Course Descriptions
Adult Guitar Camp 2012 Courses
Here are the classes you can look forward to at Smithers’ Adult Guitar Camp August 18 - 23. There is the possibility of some changes, but we have confirmed that these will be our instructors……and remember there’s always fun and practice time when you’re not in class!
JENNY LESTER
Group Singing with Jenny Lester
By popular demand, a time to put your guitar down for an hour and join in for a singing session that will bring all the campers together with tips on harmony, finding your key, and bringing a new sound to some familiar songs to sing around the campfire. This session is offered at a time that will allow all campers to participate. Please email Jenny ahead of time with a song you would like to sing. rootsmusiclessons@gmail.com
Instrumentals with Lyrics with Jenny Lester
Many songs out there are a combination of being an instrumental and having lyrics. Beautiful songs like Liza Jane, Wildwood Flower, Midnight on the Water, Ruby, Gary Owen, Handsome Molly, Whiskey Before Breakfast, Tennessee Waltz, Soldier's Joy, Faded Love and many more. These tunes rank easy to hard and we will cover them all. Work within and grow your skill sets to learn the picking and/or chording and lyrics. We will also cover how to improvise solos on the fly to these tunes. Please contact me ahead of time if you have some ideas as well. rootsmusiclessons@gmail.com
MARK PERRY
Songwriting with Mark Perry
Learn how your thoughts, ideas, situations and experiences can be communicated through song. Having something you want to say is the first step, but there is a lot of structure, editing and refining to create a song that gets your message out there. Bring a song you’ve been working on, or some of those ideas rattling around in your head, or just come to learn the process used by many successful songwriters.
Expanding your Style with Mark Perry
Learn how to use a variety of chords, progressions, alternate tuning, strumming or picking style to expand your style of playing the guitar.
BEN BROOKES
Out there Acoustics with Ben Brookes
Take yourself out of the box and get playing a contemporary edge experiment with reggae, funk, and rock styling's geared to be played on the acoustic guitar. Wild strumming patterns, crazy chords and insane scales. Something different but fun fun fun. Beginner to intermediate flatpickers.
Basic Improvisation, chord construction and theory 101 with Ben Brookes
Learn how to play melodies over different chord progressions in any key, navigate your fret board with ease. Learn the application of relative minor, major, blues scales, apply basic chord extensions to chords you already know. This course is geared towards beginner/intermediate flat picking players.
VALDY:
Valdy's Songwriting Camp: no previous experience necessary.
My name is Valdy, and I am a songwriter. I'm still learning how, after forty years. I am prepared to impart everything I know, in a rudimentary manner, as a practised facilitator, and will no doubt learn more from you enrollees in the process. I will cover:
* Song Design: Elements and Structure
* Mood, Time Signature, Tempo
* Writing Lyrics for Singers
* Writing and Reading Chord Charts
* Marketing 101: Publishing and Song Placement
And of course, we will write something together. I a previous Smithers AGC we wrote "Mean Mama", which I have recently recorded and released on my CD "Read Between the Lines".
Accompaniment and Performance Skills with Valdy
Your voice is warmed up and ready, you’re in lights, you’ve got the mic, the room is waiting, hinged. Watcha gonna do? Your old party piece, or something dangerous? This workshop is a merciless adjudication of your performance skills, with thoughtful follow-up exercises and suggestions. This is a developmental workshop; you will not remain the same.
MARK THIBEAULT:
Flatpicking Blue Grass Style with Mark Thibeault The course title says it all!
Introduction to Soloing with Mark Thibeault
We will learn one scale across and up the fingerboard. Using that scale we will begin to explore melodies. Changing the timing of the melody and using different note substitutions we will learn how to improvise and solo affectively. Soloing will be encouraged.
GEORGE STOKES:
Beginning Guitar with George Stokes: Rank beginners, no problem, we’ll have you playing tunes in no time. Learn basic chords, flat/finger picking and a song or two. Rank beginners, not for long.
Basic Bass Guitar with George Stokes: Bass, the link between rhythm and melody, a musical binding agent. Learn some things about bass guitar at this Basic Bass class. Tuning, notes on the neck, runs and walking lines. Right and left hand exercises and technique, and playing in different styles will be covered in this class. This can all be used on electric, acoustic, or upright bass. Instructor will bring an acoustic bass, electric bass, upright bass and a washtub bass for folks to try; students bring what you have and we'll have some big bass fun !!
Mini Courses 5:00-6:00 (Before Dinner Specials)
Sunday
D-1 Guitar Camp Intro: Jenny 5:00-6:00 To start off our before dinner classes join the instructors in learning how to share tunes, join in singing and playing with others and make it fun! There will also be an introduction to reading and playing Tab. All campers are encouraged to attend this “Introduction to Guitar Camp” session.
Monday
D-3: George: Sound Workshop: Get hands-on experience setting up and operating sound equipment, with an eye to how the sound equipment can help you get the sound you want from your guitar or vocals.
or
D-4: Mark Thibeault - Songs from the Inside: We will break down songs and identify what makes them sound and feel the way they do. We will learn these parts then present the songs as a group. Each participant should bring a recorded version of a song for discussion.
or
D-5: Songwriting Tips with Mark Perry
Tuesday
D-6: Valdy: TBA
or
D-7: Ben: TBA
Wednesday
D-8: Student Concert: All Camp students are encouraged to perform!
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE ADULT CLASS DRAFT SCHEDULE
