“The Montreal Summer Session both encouraged and inspired me and helped me grow as both a musician and a person.”
--Allison Picini, 2008 session
“The Montreal trip was absolutely the most fun I've ever had in my life.”
--Ross Phillips, 2005 session
“The Montreal trip was a great experience that had an immediate impact on my life, both personally and professionally. My life as a musician changed for the better, I discovered many new things, I made friendships that I will value for a long time, and I got a job out of it--who could ask for more?”
--William Kenlon, 2007 session
“Being immersed in a different culture really changed the way I see everything.”
--David Parker, 2006 session
“Going to Montréal was one of the best things I have ever done…”
--Laura Vines, 2005 session
Program Highlights—all included in the Session Fee!
Attendance at several outdoor festivals, including the world’s largest jazz festival,
le Festival International de Jazz de Montréal (http://www.montrealjazzfest.com/)
Extensive orientation to Montréal’s many neighborhoods, including the Old Port, the
Plateau District, rue Ste. Catherine, the Quartier Latin, Notre-Dame-de-Grace,
Parc du Mont-Royal, Chinatown, boulevard St. Laurent and rue St. Denis
Optional private lessons with established professional Montréal musicians
Group weekend excursion to Québéc City for La Fete de la St-Jean Baptiste with lodging at the beautiful Chateau Frontenac (http://www.fairmont.com/frontenac/)
Group dining at world-class restaurants
Montréal International Fireworks Competition
(http://www.montreal-fireworks.com/index.html) —every Saturday night
All meals, lodging, jazz festival concert tickets, museum entrance fees, and
transportation costs in Montréal and Québéc City are included in the Session Fee
Session Dates and Costs
June 13 - July 14, 2010
TBA - session fee plus tuition (session fee may be increased or decreased slightly due to student enrollment and exchange rate fluctuation).
Classes offered
Students generally register for six credits (if you wish to enroll for nine credits, contact Chuck Dotas).
Course offered through the Cluster II General Education curriculum
GHUM 251M Modern Perspectives: Urban Culture and the Arts in Montréal (3 credits). Fulfills Cluster II General Education requirements.
Montréal is one of North America’s most cosmopolitan cities, and the arts are as integral to Montréal 's identity as its bilingualism and multiculturalism. This course will investigate the contemporary arts scene in Montréal, including class field trips to art gallery exhibits, jazz club and festival concerts, and spoken-word performances. Admission costs to these events are covered by the course tuition. The work of contemporary Canadian writers will also be discussed.
Courses offered through the School of Music
1. MUS 356M History of Jazz (3 credits)
Fulfills upper level elective requirements for the School of Education, the School of Music, and other JMU degree programs.
Not a traditional study of jazz history, this course illustrates jazz performance practice by examining the recordings of prominent musicians appearing during June and July, 2007 at three simultaneous Montréal jazz festivals: Le Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, L’Off Festival du Jazz du Montréal, and the Suoni per il Popolo avant-garde jazz series. Attendance at performances from each festival constitutes a major portion of the course syllabus; admission costs for these concerts are covered by the course tuition.
2. MUS 440M Jazz Improvisation (3 credits)
Fulfills Jazz Improvisation credits toward the Jazz Studies Minor
This class meets daily, focusing on the development of each student’s jazz improvisation style. Specific repertoire will be determined based on the experience level of the class. Participation in one of Montréal’s several nightly jazz jam sessions will be encouraged.
Talk to Student Participants from Previous Sessions
Please feel free to contact the JMU students who participated in the 2005, 2006, and/or 2007 Arts and Culture in Montréal programs (listed below) if you would like information from someone who was there.
Mike Carson (carsonmf@jmu.edu); 2006
Matthew Coyle (coylemr@jmu.edu); 2006
Alicia D’Arcangelis (darcanar@jmu.edu); 2006
Julie Farina (farinajf@jmu.edu); 2005, 2007
Paul Forrester (forresph@jmu.edu); 2007
Bobby Gregg (greggrd@jmu.edu); 2005, 2006, 2007
Gene Harb (harbga@brevard.edu); 2007
Deb Heaton (heatondm@jmu.edu); 2007
William Kenlon (kenlonjw@jmu.edu); 2007
Greg Klinger (klingegs@jmu.edu); 2006
Rosie Leisure (leisurra@jmu.edu); 2007
Nicole Lendvey (lendvanm@jmu.edu); 2006
Greg Lyons (lyonsgv@jmu.edu); 2007
Lisa Malachowski (malachla@jmu.edu); 2007
Mike Miragliotta (miraglmx@jmu.edu); 2006
Lauren Moon (moonlc@jmu.edu); 2006
Jenny Nolte (nolteja@jmu.edu); 2005
Dave Olmstead (olmstedm@jmu.edu); 2005
David Parker (parkerjd@jmu.edu); 2006
Ross Phillips (phillirn@jmu.edu); 2005
Alison Picini (piciniam@jmu.edu); 2006
Josh Reed (reedjd@jmu.edu); 2005
Matt Schucker (schuckmb@jmu.edu); 2005
Mattew Smiley (smileymn@jmu.edu); 2006
Mike Strickler (strickmg@jmu.edu); 2006
Collin Watters (wattercc@jmu.edu); 2007
Alex Vans (vansaj@jmu.edu); 2007
Kelly VanValkenburg (kellypv@gmail.com); 2005
Laura Vines (vineslk@jmu.edu); 2005
Kathy Zeizel (zeizelkd@jmu.edu); 2005
Enrollment Procedure
1. Inform the Summer Study in Montréal Session Coordinator (Chuck Dotas, dotascj@jmu.edu) of your interest in the session.
