2014

Anna Baignoche

Singing and Dancing Around the World:
Exploring song and dance from Cuba, Australia, South Africa, Brazil, Canada, Japan, Ireland and more, we will sing stimulating melodies, harmonies and rhythms that will inspire our bodies to move.

Love Your Voice:
Through fun vocal games and exploratory sound-making, as well as more traditional breath and vocal exercises, we will explore our own unique sound and relax into loving our own voice.

Anne Louise Genest

Rhythm Guitar (B/I):
We’ll focus on strumming patterns, bass runs, and the role of rhythm guitar in ensemble playing. We’ll also look at putting dynamics into your playing that will help in a jam or band context, with some tips on how to play when the speed of the jam is a little faster than you are used to. Chord changing tips, the Nashville Numbering system, and capo use will also be covered.

Songwriting is a Fickle Friend:
We can’t always rely on the muse to be available when we want it, and we can wait a long time for inspiration to strike. This workshop will focus on approaches and practices that stimulate the muse and develop inspiration from within. We’ll do some fun exercises that help us both explore songwriting ideas and keep the writing flow going. Bring your song fragments and ideas, and let’s write!

Rueben Gurr

Licks and Tricks (I/A):
This seminar will concentrate on how to develop your phrase ideas over standard chord progressions. We will explore which simple scales work best in certain progressions and styles. Emphasis will be on how to develop an idea into full licks and solos as well as how to use the same material in different settings and genres. For exploring hammers, pulls and bends, an unwound third string would be an asset. Backing tracks and mp3s as well as handouts will be available.

Songwriting:
Retirement plan? Write a hit song! This seminar will explore the secret technology behind song composition – the most famous chord progressions and their variations; the top ten compositional approaches; characteristics of styles such as blues, rock, jazz standards, pop, etc.; lyrics and how to avoid the same old stuff while still expressing yourself; and how to build a full melody (verse and chorus) from one small idea.

Guido Heistek

Wanna Take a Solo? (B/I):
Learn two simple scales and how to move them up the neck and play them in any key. You’ll soon be soloing on any song from blues to bossa nova!

Ukulele Ensemble (B/I):
We will explore playing as an ensemble with different parts assigned based on level. We will work on strumming, as well as single note playing and some finger-style work. Repertoire will come from jazz, pop and blues. A little guitar or ukulele experience is recommended for this class. Bring your uke to camp and join the band!

Wendy Knudson

Sing and Strum (B/I):
So you sing, and you have a guitar … now what! Learn how to accompany yourself while singing. We’ll go over techniques to get you multi-tasking right away like how to line everything up so you don’t pull the rhythm, find the right key for your voice, and use a capo to get the most out of chords that you know … as well as some vocal tricks to get you on your way.

Folk Orchestra (B/I):
Folkestra is a fun way to explore the world of ensemble music. We’ll be using traditional tunes, working beyond melody to layer simple parts into full band arrangements with vocals. This is a challenge by choice environment and there’ll be something for everyone. All instruments welcome.

Liam MacDonald

Rhythm Basics (B/I):
This seminar will introduce the foundations of all great music — RHYTHM! We’ll cover the basics of good groovin’ music no matter what the style. Topics will include pulse, common subdivisions and the not-so-scary world of poly-rhythms. Ideas discussed will be put into practice on a variety of percussion instruments..

Latin Percussion (B/I):
This seminar will cover the fundamental elements that are essential when playing Latin or African based music — the clave, and how the music grooves and swings. We will get familiar with some of the rhythms that are integral to the music of Cuba, Brazil and New Orleans, and we will discuss how they are closely related by going over what has now become known as the “Mother Rhythm”!

Craig McGregor

Common Chord Changes (I/A):
Most of us are aware of ii7, V7, Imaj7 chords but there are several other cadences that are almost as common. Learn the typical changes that make up 90% of all standards and you’ll be able to memorize the changes to dozens of tunes effortlessly. You’ll be able to hear changes as blocks or “chunks” of harmony allowing you to play more and struggle less.

Playing The Changes (I/A):
Learn the easiest way to navigate the changes to most standards and Swing tunes. We’ll look at the simplest way to “play the changes” and what’s really going on when those changes occur. This seminar offers a good method to start jazz soloing for intermediate players, and will fill in some of the blanks for more advanced players. A good grasp of the major scale is a prerequisite.

Stephen Nikleva

Unlocking the Guitar (I/A):
Many guitar players never understand the fretboard. This holds them back from understanding what they are playing and what they could play. Absorbing the basics like unison notes on adjacent strings (as used in tuning) and octaves will help you to unlock the fretboard. Each hour of the class will provide you with ideas that can be recycled to create fresh, new ideas.

Accompaniment (I/A):
Whether you are accompanying yourself or helping to back up a singer this seminar will present ideas to expand the tools you have at your disposal. While each song is unique, being able to use an expanded range of the guitar to apply colour and texture will help create variety. We will spend the 2nd half of the seminar applying these ideas to songs that you bring in.

Dale Rasmussen

Intermediate Harmony:
Beyond 1-3-5: Take your harmony singing to the next level. In this seminar we’ll sing repertoire that stretches your ability, and gives you tools for creating more distinctive and exciting harmonies. Class time will be in two sections: singing interesting and challenging parts by ear or from written music, and working together building harmonies organically. For vocalists with basic harmony singing ability.

British Invasion:
We’ll sing (and harmonize on) classic songs by many of your favourite artists and groups from “across the pond” spanning the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. From the obvious (Beatles, Elton John, Queen, Rolling Stones) to other hip artists like Sting, U2, David Bowie, Van Morrison, Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam and maybe more. We won’t want to stop once we get going!

Laura Silverstein

Introduction to Fingerstyle Guitar (B/I):
In this seminar we’ll focus on getting your right hand going, with your thumb playing an alternating bass line and your fingers picking patterns — from simple to syncopated. We’ll emphasize establishing a steady rhythm and groove with your right hand, and we’ll play some tunes using these techniques.

Fingerstyle Arranging (I/A):
Want to play instrumental versions of songs on your guitar? In this seminar we’ll look at how you can choose guitar-friendly keys for your instrumental arrangements, and learn some chord fingerings that allow you to follow melodies up the neck. We will apply these concepts to a few familiar tunes for you to take home.

Mark Sullivan

Fiddle Technique:
This seminar will focus on right hand and left hand techniques for fiddle playing. The emphasis will be on Canadian style waltzes and jigs.

Canadian Fiddle Tune Repertoire (all instruments):
This seminar will showcase Canadian fiddle tunes. We’ll discuss some of the distinguishing features between reels, two steps, polkas, jigs, etc. All instruments are welcome and we’ll also work on accompaniment styles when playing with a Canadian fiddler.