This page is devoted to the Level 2 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.
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Charlie Castelluzzo — Lamont Host DR
Hot Club Rhythm
This session focuses on medium tempos and achieving that hot club “bounce” sound.
Christine Tassan — Lamont Large DR
“Coquette” Song in Major Key
This class will focus on revision(s) of “la pompe” and different ways of playing of swing rhythms.
Particular attention paid to chord variations and creating the intro and ending.
Brad Brose — Chase LR
Intros & Outros
Intros and Outros; Charleston; and Breaks, oh my!
Denis Chang — Chase DR
Playing Rhythm in a Band Context
From duos to full bands, this class will focus on playing rhythm in a group. We’ll work on keeping time in a musical way and explore different tips and strategies developed from the instructor’s experience playing rhythm with a variety of heavy hitters from Bireli Lagrene, Angelo Debarre, Stochelo Rosenberg, and others (including Kanye West!).
Dennis Pol — Chase Parlor
Everything You Need to Know about Rhythm Guitar
The title says it all!
Charlie Castelluzzo — Lamont Host DR
Soloing on “I Can’t Give You Anything but Love”
In this class, we’ll learn how to improvise on a tune. Featured tune(s): “ I Can’t Give You Anything but Love” and/or “Minor Swing.”
Christine Tassan — Lamont Large DR
“Coquette” Song in Major Key
This session will focus on the analysis of chord changes, working particularly on major 2-5-1; licks, arpeggio, and major scales.
Brad Brose — Chase LR
Intro to Chord Melodies
This class will serve as an introduction to playing chord melodies (i.e. playing chords and the meldoy at the same time).
Denis Chang — Chase DR
Improv: Ideas & Strategies
In this class, we’ll work on how to approach tunes in a minor key. Featured tunes: “Minor Swing,” “Minor Blues,” and “Dark Eyes.”
Dennis Pol — Chase Parlor
“How Do I Improvise?”
In this session, we’ll ask and (start to) answer the question: “How do I improvise?”
Charlie Castelluzzo / Don Stiernberg — Lamont Host DR
Christine Tassan / Dallas Vietty — Lamont Large DR
Brad Brose / Greg Loughman — Chase LR
Dennis Pol — Chase Study
Evan Price — Chase Parlor
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.
Charlie Castelluzzo — Lamont Host DR
Hot Club Rhythm
In this session, we will work on traditional chord choices in a medium-up tempo’s.
Christine Tassan — Lamont Large DR
“Bossa Dorado” – Song in a Minor Key
In this session, we will explore a Bossa rhythm, giving particular attention to metronome use. As we do so, we will continue our work on chord variations and creating the intro and ending.
Brad Brose — Chase LR
Embellishments
This session will focus on embellishments and how to decorate your rhythm playing
Denis Chang — Chase DR
Playing Rhythm in a Band Context
From duos to full bands, this class will focus on playing rhythm in a group. We’ll work on keeping time in a musical way and explore different tips and strategies developed from the instructor’s experience playing rhythm with a variety of heavy hitters from Bireli Lagrene, Angelo Debarre, Stochelo Rosenberg, and others (including Kanye West!).
Dennis Pol — Chase Parlor
Everything You Need to Know about Rhythm Guitar
The title says it all!
Charlie Castelluzzo — Lamont Host DR
Hot Club Leads
In this class, we focus on lead rhythm techniques, tricks, and fills.
Christine Tassan — Lamont Large DR
“Bossa Dorado”: Song in a Minor Key
In this session, we will work on the analysis of chord changes, focusing particularly on minor 2-5-1; licks, arpeggio, and harmonic and melodic minor scales.
Brad Brose — Chase LR
Substitutions
This session will be a crash course in substitutions.
Denis Chang — Chase DR
Improv: Ideas & Strategies
In this class will work on ways to approach soloing in major keys. Featured tunes: “Honeysuckle Rose,” “Coquette,” “Stompin at the Savoy.”
Dennis Pol — Chase Parlor
“How Do I Improvise?”
In this session, we’ll ask and (start to) answer the question: “How do I improvise?”
Charlie Castelluzzo / Don Stiernberg — Lamont Host DR
Christine Tassan / Dallas Vietty — Lamont Large DR
Brad Brose / Greg Loughman — Chase LR
Evan Price — Chase Study
Denis Chang / Daniel Garlitsky — Chase Parlor
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.
