News for and about the Internet2 community

["Michelle Pollak" <>]

DISTANCE LEARNING EVENT FEATURES MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS

CLEVELAND, OHIO - March 18, 2004 -Michael Tilson Thomas, Founder and Artistic 
Director of the New World Symphony, will participate
in a master class between the New World Symphony in Miami, Florida and CIM on 
April 2 utilizing the Internet2 network via H.323. CIM
is an Associate member of Internet2 and connects to the Internet2 network by 
arrangement with Case Western Reserve University, Ohio
OARnet and the Abilene Network. CIM uses high speed MPEG 2 codecs to deliver 
and receive high quality video with stereo CD quality
sound. The CIM to New World Symphony connections typically run at speeds up 
to 15 Megabytes per second.         

A Conductor's Roundtable Discussion ensues at 2:00 p.m. with Maestros Tilson 
Thomas and Sir Neville Marriner, located in Miami,
representatives from the Manhattan School of Music -- also connected via 
Internet2, and Carl Topilow, Director of the Orchestral
Program at the Cleveland Institute of Music, along with CIM conducting 
students. At 4:15 p.m., members of the CIM Orchestra will
perform Wagner's Seigfried Idyll as CIM conducting students participate in a 
master class critiqued by Michael Tilson Thomas.
        
The use of Internet2 has a significant impact on educational and artistic 
programs. This high speed connection allows musicians to
perform in real time with minimal gaps in timing, often found with lower 
speed connections, and with CD quality audio and high
resolution video. CIM sees many opportunities for this technology to be used 
in recruitment and delivery of high quality educational
programs to students around the world.
        
Other distance leaning ventures include:

- Session with the Royal Academy of Music in London. The Royal Academy is 
launching its distance learning program with "The Genius
of the Violin." CIM is one of its first links. Juliana Athayde, violin 
student of Paul Kantor and the first participant in the
Concertmaster Academy at CIM, studying with Cleveland Orchestra 
Concertmaster, William Preucil, will be featured. (March 29)
- Stephen Geber, head of the CIM cello department and retired Principal 
Cellist of The Cleveland Orchestra, leads a masterclass with
the cello section of the New World Symphony (April 1)
- Jason Vieaux, head of the CIM guitar department, with Interlochen Arts 
Academy students (April 8)
        
The Cleveland Institute of Music has taken a leadership role in serving as a 
consultant/facilitator with Interlochen. CIM has been
working to improve the school's connectivity with a possible connection to 
the Internent2 high speed network. 
                
Distance learning programs at CIM connect in real time to teachers and 
students. Web-based and other multimedia materials augment
each videoconference connection. CIM is a leader in K-12 interdisciplinary 
courses, including programs specially designed for
science, language arts, and history classes. These programs target specific 
academic proficiency skills while enlivening the
curriculum with music and musical ideas. Professional development provides 
valuable courses for educators, performers, music
administrators and distance learning program administrators. 
                
CIM distance learning programs are supported in part by The Callahan 
Foundation, The Kulas Foundation and an Ohio SchoolNet
Telecommunity grant.
                
For more information, call CIM at (216)791-5000 or visit the web site at 
cim.edu.