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Designed for players accustomed to using a single scale for each song they improvise over, this interactive workshop introduces participants to the rich experience of improvising over changing harmony. The leap from jamming over a chord or a blues scale to playing meaningfully over moving chords can be overwhelming; this workshop breaks it down through progressive exercises that allow students to hear and feel the changes of harmony, paving the way for students to play over chord changes as a natural expression of emotion rather than an intellectual exercise. Participants learn to improvise over a 12-bar blues like a jazz musician, bringing out the unique sound of each part of the blues form, rather than treating it all as an undifferentiated whole.

Prerequisites: knowledge of major and minor scales and facility on a melodic instrument. Bring your instrument. There will be a 30-minute lunch break.

$75 advance purchase/$90 day of the workshop

11am – 4pm
Anton Schwartz

This workshop covers survival skills and techniques to help musicians and singers get the best results from their own sound equipment, from a single microphone to a complete system, and how to successfully interact with sound technicians at venues that provide sound systems. Learn some “tricks of the trade” to get the best sound for your gig. Topics include the different types of microphones and their functions, evaluating equipment for purchase and how to set up a small sound system. Also how to ask sound people for what you want in terms they understand and making efficient use of sound check time. This workshop is very attendee-driven. Any and all questions are welcome!

$30 advance purchase/$45 day of the workshop