How can art be more engaging, more evocative, and more meaningful to our communities? What is a way of delivering a performance that is more immersive and satisfying? How do we create the chamber music lovers of tomorrow? Beo answers these questions with well-crafted educational seminars, workshops, and children's shows.
Workshops
Technology and the String Quartet
Modern chamber projects can include video projections, pre-recorded tracks, amplification, and digital effects—providing a more immersive experience. Beo's original projects benefit logistically from being entirely self-produced and need no technical support from a traditional or alternative venue. In their hands-on workshop, Beo pulls back the curtain on their technical setup and discusses viable options for those performers, composers, and educators interested in incorporating technology into their collaborations and classrooms.
Chamber performance masterclass
Today, performing at the highest level is the minimum expected standard for a professional quartet. Beo shares its professional expertise with pre-prefessional ensembles.
Music ensemble… or string quartet?
Composers who understand the tonal capabilities, history, and future trajectory of the string quartet - a unique instrument in development for 250 years - will have greater artistic success when writing for the ensemble. Beo gives composers further insight into a quartet’s perspective by first showing how the individual sounds of the instruments are achieved and combined in the group, and continuing with a discussion of its mission, programming, and business organization in contrast to flexible-roster ensembles.
Composer readings and feedback
Beo reads student works and discusses common notational pitfalls, makes writing suggestions, and shares tips with communicating effectively with performers.
Sean teaching a masterclass at the Conservatorio del Tolima in Ibagué, Colombia.
University seminars
Everything but the notes
Expressive markings are often the composer's only means of communication with their performers. Beo shows the huge impact of expressive markings on a composition's affect by performing five layered versions of a sample passage from Bartok's 4th String Quartet. Beo also demonstrates the specific string playing techniques and their markings to assist composers who are native to other instruments. The message is clear: pitch and rhythm may sometimes by the least important aspect of music on the page!
Thinking as an entrepreneur
This is an aspect of our field that is quickly becoming more and more important. Beo explains fundamentals of branding and business organization in our global social media culture.
“Beo is that rare ensemble that blends an international caliber of quartet playing with a whole-hearted commitment to education.”
Children’s shows
Stories through music
After a display of musical brinkmanship to highlight the capabilities of each instrument, Beo takes students through five original musical stories featuring descriptive language and simple, humorous contrasts. By discerning which sounds tell the story (and which don’t!). Children connect their listening skills to their creative imagination.
(Grades K-12)
You can already play chamber music!
Make noise, get up from your seat, and communicate through music! Beo uses interactive games designed to teach three essential skills of chamber music: 1) communicating without words, 2) listening to the melody, and 3) doing more than one thing at a time. Suited to audiences up to 1,000 at any level of musical experience.
(Grades 3-8)
“...900 children, ranging from grades 3 through 8... all were captivated and inspired.”