2. Complete the required application forms available on the JMU Office of International Programs registration website: http://www.jmu.edu/international/abroad/forms.shtml
3. The application is due at the JMU Office of International Programs by November 2, 2009. If you are accepted into the program, the $500.00 non-refundable deposit is due to the OIP by December 10, 2009. Applications will be accepted until March 1, 2010 as space permits.
4. No transcripts or written essays are required for this program.
If you are considering going, but need further information, please email Professor Dotas with questions or to arrange a meeting (see the FAQ).
The Arts in Montreal Summer Session: Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is this program for jazz performers or music majors only?
No. This program is designed for anyone interested in learning more about the arts in Montreal, and courses are available for all levels of student, from the non-musician to the experienced performer.
2. What is covered in the Session Fee?
The session fee covers all housing and subway transportation costs once you get to Montreal (including ViaRail Canada transportation to and from Quebec City and lodging at the Chateau Frontenac during la fete de la St-Jean Baptiste). Taxi fare in Montreal is not included, but you shouldn't need to take taxis except when returning from late shows (the metro stops running at 2 am most nights). JMU is not allowed to cover transportation costs to and from host cities in the Study Abroad Program (insurance regulations), but getting to Montreal is much cheaper than traveling to any of JMU's overseas Study Abroad destinations (13 hour drive from Harrisonburg; 10 hour train ride from Washington, DC; inexpensive flight from anywhere on the east coast). Part of this experience will be to eat in several great restaurants; the cost of this dining is included in the session fee. Each student also receives 20.00 (CAD) per day as a stipend for meals. All course-related costs (except for tuition), including private lessons with Montreal musicians (if desired) are also included in the fee.
3. What do the courses entail?
All of the classes are held on the campus of McGill University in the heart of downtown Montréal (this is also the location of the student lodging). The classes are designed primarily to let you experience the cultural scene in Montréal by immersing yourself in it, rather than by reading about it. We'll be attending some of the indoor shows at the jazz festival (which require tickets; the cost is included in your session fee), as well as the free outdoor shows, and discussing this shows as the “final exam” in each course. We'll also be bringing in guest performers and lecturers from Montreal to play for you and discuss/demonstrate aspects of playing in a jazz or folk group.
The Jazz Improvisation class is designed for performers who are pursuing the Jazz Minor, and will involve daily playing and coaching from Professor Dotas as well as occasional guest performers.
A prominent component of all courses will be spending time in different districts of Montreal. It is an incredibly diverse city, with thriving Latino, Cuban, north African, Asian, Caribbean, gay, and student communities. Each district has great restaurants, street festivals, and night clubs that each have their own "feel." I think it is important to experience these aspects of Montreal if we want to begin to understand the cultural life emanating from this amazing town. It is much more than just the world's largest officially bi-lingual city and the world's second largest French-speaking culture.
4. Where is the student lodging, and what does it include?
Students are housed at the Royal Victoria College Dormitory (http://www.mcgill.ca/residences/undergraduate/tour/rvc/) on the main campus of McGill University in the heart of downtown Montréal. Rooms are generally double occupancy. Internet access in the rooms is available if we procure a cable from the dorm office. The dormitory Study Room has an internet connection (no Air Port capability). Many cafes in the area have wireless internet. I recommend bringing your own pillow and bed linens, a small first aid kit, and a fan (dorms are not air-conditioned).
5. Is this study abroad course open only to JMU students?
No. JMU Study Abroad courses are open to anyone: students at other universities and non-students as well. Participants under the age of 18 are eligible with Coordinator permission. If you have friends who attend other universities, or even friends who aren't in college, they are welcome to participate in this session; have them contact me.
