Boot Camps
Learning to read a language and never speak it is an awful lot like learning how an instrument works and never getting together with others to PLAY. Our Boot Camps are the perfect environment to allow people of any age and level the opportunity to experience first hand what being part of a band is like. After a 20 - 30 minute presentation by a teacher students get divided into groups of 3-5 people. With the guidance of the teachers for the next 2 1/2 hours the groups will have a chance to experiment with the musical concept laid out in the presentation. Afterward, a short performance is held for any friends and family who would like to listen... oh yeah, and there are doughnuts!
Next Boot Camp: TBD
Boot Camp Archive... 2019-2020 School Year
Express Yourself Boot Camp
Using simple pre-existing melodies and chord progressions students learned to add interest by varying the attack, sustain, decay, and release of the notes in the harmonic and melodic material.
Date Saturday, March 7, 2020
Time 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Place 1330 Portage Ave - 2nd Floor St. John's Music Building
World Rhythms Boot Camp
Participants were given a taste of rhythmic ideas from all over the planet. Everyone was introduced to rhythms used in folk music from North America, India, Eastern Europe and many more. The students composed and performed music ranging from rocking reggae to spicy salsa.
Date Saturday, February 1, 2020
Time 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Place 1330 Portage Ave - 2nd Floor St. John's Music Building
Modal Madness Boot Camp
Students were introduced to the basics of major scale modality. Using these modes students were encouraged to produce improvised/composed melodies and harmonies with varying emotional qualities.
Date Saturday, December 7, 2019
Time 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Place 1330 Portage Ave - 2nd Floor St. John's Music Building
About Time Boot Camp
First students learned why time signatures exist and what they do. Using this information students then wrote pieces using either Compound, Complex, Shifting or Additive meters.
Date Saturday, November 2, 2019
Time 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Place 1330 Portage Ave - 2nd Floor St. John's Music Building
Boot Camp Archive... 2018-2019 School Year
Composers Boot Camp
Understanding the relationship between chords and melodies is among the most important things for musicians to learn. During this session participants learned some straightforward ways of applying chord tones to their compositions and then performed what they had written.
Date Saturday, May 4, 2019
Time 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Place 1330 Portage Ave - 2nd Floor St. John's Music Building
Rhythm & Grooves Boot Camp
"It's got a good beat and you can dance to it." A good song NEEDS a groove that makes you want to move! This boot camp focused attendees on the effect that rhythms have on music. Using similar harmonic/melodic material the students wrote tremendously varied music by experimenting with the rhythmic structure of their pieces.
Date Saturday, April 6, 2019
Time 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Place 1330 Portage Ave - 2nd Floor St. John's Music Building
Blues Jam Boot Camp
The blues is almost certainly the most common song structure in the world and has likely influenced every style of music on the planet. Campers were introduced to the basics of the style and traded improvised solos over the form.
Date Saturday, March 2, 2019
Time 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Place 1330 Portage Ave - 2nd Floor St. John's Music Building