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Polonsky Piano
School presents
An Intensive Piano/Outdoor Activities Boarding Camp
on the coast of Northern CA
with Dr. Viktor & Anna Polonsky.
On the beautiful North Coast of
California you'll find it's a landmark in the small,
quaint fishing village of Shelter Cove. Some of
California's most impressive rugged and unspoiled
landscape is in an area known as the "Lost Coast." The
region extends from the northwest edge of Mendocino to
just south of Ferndale in Humboldt County. Shelter Cove is
a village of approximately 350 people, surrounded by the
King Range Conservation Area. Mountains rise 2200 feet
right out of the blue Pacific - a place to behold. The
Camp takes place in a new 2 stories house overlooking the
ocean from one side, and the mountains from another. Our
location is the most beautiful ocean paradise anywhere in
the lower 48 states with wildlife everywhere. There's no
place like this anywhere in California. Enjoy the sights
and sounds of the crashing surf right bellow your window
or balcony, hike the Black Sand Beach, explore redwood
forest and lakes, make friends with local dear and fox,
catch a glimpse of a whale.
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The Camp takes place
twice during the Summer: from the third Friday of June
till next week's Sunday;
and from the third Friday of July till next week's Sunday
- 10 days each time.
The size of the Camp: 6 - 8 kids each time, age 8 -
14 .
The price of $1650 includes:
Supervised individual practicing daily (including 1
hour of piano ensemble).
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Group Music
History, Theory and Ear Training class (with musical
videos). |
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Daily outdoor
activities (hiking, biking, fishing, beachcombing,
etc). |
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One day trip
to the redwood forest (about 40 ml one way), and to
the lake. |
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3 meals per day,
and unlimited snacks and drinks. |
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Second Saturday -
recital for the local community, and parents who
might visit. |
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Transportation to
the camp (parents who visit on a second Saturday
will bring the kids back). |
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Accommodations
include: 2 nice rooms with a view, and a spacious
tent camper with 2 bedrooms, a dining nook, with the
hit, shower, and running water for 3-4 kids of the
same gender. |
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A dinner -
barbeque after the concert on a second Saturday for
all parents and siblings who come to visit us, a
good 3-4 hours hike with the kids and all parents
next Sunday, and after hike lunch before departing
home. |
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Sample of a daily schedule:
7:30 - 8:30 am - wake up, preparation for breakfast.
8:30 - 9:30 am - breakfast.
9:30 - 12:30am - half of kids practice piano in a
different rooms, with 15 min rest after every 45 min.
under supervision of Anna. Other half heads for activities
with Viktor.
1:00 - 2:00 pm - lunch together, time together. Stories,
laughter....
2:00 - 3:00 pm - quite time (reading, taking a nap,
drawing, writing....).
3:00 - 6:00 pm - another half of kids practice piano in
different rooms, with 15 min rest after every 45 min.,
under supervision of Viktor. Others go for activities with
Anna.
6:30 - 7:30 pm - Dinner together.
7:30 - 8:30 pm - Music History and Theory class.
8:30 - 9:45 pm - evening walk, observing wild life,
evening fire
9:45 - 10:15pm - preparation to go to bed.
10:15 pm - Good night ( 30 min of quite reading is
allowed).
*On one of the days the
day's schedule will be amended due to the trip to
Redwoods.
To reserve a place
for your child you need:
1) Call Viktor & Anna and schedule an interview for
your child
2) After interview, and if accepted, please make a deposit
of $650 to PPS.
Remaining $1000 is due on or before June 1, or July 1,
depending on a month you had signed for.
The size of the group is limited to 8 students -
make your reservation earlier to secure the space!
Directions: Miles from
San Jose – 300
From San Francisco take Highway 101 North and exit at
Garberville ( second exit).
Drive through Garberville to Redway.
From the north end of Redway turn west on Briceland Road.
When you have traveled six miles, you will pass through
the community of Briceland where Briceland Road becomes
Shelter Cove Road.
Continue another sixteen miles. You will bypass Whitethorn
junction and travel over the 2200 foot elevation of The
King Range Conservation Area to Shelter Cove.
Once you have arrived at a point where you see the ocean,
you will be at the intersection of Shelter Cove Road and
Kings Peak Road. Bear left, and begin your descent to the
sea, and in 15 min. come to the stop sign at the
intersection of Shelter Cove Rd., and Upper Pacific. Drive
to the left to the ocean, and the road becomes Lower
Pacific. The house is located on a corner of Lower Pacific
and Steelhead, Steelhead Drive #5.
