Level 1 Guitar Classes

This page is devoted to the Level 1 classes being offered at 10 and 1:30. To find links to other time periods or classes at other levels, please see the Schedule Overview page.

Jump to: Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday

Wednesday

10:00-11:30am
Rhythm Guitar

Lisa Liu (1A) Unity Left
Playing Rhythm Guitar over “Minor Swing”
This class will teach you the song form and chord shapes for “Minor Swing.”

Sami Arefin (1B) Unity Right
“Djangology” Basics
This session will cover the chords and the melody for “Djangology” while focusing on rhythm guitar fundamentals.

1:30-3:00pm
Lead Guitar

Lisa Liu (1A) Unity Left
Soloing over “Minor Swing”
This class will explore arpeggios and soloing ideas for “Minor Swing.”

Sami Arefin (1B) Unity Right
Soloing over “Djangology”
In this session, we will learn an etude that focuses on 4 string arpeggio shapes.

4:00-5:30pm
Facilitated Jam

Lisa Liu (1A) Unity Left
Level 1 Facilitated Jam
Come walk, not run, through some Gypsy jazz standards. 

4:00-5:30pm
Special Topics

Warren Sirota — Gillett Study
Rapid Lick Acquisition
Mastering a new challenging passage can hang us up in fruitless and frustrating head-against-wall exercises for days or weeks. In the process, we might even habituate ourselves to an ineffective fingering or approach. There are usually specific reasons why passages are difficult. Finding them and solving them can have broad effects on your playing. Both slow practice and how to break past your speed limits with block chaining are discussed. We should have time to work on 2 or 3 class examples, so bring a problem lick if you don’t mind learning in public. For all levels and instruments, but specifically aimed at intermediates trying to break through to the next level.

Sami Arefin — Unity Right
Gypsy Picking L1
A beginner level course on traditional right hand technique for gypsy jazz.

Denis Chang — Chase DR
Gypsy Picking L2
An intermediate level course covering the traditional right hand technique employed by Gypsy Jazz guitarists the world over.

Thursday

10:00-11:30am
Rhythm Guitar

Lisa Liu (1A) Unity Left
Playing Rhythm Guitar over “Coquette”
This class will teach you the song form and chord shapes for “Coquette.”

Sami Arefin (1B) Unity Right
“Dinette” Basics
This class will cover the chords and the melody for “Dinette” while focusing on rhythm guitar fundamentals!

1:30-3:00pm
Lead Guitar

Lisa Liu (1A) Unity Left
Soloing over “Coquette”
This class will explore arpeggios and soloing ideas for “Coquette.”

Sami Arefin (1B) Unity Right
Soloing over “Dinette”
In this session, we’ll cover the more approachable parts of a Django solo over the tune “Dinette”!

4:00-5:30pm
Facilitated Jam

Lisa Liu (1A) Unity Left
Level 1 Facilitated Jam
Come walk, not run, through some Gypsy jazz standards. 

4:00-5:30pm
Special Topics

Sami Arefin — Unity Right
Gypsy Picking L1
A beginner level course on traditional right hand technique for gypsy jazz.

Brad Brose — Chase DR
Gypsy Picking L2
An intermediate level course covering the traditional right hand technique employed by Gypsy Jazz guitarists the world over.

Warren Sirota — Gillett Study
Rapid Lick Acquisition
Mastering a new challenging passage can hang us up in fruitless and frustrating head-against-wall exercises for days or weeks. In the process, we might even habituate ourselves to an ineffective fingering or approach. There are usually specific reasons why passages are difficult. Finding them and solving them can have broad effects on your playing. Both slow practice and how to break past your speed limits with block chaining are discussed. We should have time to work on 2 or 3 class examples, so bring a problem lick if you don’t mind learning in public. For all levels and instruments, but specifically aimed at intermediates trying to break through to the next level.

“Buco” (Davorin Cavar-Buco) — Northrop Study
The Two Minute Practice Method
In this session we’ll work on a method that helps you master your instrument two minutes at a time.

