This course aims to help you:
• Learn to read the map of western music • develop musicianship skills • learn to improvise • compose & write simple arrangements • become an independent musician able to work out and transpose chord charts etc.
Suitable for anyone who plays an instrument or sings.
Music reading will be taught and is not a prerequisite.
This course is suitable for complete beginners.
The course will cover:
- Learning to read music
- Basic music theory - keys, scales, chords, simple
harmony and rhythm. - Improvisation
- Composition & Arranging
All taught through a series of games and improvisations, & through building a supportive and encouraging environment.
Prerequisites: An intention to attend all the sessions except in the case of emergencies or illness.
Bookings: Essential. Limited Numbers - Click here to Register Interest for 2009
contact ph 374 MUSE (374 6873)
The tutors
Nikki Berry's background is as a songwriter and she is a trained audio engineer. She conducts the exuberant world music choir, A Capellago, and the Open Song world music choir. She loves to improvise, compose and arrange music, and has led workshops for singers and musicians of all ages and experience for many years.
Sue McLachlan draws on a background in teaching
and performing in many different areas. She has been
a Musical Director for many years, lectured at the
University of Canterbury in Music and been HOD of
a few High Schools in Christchurch. Sue is a Baritone
Saxophone player who also plays most other woodwind
instruments and has performed in a wide range of
groups. She has worked with preschool music groups,
Primary and Secondary school students and adults,
and has a real passion for teaching music.
Gary Easterbrook grew up in Whangarei, and has flown airplanes, driven trucks, worked in forestry, flirted with television... the list goes on. His musical career has been equally varied - from heavy rock to bluegrass and country, blues and jazz to world music. He learned piano as an eleven year old, took up guitar at fourteen, then bass guitar and back to piano (with a dabble on drums along the way). He's now happy on all these instruments, and also arranges music for choirs. Besides music, Gary loves surfing, sea kayaking and photography.
This course draws on their combined experience over many years of teaching & playing and especially draws on their work with young people. Guest tutors will also run workshops on a range of topics.
