Details of Workshop at San José State University (SJSU)

October 10–11, 2026

Application & Payment Deadline: Saturday August 29, 2026

San José State University
One Washington Square, San José, CA 95192

If you're feeling sick or need to cancel for any reason, please let us know as soon as possible. Finding a replacement takes time, and we want to minimize disruptions for your group. If illness is the reason, we’ll do our best to reimburse your fees.


Registration

For Members

  • Log in to your member account.
  • Pay your dues if you are not current.
  • Complete the workshop application and submit payment.
  • Financial aid is available to current CMNC members.

For Non-Members

  • If you already have an account: log in, complete the workshop application, and make your payment.
  • If you're new: create an account, log in, complete the application, and submit payment.
    • Tip: You can receive discounted rates by becoming a CMNC member.

    Fees

    Workshop Fees
    October  10 & 11, 2026

    Member

    NON-Member

    Member Financial Aid

    BOTH Days

    $450

    $480

    $0

    SATURDAY only

    $250

    $270

    $0

    SUNDAY only

    $210

    $230

    $0

    We also invite you to make a donation to CMNC. See the Donate Button on the Home page.

    FORMAT for SJSU Workshop:

    For this workshop we will have coaching for all participants on Saturday and Sunday. You may attend as an individual, or as a preformed group one day or both days.

    • Saturday participants: Arrive at 8:30–8:55 Saturday, to register and chat before 9:00 start time and Orientation Meeting.
      CMNC will provide coffee and pastries during registration.
      • Saturday will consist of a full day coached session, 15 minute break periods morning and afternoon, lunch period and master classes (4:15-5:30).
      • Saturday will also include a coaches' concert (5:45-6:30), dinner period and freelancing thereafter.
      • Our lunches will be 12:00-1:00, and dinner 6:30-7:30.
      • Freelancing will be 7:30-10:00. You are encouraged to freelance.
      • All music must be returned by 10:15.
    • Sunday Participants: Arrive at 8:30–8:55 Sunday, to register and chat before 9:00 start time and Orientation Meeting for all.
      CMNC will provide coffee and pastries during registration.
      • Sunday will consist of a full day coached session and 12:00-1:00 lunch period, and 15 minute break periods morning and afternoon.
      • The Sunday session will end at 4:00 with an optional performance sampler at 4:15. All groups are encouraged to perform the work they were coached on. Those not performing are welcome to stay and listen, or to leave at 4 pm.
      • All music must returned by 5:30.
    • Freelancing is encouraged Saturday evening until 10:00, and at lunchtimes on both days. The CMNC Library music is available.
    • Music Library Hours – Rm 108
      Saturday: 9:00 – 5:40, 6:30 – 10:15 Sunday: 9:00 – 5:15
    • Instrument storage: Security room provided for meal periods and coaches' concert.

    News and Notes for this workshop

    For questions, problems or any other need to contact us:

    1. Phone 510-828-4148 and leave a message, or
    2. Use our Contact Page

    Application Decisions:

    We consider all applications up to the deadline date, but sometimes have to waitlist or accept participants only one day to manage instrument balance. We are also limited by the number of rooms we are allowed to use at each of our venues.

    Whether you are applying for one day or both days, please indicate on the application if you (and/or your preformed group) can attend either day. This will be greatly appreciated and your acceptance possibly might hinge on your flexibility. Of course, if you can only attend one day, we will make an effort to accommodate you.

    • If you apply as an Individual, we will assign you to groups and provide music for you on both Saturday and Sunday.
    • A limited number of Preformed Groups will be accepted for the workshop. Applicants can apply as a preformed group for one or both days for this workshop.
      • Preformed groups must provide their own music and a score for the coach (even if the score is a piano part, an additional copy must be provided).
      • Minimum group size is a trio. Preference may be given to larger groups depending on the number of applicants and available rooms.
      • All members of preformed groups must be listed on the initial application and each preformed group member must submit an application, including payment, by the Application Deadline
      • If a player in a preformed group needs to cancel, it is the responsibility of the group members to recruit for replacement player(s). The CMNC workshop committee does not recruit for preformed groups.
    • Less experienced players are invited to consider pre-forming groups. Although this requires a bit more effort to form the group, many have found that it enhances both enjoyment and learning from our valued coaches. Please see Gaining Experience
    • Everyone (each player) must be a registered participant in order to be covered by our insurance.