Parents might want to visit us for 2 nights - last Friday
and Saturday of the Camp, and listen to our recital, and
have a barbeque with us afterwards. In this case you will
take your child home Sunday, after a good 4 hours hike
together, and a lunch together.
There are a few motels available at Shelter Cove. The
price for a night is about $120 - $140. Here there are a
few places w/phones: Oceanfront Inn 707-986-7002,
Beachcomber Inn 1-800-718-4789. There are a few more
motels-go online to find their phone numbers, or ask from
those two motels. However, Summer is the busiest time, and
all hotels might be full. Make your reservations earlier.
Hi Dr. Anna & Viktor Polonsky,
How are you? Hope you had a relaxing 4th of July.
Andy really missed you, the kids and Shelter Cove after he came back.
He told us all about his staying in Shelter Cove and every story
Viktor told them on the way home. When we were almost home, he said
he felt uncomfortable. We thought he was hungry, so we stopped the
car and went to eat. But he told us he felt he really miss the place
and you he spent 10 days with, with tear in his eyes. I believe he
had a wonderful time with you. His father was kidding him, he asked
if he wanted to join you again a month later, Andy said "yes" without
any hesitation. The next morning, he got up early, he said he was
doing his morning exercise while he kicked off his pj. Then he made
up his own bed, which he doesn't usually do it before camp. After
breakfast he went to practice piano without stopping. He even taught
his little brother how to fish again and again in our backyard. Thank
you very much to give him the chance to join you and thank you for
making the camp so interesting and meaningful. Now I understand why a
lot of kids join you year after years.We had a wonderful time there,
too. Just hope we didn't wear you off. I cooked Ling Cod your way
for 4th of July. Taste really good. Andy was crazy about it.
Thanks again, hope we will be able to join you next year.
Best regards,
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Call School @
408-270-2700, or 408-472-3280, email: vikpol1@sbcglobal.net
Shelter Cove phone: 707-986-7795
5 Steelhead Court, Shelter Cove, CA 95589
Dear Dr. Anna & Viktor Polonsky,
Thank you for inviting us to attend the lovely concert at the end of the camp and the seafood dinner party at your beautiful beach house in Shelter Cove. We enjoyed the little campers’ performance a lot. They were actually making music! I especially love the duet. The kids were amazing. I couldn’t believe they only had 8 days to practice together. You did a great job on them and we had a great time there.
It’s been a week since the camp was end. Andy still often talks about his friends and their adventures at the camp. He told us how Viktor taught them fishing and catching crabs, how he and his friends built sand and rock wall and saw the beautiful sunset on the black sands beach and how they roast their marshmallows on a campfire…… I could tell he had a lots of fun.
“ We also practiced piano a lot,” he told us once.
“ I heard from Anna that you work 3-4 hours a day on the piano, do you feel bored?” I asked him.
“No, we liked it. When Anna and Viktor taught us, they gave us a goal every time. They wanted us to perform like a real musician and show our passion in our music. Viktor even taught us how to compose. We work on our goals. If we achieved our goals, we will get some rewards. It was fun. Beside we practice together as a team. We all had a bigger goal to give a good performance to our parents and the people from the town at the end of the camp. We have to work hard to get there. I also liked the part that we appreciate the music at the end of the day. we listen to the beautiful music that these famous composers made. Now I decide my favorite music is from Romantic period and my favorite composer is Chopin.”
Wow, my husband and I looked at each other and smiled. We know we made a right decision sending him to the camp with you.
We now often joke about Andy’s three “ I’m used to……” I want to share with you here, too. First one: First morning we came back from camp, I happily discovered Andy not only made his own bed but also helped his little brother did his after they got up in the morning. When I tried to compliment on it, he told me that “Oh, I’m used to make my own bed and take care of my own stuff at the camp.” By the way I was impressed by seeing the three boys’ bedroom at the camp. It was so neat, everything in order and they proudly told me that they did this all by themselves. The second one: Sometimes he complains he’s hungry not long after he had his meal. If I ask him “Didn’t you just eat?” He would answer me “ Oh, yeah, maybe I’m used to eat a lot of food at the camp.” I ask him to give me some his favorite food at the camp so I can make them for him at home. He gave me quite a list. Like Anna ‘s famous fish soup, fresh crab, spaghetti meat ball sauce with chicken…… The third one: After he’s done practicing his piano, he likes to sight reading some pieces he’s interested in. We asked him to take a rest. He will say, “It’s OK,” and here it comes again, “Maybe I’m used to working in front of the piano for a long time at the camp.” I don’t know how long he will “be used to” all these things. But I think this special experience, the friendship he build with his friends and you at the camp and the passion to the music will always last. I really appreciate for all you did for him.
Wish all the best to you!
May
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