Our first week will focus on courses and collaborative projects to prepare you for our SECOND week, which is all about the rock orchestra experience featuring songs by Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Kansas, and other classic rock and pop songs!
Our small ensemble LIVE rehearsals conducted via Zoom will be led by Mark Wood, Dr. David Wallace, Greg Byers, and more.
We’ll prepare you on every level for filming yourself to participate in our virtual final concert, which will look NOTHING LIKE THE VIRTUAL VIDEOS you’ve all been seeing out there! You will be utilizing all the skills we’re giving you so you can give your 100% most authentic and energetic performance!
Mark Wood: Conductor and arranger
Laura Kaye: Choir Director
Nathan Blake: Choreography
Rock Band mentors:
Paul Ranieri, Bass
Rob Bombach, Guitar
Jason Giani, Drums
Matt Vanacoro, Keys
COURSES:
Creating from Nothing: Modes, Moods, Colors, and the Building Blocks of Music Making - Mark Wood
Take your composition skills to the next level, and learn to find your voice through improvising.
Flying Solo - Joe Deninzon
Learn to create solo acoustic or electric arrangements and integrate live looping and bass lines, harmony, groove techniques, improvisation, and vocals.
Recording Techniques 101 – Matt Vanacoro
Lessons focused for string players to include audio interfaces, mic techniques, EQ, compression, ambient effects, busing, mixing, editing, and mastering.
Composing from the Heart and Mind – Dr. David Wallace
Learn who you are as a composer and how to express the things that we want and need to say through our instruments and voices.
Improving Your Improv via Recording and Production - Greg Byers
Practice rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic focused improvisation alongside backing tracks you create.
Don’t Cover, Reinvent - Haydn Vitera
Instead of playing music like the original, learn to reinvent your favorite song, so that your voice is heard.
Create Amazing Effects - and Improve Your playing! - With NO New Equipment! – Chuck Bontrager
Explore Soundtrap and learn how effects can help you improve your general
Unraveling Ball of Confusion (and Other Things) – Laura Kaye
Discuss and dissect the lyrics to Ball of Confusion so you can approach this timeless and still-relevant song from your own unique perspective.
Angles – Nathan Blake
As a string player, learn how improve the movement of your body and the angle at which you play, especially for performances and auditions.
Songwriting 101 - Valerie Vigoda
Songwriting can be easy or hard; it all depends on allowing your brain to relax and be creative.
MASTER CLASSES:
(All dates/times are EST – subject to change)
Making the Nimble and Powerful Musician, Mark Wood (July 13 @ 5:00pm – 6:00)
Video for Musicians: What you Need to Know, Matt Vanacoro (July 14 @ 12:30 – 1:30)
Rock and Pop Arranging for Strings, Joe Deninzon (July 14 @ 5:00pm – 6:00)
Rhythm and Time, Jason Gianni (July 15 @ 1:00 – 2:00)
Master Class, Haydn Vitera (July 15 @ 5:00pm – 6:00)
Master Class, Dr. David Wallace (July 15 @ 12:30pm – 1:30)
Living Loud: Plaque Edition, Chuck Bontrager (July 16 @ 5:00pm – 6:00)
Accompaniment 101, Greg Byers (July 17 @ 12:30 – 1:30)
Master Class, Valerie Vigoda (July 17 @ 5:00pm – 6pm)
Master Class, Laura Kaye (July 20 @ 12:30pm – 1:30)
Master Class, Nathan Blake (July 20 @ 5:00pm – 6:00)
What’s the Frequency Kenneth? What is EQ and How do You Use it?, Matt Bell (July 21 @ noon – 1pm)
The Three Little Bears – Guitar Edition, Rob Bambach (July 21 @ 1pm – 2)
Master Class, Jordan Rudess (July 21 @ 4:00pm – 5:00pm)
Auditioning Tips and Tricks, Elijah Wood and Hayley Dorling (July 21 @ 5:00pm – 6:00)
Modern Bass Techniques for All, Paul Ranieri (July 22 @ 1pm – 2pm)
Analyzing Radiohead’s Paranoid Android for String Quartet, Eric Gorfain (July 22 @ 4:00pm – 5:00)
Master Class, Alex DePue (July 22 @ 5:00pm – 6:00)
Master Class, Mysore Manjunath (July 23 @ 12:30pm – 1:30)
SQUEEEE! How to Stop Feedback from Mics and Pickups, Matt Bell (July 23 @ 4:00pm – 5:00)
Strum Bowing, Tracy Silverman (July 23 @ 5:00pm – 6:00)
TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:
Every day will include how-to information and collaboration time to create lessons, activities and projects.
Teaching Online or in person:
Using Soundtrap/Garageband (July 13)
Interactive Slides (July 14)
Creating Engaging Video Lessons (July 15)
Techniques online (July 16)
Multiple Platform Projects (July 17)
Assessments (July 21)
Music Theory and Noteflight (July 22)
21st Century Classroom (July 23)
Creative Ways to Get Students to Show Up (July 24)