do not at this time have plans for extended programming, please let us know if you might be interested in the possibility.
Overview of the Week