6. Will I be able to practice my instrument somewhere?
Practice rooms are available at the McGill University Schulich School of Music, which is located right next to the Royal Victoria College dorms. Students need to pay a deposit for the practice room key; the deposit is returned upon surrendering the key at the end of the session. It is generally not considered good form to practice in your dorm rooms, as this can be quite distracting to your neighbors (all of the students in the JMU session are generally situated in adjacent rooms, and the RVC dorms are home to many other travelers in the summer).
7. What is the summer weather like in Montréal?
Early summer weather in Montréal varies widely—it is not unusual to need a light jacket in the June evenings, and it can be as hot and humid there in July as it is in Virginia. It rains fairly often, and when it rains, it really rains. Bring a sturdy umbrella—you’ll need it. The buildings we use for classroom instruction at McGill (including the Schulich Music Building practice rooms) are not air-conditioned, and they can get very sticky in the afternoons.
8. What is the drinking age in Quebec, and what are the drug laws?
The legal age for consumption of alcohol is 18 in the Province of Quebec. JMU students enrolled in Study Abroad programs are subject to drinking age laws of the host country, not Virginia statutes or the JMU Honor Code.
Possession of less than an ounce of marijuana is considered a misdemeanor in Montréal and is generally not prosecuted, though possession of greater than one ounce is considered intent to sell, which involves much harsher penalties, including incarceration. It is important to realize, however, that the JMU Honor Code does apply to students enrolled in Study Abroad Sessions who are arrested for possession or use of marijuana, and are subject to disciplinary action including expulsion from the university. Possession of “hard” drugs in Quebec is illegal and is prosecuted aggressively.
More about Montréal and its Neighborhoods
Montréal: Literally, “Mont-Réal” (Mount Royal). Though Montreal is an island surrounded by the St. Lawrence Seaway, the mountain in the center of the island dominates its geography and history (Mount Royal is part of the Laurentian Mountains, the oldest mountain range in North America, and, hence, the most eroded and small. It’s not really a mountain anymore, but is well known for Parc Mont Royal, designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, the same architect who designed Central Park in New York City.
NDG: Notre Dame de Grace (“Our Lady of Grace”). This is a neighborhood in a more English-speaking part of town (where I used to live and where we will visit), near Westmount (ie: “west of the mountain” [Mont Royal]).
Outremont: “The Outer Mountain.” A neighborhood on the north-east side of Mont Royal, neat the Plateau.
Below is a blurb from the New York Times website that describes some of the neighborhoods we’ll visit [additional comments supplied by me are in brackets]:
Montréal is Canada's most romantic metropolis, Québec's largest city, and an important port and financial center. Its office towers are full of young Québecois entrepreneurs ready and eager to take on the world. The city's four universities -- two English and two French -- and a host of junior colleges add to this youthful zest.
Montréal is the only French-speaking metropolis in North America and the second-largest French-speaking city in the world, but it's a tolerant place that over the years has made room for millions of immigrants who speak dozens of languages. Today about 15% of the 3.1 million people who live in the metropolitan area claim English as their mother tongue, and another 15% claim a language that's neither English nor French. The city's gentle acceptance has made it one of the world's most livable cities.
The city's grace, however, has been sorely tested. Since 1976, Montréal has endured the election (twice) of a separatist provincial government, a law banning all languages but French on virtually all public signs and billboards, and four referenda on the future of Québec and Canada.
The latest chapter in this long constitutional drama was the cliff-hanger referendum on Québec independence on October 30, 1995. In that showdown Québecois voters chose to remain part of Canada, but by the thinnest of possible margins. More than 98% of eligible voters participated, and the final province-wide result was 49.42% in favor of independence and 50.58% against. In fact, 60% of the province's Francophones voted in favor of establishing an independent Québec. But Montréal, where most of the province's Anglophones and immigrants live, bucked the separatist trend and voted nearly 70% against independence.
The drama has cooled; since 1998 the separatist government has turned its attention to the economy, and Montréal has prospered accordingly. Indeed, Montréal has emerged stronger and more optimistic.
Overview
Montréal is easy to explore. Streets, subways, and bus lines are clearly marked. The city is divided by a grid of streets roughly aligned east-west and north-south. North-south street numbers begin at the St. Lawrence River and increase as you head north; east-west street numbers begin at boulevard St-Laurent, which divides Montréal into east and west halves. [In spite of this, the city’s layout can be disconcerting, because the island does not orient itself on a north-south axis, even though the street grid is laid out as if it were. As a result, “north-south” streets actually run nearly exactly east-west in many spots. Mark Twain called Montreal “the only city in the world where the sun sets in the north.”]
The city is not so large that seasoned walkers can't see all the districts around the base of Mont-Royal on foot. Nearly everything else is easily accessible by the city's clean and quiet bus and Métro (subway) system. If you're planning to visit a number of museums, look into the city's museum pass (available at museums and Centre Info-Touriste).