Friday

10:00-11:30am
Rhythm Guitar

Lisa Liu (1A) Unity Left
Playing Rhythm Guitar over “All Of Me”
This class will teach you the song form and chord shapes for “All Of Me.”

Sami Arefin (1B) Unity Right
“Swing 42” Basics
This class will cover the chords and the melody for “Swing 42” while focusing on rhythm guitar fundamentals!

1:30-3:00pm
Lead Guitar

Lisa Liu (1A) Unity Left
Soloing over “Coquette”
This class will explore arpeggios and soloing ideas for “All Of Me.”

Sami Arefin (1B) Unity Right
Soloing over “Swing 42”
In this session, we will learn an etude that focuses on playing ‘call and response’ type phrases.

4:00-5:30pm
Facilitated Jam

Christine Tassan (1A) Unity Left
Level 1 Facilitated Jam

Jack Soref (1B) — Duckett LR
Level 1 Facilitated Jam
Come walk, not run, through some Gypsy jazz standards. 

4:00-5:30pm
Special Topics

Lisa Liu — Unity Right
Gypsy Picking L1
A beginner level course on traditional right hand technique for gypsy jazz.

Denis Chang — Chase DR
Gypsy Picking L2
An intermediate level course covering the traditional right hand technique employed by Gypsy Jazz guitarists the world over.

Warren Sirota — Gillett Study
Rapid Lick Acquisition
Mastering a new challenging passage can hang us up in fruitless and frustrating head-against-wall exercises for days or weeks. In the process, we might even habituate ourselves to an ineffective fingering or approach. There are usually specific reasons why passages are difficult. Finding them and solving them can have broad effects on your playing. Both slow practice and how to break past your speed limits with block chaining are discussed. We should have time to work on 2 or 3 class examples, so bring a problem lick if you don’t mind learning in public. For all levels and instruments, but specifically aimed at intermediates trying to break through to the next level.

Buco Davorin — Northrup Study
The Two Minute Practice Method
In this session we’ll work on a method that helps you master your instrument two minutes at a time.

Saturday

10:00-11:30am
Rhythm Guitar

Lisa Liu (1A) Unity Left
Playing Rhythm Guitar Over “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love”
This class will teach you the song form and chord shapes for “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love.”

Sami Arefin (1B) Unity Right
“I Found a New Baby” Basics
Let’s cover the chords and the melody for “I Found a New Baby” while focusing on rhythm guitar fundamentals.

1:30-3:00pm
Lead Guitar

Lisa Liu (1A) Unity Left
Soloing over “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love”
This class will teach you arpeggios and soloing ideas for “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love.”

Sami Arefin (1B) Unity Right
Soloing over “I Found a New Baby”
In this session, we’ll learn a “Shout-Chorus”-style etude!

4:00-5:30pm
Facilitated Jam

Sami Arefin (1A) Unity Left
Level 1 Facilitated Jam

Jack Soref (1B) — Duckett LR
Level 1 Facilitated Jam
Come walk, not run, through some Gypsy jazz standards. 

4:00-5:30pm
Special Topics

Lisa Liu — Unity Right
Gypsy Picking L1
A beginner level course on traditional right hand technique for gypsy jazz.

Russell Welch — Chase DR
Gypsy Picking L2
An intermediate level course covering the traditional right hand technique employed by Gypsy Jazz guitarists the world over.

Warren Sirota — Gillett Study
Rapid Lick Acquisition
Mastering a new challenging passage can hang us up in fruitless and frustrating head-against-wall exercises for days or weeks. In the process, we might even habituate ourselves to an ineffective fingering or approach. There are usually specific reasons why passages are difficult. Finding them and solving them can have broad effects on your playing. Both slow practice and how to break past your speed limits with block chaining are discussed. We should have time to work on 2 or 3 class examples, so bring a problem lick if you don’t mind learning in public. For all levels and instruments, but specifically aimed at intermediates trying to break through to the next level.

For offerings during this period please see this page:
4:00-5:30 PM Facilitated Jams and Special Topics