Lessons and Online Classes
Please contact us through our Contact page to inquire about private online or in-person lessons. The Amherst Early Music Festival Online classes will resume in October. We hope to see you in person at a workshop this year or next year!
American Recorder Society members are invited to apply for scholarships to weekend and weeklong workshops. Scholarships are available to players of all ages and ability levels. Applicants may join the ARS at a special ½ price rate if not already a member. Visit americanrecorder.org/scholarships for more details and to apply.
Zoom classes in October 2026. Special Practice Challenge with Tish and Frances!
1. Tuesdays, October 6, 13, and 20, 2026
10:00 am – 11:15 am Pacific/11:00 pm – 12:15 pm Mountain; 12:00 pm – 1:15 pm Central; 1:00 pm – 2:15 Eastern
Three Week Recorder Practice Challenge: With Tish Berlin and Frances Blaker
Join Tish and Frances in three sessions. The goal is to practice (even just a little) every day. Each week we’ll start with a brief check-in to see how you all did the previous 7 days. What were your challenges? Was it easy to practice all 7 days? Did you fall off the wagon, but jump back on? A short technique warm-up comes next, getting fingers, tongue and breath ready to play music together. During each session we will spend the bulk of our time playing two three-part pieces – you play with Tish and Frances. We’ll discuss aspects of each piece, special challenges, and how to practice to overcome these challenges. Participants will be muted but will hear Tish and Frances.
In week 1 we’ll work on Medieval pieces; week 2 Renaissance; week 3 Baroque.
Fee: $90, includes access to class recordings for two months. Geared to intermediate to advanced players.
2. Tuesdays, October 6, 13, and 20, 2026
3:00 pm – 4:15 pm Pacific/4:00 pm – 5:15 pm Mountain/5:00 pm – 6:15 pm Central/6:00 pm – 7:15 pm Eastern
Back to the Bass with some of Tish’s Favorites! With Tish Berlin
Let’s get back on the bass bandwagon! We’ll drill exercises for intonation, resonant low notes, clear high notes and everything in-between, we’ll work on solos and duets from the Middle Ages and Baroque periods. Let the bass recorder become your voice so you can let your musicality soar!
Fee: $75, includes access to class recordings for two months. Geared to intermediate to advanced bass recorder players.
To register and learn how to pay, please contact Tish at tibiarecorderduo@gmail.com.
IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS
WORKSHOPS
October 25-October 31, and November 1-November 7, 2026 in Carmel Valley, CA
Hidden Valley Early Music Road Scholar, Carmel Valley, CA. Open to intermediate to advanced recorders and viols. Week 2 includes a special auditioned track for advanced dulcian and shawm players with Alison Gangler. Visit https://www.roadscholar.org/find-an-adventure/6254/national-road-scholar-recorder-early-music-workshop/dates/ to register. If you are told that enrollment is closed, write to hiddenvalleymusic.org to ask about openings.
Week 1 faculty: Recorder: Tish Berlin, Frances Blaker, Larry Lipnik; Viola da gamba: David Morris; Early strings: Shira Kammen
Week 2 faculty: Recorder: Tish Berlin, Frances Blaker, Larry Lipnik; Viola da gamba: Mary Springfels, Larry Lipnik; Dulcian/shawm: Alison Gangler
February 13, 2027, Tucson AZ chapter of the American Recorder Society workshop with Tish. Details coming here.
February 28-March 5, 2027 Next Level Recorder Retreat, at The Bishop’s Ranch, Healdsburg CA
A retreat for intermediate to advanced recorder players interested in working intensively on technique and musical skills. Instructors: Miyo Aoki, Tish Berlin, and Frances Blaker. Watch this space for registration and flyer.
March 13, 2027, Farallon Recorder Quartet workshop with lutenist Cameron Welke on the Capitol Early Music series.
April 10-11, 2027 Amherst Early Music Spring Break Workshop, Arlington VA
Stay tuned for more information about this workshop for singers, recorders, lutes, and viols. Recorder faculty: Tish Berlin, Frances Blaker, Larry Lipnik, Wendy Powers.
April 17, 2027, Central Coast Recorder Society workshop
Private lessons on Friday and all-day workshop on Saturday with Tish Berlin and Frances Blaker. Learn more at https://centralcoastrecorders.org/workshop/
May 22-24, 2027, Winds and Waves Recorder Workshop, Lincoln City, OR
Winds and Waves Recorder Workshop with Tish and Frances and TBA in Lincoln City on the beautiful Oregon coast. Stay tuned for flyer.
