Education & Community Outreach
Thank you for participating in "Andean Rhythms" children's music workshop... it was a phenomenal success.
---Emily Key, Educational Program Manager
Smithosonian Latino Center
Carlos Boltes and Scott Hill have an exceptional ability to engage students of any age. In conjunction with their concerts, the Alturas Duo graciously welcomes opportunities to teach perform and interact with students through in-school programs, community workshops or university master classes. All programs can be offered in both English or Spanish.
Interactive Presentation: The Origin of South American Music
Educational presentations by the Alturas Duo have been tailored to fit any age group ranging from K through 12. Programs include short musical examples from our repertoire, an introduction to the various instruments we play (viola, guitar, charangos and Venezuelan cuatro) and an explanation on how African, European and Native cultures came together to create South American folkloric music as we know it today. In addition, we explain how natural elements have affected this music, ranging from the materials used to make instruments (armadillos, bamboo, and goat toenails to name a few!), to how folkloric musicians have used their surroundings to influence songwriting and rhythms.
Community and In-School Workshops:
Whether at a public library or community center or a after-school program, the Alturas Duo has crafted programs to provide a basic understanding of simple South American rhythms and their origins. Participants will be taught how to perform the basic "apagado" on the guitar and charango and learn to accompany a melody using similar techniques. For beginners to advanced students.
Master Classes for the University or Conservatory Setting:
The Duo provides coaching in a comfortable and non-judgmental environment for both soloists and ensembles. For beginners to advanced students.
Our Instruments
Guitar: Scott Hill plays a 2012 “Australian Model” guitar by Alan Chapman of Amherst, Massachusetts, U.S.A., The back and sides are made with “landscape figure” Makassar ebony and the top from master grade Canadian cedar.
Viola: Carlos Boltes plays a 1988 viola made by Jean Benoit Stensland and Girard Luthiers in Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Charango: Carlos also plays a charango made by Yelkon Montero a Santiago, Chile based luthier. The charango was invented by the native people of what is now called Bolivia after the Spanish conquistadores landed on the shores of South America during the 17th and 18th centuries. Along with their language, culture and religion, these new settlers also brought lutes and baroque guitars. The native people liked these new instruments, but at the time did not have the technology needed to shape the wood of the guitar like the Spanish did. Instead, they used something a little out of the ordinary: the shell of an armadillo! One could say that it was a great day for music, and a sad day for the armadillo! Fortunately, most of the best instruments being produced today are now fashioned from wood (Much to the delight of the remaining armadillos in the region).