Vieux-Montréal [“Old Montreal”]
Vieux-Montréal is a center of cultural life and municipal government. Most of the summer activities revolve around Place Jacques-Cartier, which becomes a pedestrian mall with street performers and outdoor cafés, and the Vieux-Port, one of the city's most popular recreation spots. This district has museums devoted to history, religion, and the arts. It also has a growing number of boutiques and hotel beds, especially in the quieter, western part of the neighborhood. [Old Montreal, aka “the Old Port” or “Old Town” is the original city, and dates from the 1400’s. The architecture museum in Old Montreal is fascinating; well-worth a visit. Also, the world-famous Notre Dame Basilica is located here—a tour of the interior is a must.]
Downtown
On the surface, Montréal's downtown is much like the downtown core of many other major cities. It's full of boutiques, bars, restaurants, strip clubs, amusement arcades, and bookstores. In fact, however, much of the area's activity goes on beneath the surface, in Montréal's Cité Souterrain (Underground City). Development of this unique endeavor began in 1966 when the Métro opened. Now it includes hotels, more than 1,500 offices and 1,600 boutiques, 30 movie theaters, 200 restaurants, three universities, two colleges, two train stations, a skating rink, 40 banks, a bus terminal, an art museum, a complex of concert halls, and a cathedral. All this is linked by Métro lines and more than 30 km (19 mi) of well-lighted, boutique-lined passages. [Rue St Catherine and rue Crescent comprise the west and south boundary to an area of downtown that is very popular with English-speaking tourists, and one of the city’s best jazz clubs, Upstairs, is located near the intersection of these two streets. Immediately south of rue Ste. Catheriine is the business district, home to Mary Queen of the World Cathedral, an exact, though smaller scale, replica of the Vatican. Quebec’s mixed history is evident on rue Ste. Catherine: cathedrals and burlesque houses sit side-by-side.]
Quartier Latin
Early in the 20th century, rue St-Denis cut through a bourgeois neighborhood of large, comfortable residences. The Université de Montréal was established here in 1893, and the students and academics who moved into the area dubbed it the Quartier Latin, or Latin Quarter. The university eventually moved to a larger campus on the north side of Mont-Royal, and the area went into decline. It revived in the early 1970s, largely as a result of the 1969 opening of the Université du Québec à Montréal. Plateau Mont-Royal, the trendy neighborhood just north of the Quartier Latin, shared in this revival. The Quartier Latin and Plateau Mont-Royal are home to rows of French and ethnic restaurants, charming bistros, coffee shops, designer boutiques, antiques shops, and art galleries. [Rue St. Denis from rue Ste. Catherineis north all the way to rue Mont Royal is a great street for eating, drinking, shopping, and people-watching, and the Plateau District is one of North America’s most famous bohemian neighborhoods.]
Boulevard St-Laurent
Depending on how you look at it, this street divides the city into east and west, or it's where east and west meet. After the first electric tramway was installed on boulevard St-Laurent, working-class families began to move in. In the 1880s the first of many waves of Jewish immigrants escaping pogroms in Eastern Europe arrived. They called the street The Main, as in "Main Street." The Jews were followed by Greeks, other Eastern Europeans, Portuguese, and, most recently, Latin Americans. The 10 blocks north of rue Sherbrooke are filled with delis, junk stores, restaurants and luncheonettes, and clothing stores, as well as fashionable boutiques, bistros, cafés, bars, nightclubs, bookstores, and galleries. The block between rues Roy and Napoléon is particularly rich in delights. [Rue St. Laurent equals rue St. Denis for an afternoon or late evening of eating, shopping, partying, etc. Spending an afternoon and/or evening walking up St. Laurent and down St. Denis is a must…]
Chinatown
The Chinese first came to Montréal in large numbers after 1880, following the construction of the transcontinental railroad. They settled in an 18-block area between boulevard René-Lévesque and avenue Viger to the north and south, and near rue de Bleury and avenue Hôtel de Ville on the west and east, an area now full of mainly Chinese and Southeast Asian restaurants, food stores, and gift shops.
Chalet du Mont-Royal
For a good overview of the city, head for the lookout at the Chalet du Mont-Royal. You can drive most of the way, park, and walk 1/2 km (1/4 mi), or hike all the way up from chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges or avenue des Pins. The views are spectacular on clear days, affording good viewing of all the local sights and more. [This is on Mont-Royal, which provides a fantastic foil to the city. The eastern entrance to Parc Mont Royal (approached from McGill via avenue des Pins, or Ave. Mont Royal from rue St. Laurent) features a massive hand-drum jam each Sunday around 1:00 pm, complete with a flea market; the air is pungent with the aromas one might expect in circumstances such as this. The actual park has great hiking trails, a small man-made lake, and abundant areas for picnicking and relaxing.]
