Music workshop

Who are the workshops for?

The workshops are open to children and young people of different ages, as well as students
of music schools and conservatories. They are focused mainly on saxophonists but also
welcome clarinetists, flutists, pianists, and other instrumentalists who want to explore new
approaches. Special blocks are dedicated to teachers, where lecturers present teaching
methodologies and ways of working with students.

What are the workshops focused on?

The primary goal is to awaken participants’ interest in playing a musical instrument and to
introduce them to the wide possibilities that music offers. The emphasis is placed not only
on technical skills but also on creativity, rhythmic feeling, and the ability to communicate
through music.
The workshops are divided into several parts:

• Group work – joint exercises of breathing, rhythm, and basic instrumental techniques.
• Individual lessons – each participant presents prepared pieces, works on interpretation,
  and receives feedback from the lecturer.
• Chamber and orchestral playing – work in smaller groups as well as larger ensembles,
  where students learn to communicate and create a common musical result.
• Concert of the lecturers – an inspiring performance by the ensemble Lento Ad Astra, often
  joined by selected workshop participants.

The content of the workshops ranges from the fundamentals of playing (breathing, posture, warm-up exercises) through rhythmic and melodic practice, first steps toward
improvisation, up to the interpretation of Slovak and world music literature. This is all included in another publication by Erik Rothenstein – The Progressive School of Saxophone playing.

A significantpedagogical contribution is the publication “Good Day, Mr. Saxophone” (Hudobný fond,2019), compiled by Erik Rothenstein. It contains ten pieces for saxophone or clarinet withpiano by various Slovak authors (including Rothenstein), accompanied by a CD recording, and has become a valuable tool for beginning players.

Another publication from Erik Rothenstein – The Progressive School of saxophone playing – is also discussed at the workshop.

The Progressive School of Saxophone Playing (Hudobné centrum, 2011) is the first Slovak saxophone method book, written by saxophonist, composer, and pedagogue Erik
Rothenstein. Drawing on his long-time experience as a performer and educator, the book provides a comprehensive guide for beginners as well as intermediate players, with a
special focus on those interested in popular music styles such as jazz and funk.
The method is divided into two main parts:

1. Classical foundation – fingerings, scales, etudes, articulation, and tone development
   aimed at building solid technical and musical skills.
2. Swing & Groove Etudes – exercises on phrasing, rhythm, and groove, introducing
   elements of improvisation and popular music styles.
   The book also includes daily practice routines, rhythm and breathing exercises, folk and
   original melodies, as well as duets and piano accompaniments. It is bilingual (Slovak &
   English), richly illustrated, and designed to make learning both effective and enjoyable.
   With its 132 pages of exercises, studies, and performance pieces, this unique publication
   fills a gap in Slovak saxophone pedagogy and has become a valuable resource for students
   and teachers alike.

History of the ensemble Lento Ad Astra – The chamber ensemble Lento Ad Astra was founded in 2011 when Zita Sopková and Erik Rothenstein decided to combine their experiences and create a platform for presentingworks of contemporary Slovak composers alongside the classical repertoire of world literature. Since its formation, the ensemble has premiered numerous commissioned works and released two albums: Playing Šach with Mr. Bach (2013) and Made in SK (2023). They collaborate with domestic and international guest artists, with a mission not only to interpret but also to educate young musicians.

### Workshop lecturers
Zita Sopková – pianist, graduate and doctoral candidate at the Academy of Performing Arts (VŠMU) in Bratislava, works as an accompanist at the Tolstého Conservatory in Bratislava.
She has collaborated with the Slovak National Theatre, the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, and several chamber ensembles. She regularly works with vocalists and
instrumentalists.

Erik Rothenstein – saxophonist, composer, and arranger, Doctor candidate at the Academy of Arts in Banská Bystrica and Bac. at the Jazz Department of KUG Graz. In 2019 he received the Ladislav Martoník Award for his original contribution as composer and arranger to the Slovak jazz scene. He leads several ensembles (Erik Rothenstein Band, Babele Beat Band, Ensemble SO36) and has performed as a soloist throughout Europe and Latin America. He has collaborated with the Slovak Philharmonic,the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, and the Czechoslovak Big Band of Matúš Jakabčic. In addition, he also lectures the educational project for children “As the Breeze Blew Through the Flute,” which introduces the world of music in a playful form to the youngest audiences.