Charlie Castelluzzo — Lamont Host DR
Hot Club Rhythm
In this session, we will work on fast tempos and bass lines.
Christine Tassan — Lamont Large DR
“Rêves bohémiens” Exploring the Waltz
In this session, we will explore a Waltz “pompe,” paying particular attention to variations and bass progression as well as continuing our work with chord variations and creating the intro and ending.
Brad Brose — Chase LR
Home Exercises
This session will focus on embellishments and how to decorate your rhythm playing
Denis Chang — Chase DR
Playing Rhythm in a Band Context
From duos to full bands, this class will focus on playing rhythm in a group. We’ll work on keeping time in a musical way and explore different tips and strategies developed from the instructor’s experience playing rhythm with a variety of heavy hitters from Bireli Lagrene, Angelo Debarre, Stochelo Rosenberg, and others (including Kanye West!).
Dennis Pol — Chase Parlor
Everything You Need to Know about Rhythm Guitar
The title says it all!
Charlie Castelluzzo — Lamont Host DR
High Speed Soloing
In this session, we will focusing on improvising over fast songs.
Christine Tassan — Lamont Large DR
“Rêves bohémiens” Exploring the Waltz
In this session, we will continue our exploration of the waltz as we shift our focus to the melody; analysis of chord changes; and improvising through the progression.
Brad Brose — Chase LR
Melody (Cont.)
In this session, we will build on Wednesday and Thursday’s sessions as we continue our work with chord melodies.
Denis Chang — Chase DR
Interpreting Complicated Chord Changes
In this workshop session, we’ll learn how to interpret and approach seemingly complicated chord changes. Featured tunes: “Daphne,” “Swing 42,” “Djangology,” and “Douce Ambiance.”
Dennis Pol — Chase Parlor
“How Do I Improvise?”
In this session, we’ll ask and (start to) answer the question: “How do I improvise?”
Charlie Castelluzzo — Lamont Host DR
Don Stiernberg — Lamont Large DR
Brad Brose — Chase LR
Dennis Pol — Chase Study
Dallas Vietty — Chase Parlor
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.
Charlie Castelluzzo — Lamont Host DR
Hot Club Rhythm
This session will focus on “breaks” and alternative rhythm beats.
Christine Tassan — Lamont Large DR
“Nuages” Exploring Chord Melodies
In this session, we will continue our work on chord variations as we explore the swing rhythm on ballads. In particular, we will focus on the study of the chord melody (playing the chords and the melody at the same time).
Brad Brose — Chase LR
Less Is More
In this session, we will focus on the art of keeping a simple rhythm.
Denis Chang — Chase DR
Playing Rhythm in a Band Context
From duos to full bands, this class will focus on playing rhythm in a group. We’ll work on keeping time in a musical way and explore different tips and strategies developed from the instructor’s experience playing rhythm with a variety of heavy hitters from Bireli Lagrene, Angelo Debarre, Stochelo Rosenberg, and others (including Kanye West!).
Dennis Pol — Chase Parlor
Everything You Need to Know about Rhythm Guitar
The title says it all!
Charlie Castelluzzo — Lamont Host DR
Hot Club Solos
This session will focus on the art of tremolo and bends.
Christine Tassan — Lamont Large DR
Gypsy Jazz Tricks and Effects
In this session, we will explore some of the effects and tricks used in gypsy jazz music. We will study effects and tricks that Django uses in his solos, focusing on those effects and tricks which you can
apply in your own solos right away (ex: octaves, chromatic effects, open strings effect etc…)
Brad Brose — Chase LR
Making Django Lines
In this session, we will learn how to turn plain lines in to Django lines.
Denis Chang — Chase DR
Visualizing the Fingerboard for Improvisation
In this workshop session, will work on vizualizing the fingerboard for improvisation and explore how to practice this tenique in an organic way.
Dennis Pol — Chase Parlor
“How Do I Improvise?”
In this session, we’ll ask and (start to) answer the question: “How do I improvise?”
Christie Macdonald — Lamont Host DR
Christine Tassan — Lamont Large DR
Don Stiernberg — Chase LR
Dennis Pol — Chase Study
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