January 15th

We went back to the Carl Orff institute this morning to observe classes.  The first was a class of college-age students learning Orff techniques of movement and dance.  They did not speak much English, but we understood that they were learning to work with partners as well as do a lot of improvising and choreographing their own routines.  It was interesting to see the contrast in teaching approaches from Joaquin Dalcroz, as well as the difference in skill level for different ages. After that class, we split into two groups.  One group observed a class of mentally disabled students ranging from about 16 to senior citizens.  They played music and did some dancing, and the students got to participate.  The other group watched a video about teaching music to mentally disabled people of all ages, then got to use some of the techniques, such as improvisation, on a set of drums.

After the institute, a majority of the students went to lunch at a market just down the street before taking the bus back to the city center of Salzburg.  We had some free time so we split into groups, a majority of which went shopping or to get coffee.  Then we met up again to take an audio guided tour of the Salzburg Museum. There was a lot to learn in the museum about the history of Salzburg, and a lot of artifacts to go along with it.  What stood out the most to me and a couple others were the ceilings of the building.  Almost all of them were domed, with three dimensional figures or designs that were hand painted and very beautiful.  The audio guides were a bit lengthy however, and had a lot of banter so it was difficult to listen to everything.

For dinner, a lot of us got some unique sandwiches from a vendor on the street.  They were similar to a Gyro, with lamb, lettuce, tomato, and cucumber sauce. But, instead of a pita they were served on toasted buns.  Very delicious.  That night we went to a very unique brewery in new town owned by Monks.  It was a good chance to socialize with the professors a bit more, and we ended up staying there and playing cards until they turned the lights out on us.