    Preformed: a chamber music group, trio or larger, formed by individuals outside of the workshop. For example, you and three friends have been playing together as a quartet and your group would like to attend the workshop to receive coaching.
    Your group decides on the piece, perhaps a movement or more, works on it prior to the workshop, and comes prepared to be coached, bringing your parts and a separate score for the coach.

    Pre-Workshop Timeline:

    Application and Payment Deadline:   Saturday, August 29, 2026

    Please pay the workshop fee when you apply. Fees for any day(s) that you are waitlisted will be refunded in full prior to the workshop.

    Acceptance:
    Notification of acceptance status and music assignments to non-preformed groups will be sent out via email about two weeks before the workshop.

    If you are accepted, we are planning on your presence, and it is crucial that you come.

    • If you cannot come, please notify us, the earlier the better. Your cancellation is not official until we acknowledge it, so you have confirmation that your message was received.
    • To ensure a workable instrument balance, some applicants may be accepted for only one day or wait-listed subject to cancellations.
      • For example, there are a limited number of pianos, so we may not be able to accept all the pianists who apply.

    Assignment notifications:   

    • Assignments will be discussed with pianists about 2 weeks before the workshop.
    • Because both days are coached, participants will be notified of both Saturday and Sunday group assignments about 2 weeks before the workshop.
    • A section in our Links page suggests the likeliest places to quickly obtain music
    • A roster will be available to accepted applicants to facilitate communication and possible pre-workshop rehearsal.

    If you are wait-listed, your payment will be refunded in full; we will contact you if the workshop balance changes.

    Cancellations:

    • For this workshop, CMNC is providing a different refund policy than usual due to the ongoing uncertainty of the pandemic.
    • We urge you not to attend if you are not feeling well, and we will give refunds for cancellation due to illness at any time.
    • If you are healthy, we equally urge you to think of your attendance as a commitment to your colleagues, especially those in your playing group, who are depending on you for their workshop experience. Please honor this commitment, and if you find you must cancel, please give us as much notice as possible.

    If you must cancel, contact us. If we don't respond quickly, keep trying until we confirm your cancellation.

    Freelancing

    is available Saturday evening after dinner until 10:00 pm, and during lunch times. The Library is closed during meal times, so check out library music beforehand.

    • FAQ: What is Freelancing?    Please read explanation and ground rules
    • Table with room signup list and freelance sheets is near the Registration table
    • Each group should sign up for a room
    • Rooms with pianos should be reserved by piano groups
    • Use a Freelance signup sheet if you want to play a piece but you need players
    • CMNC library of chamber music scores and parts will be available for freelancing and assignments -- over 1200 items for 3 to 16 players. Look at our online listing.

    Effective workshop participation

    requires a reasonable level of technical competence and previous familiarity with chamber music.

    • True beginners are not likely to be adequately prepared for the experience of playing at the workshop.
    • If you are a beginner, we encourage you to form chamber groups at home in order to gain self-confidence and some familiarity with the literature before applying to play at an organized workshop.
    • CMNC members receive a directory of all members, which will help you in forming groups for this purpose.
    • CMNClist is another good way to find fellow players.
    • CMNC also recommends the chamber music classes for adults at the Crowden school and elsewhere in the SF Bay Area
    • See Gaining Chamber Music Experience
    • To ensure a workable instrument balance, the workshop may have to set specific quotas of various instruments and playing abilities.

    For any questions, please contact us.

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