Category: Music

Each of our Guitar teachers at the Academy has a vibrant and growing private lesson studio during our Fall and Spring semesters. In the Summer, they join forces to present some wonderful workshops for kids and teens from very beginner to more advanced players – welcome to Guitar Week!

Brian Slaymaker, Tim Carolla, Suzanne Dorman and Talha Mirza are musicians and educators who have substantial experience teaching kids/teens and are seasoned performers in their own right. Working in pairs, they will be presenting two half-day Beginner Camp weeks, where the very basics of acoustic guitar playing will be covered. Mr. Slaymaker will also be leading a Guitar Workshop for Intermediate to Advanced students.

• Beginner Camp for Ages 8-12           July 16-20, 2018
• Beginner Camp for Ages 13-18         July 9-13, 2018
• Guitar Workshop for Ages 13-18     July 30 – August 3, 2018

Brian Slaymaker (pictured above) will be the lead instructor for the younger group Beginner Camp. He will also head up the Guitar Workshop for more experienced students. After extensive involvement performing in rock bands, Brian chose to pursue an education in classical music. He holds a Bachelor of Music Degree magna cum laude in Classical Guitar Performance from George Mason University. Brian has performed in master classes with internationally known guitarists Pepe Romero, Carlos Barbosa-lima, Carlos Perez, and Roland Dyens. At Mason, Brian was a student of Professor Larry Snitzler. Brian’s teaching range includes classical guitar, bass guitar, electric guitar, and steel string guitar. In addition to teaching Brian is an active performer in the DC Metro area.

“In the beginner camp, we will explore different styles of music by listening and demonstration,” explained Mr. Slaymaker. “We will also do some improvisation, and learn to play along with some live percussion and a drum machine. Learning how to play together as an ensemble is also a fun element.”

“In the more advanced workshop, we will listen to and study some of the great guitarists, and explore some of their techniques,” said Mr. Slaymaker. “The students will gain experience organizing and putting together a Guitar Ensemble Performance through practice and rehearsal. I can guarantee that all of the students will greatly improve by participating – imagine having 15 hours of instruction and practice in just one week!”

Tim Carolla (pictured above) will be the lead instructor for the teen Beginner Camp. Mr. Carolla has earned a Master’s of Music in Modern American Music (Jazz and Improvisation) and a Graduate Performance Diploma from the Longy School of Music of Bard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and a Bachelor’s of Music from George Mason University, with a Performance Degree in Classical Guitar and a Minor in Jazz Studies. He maintains an active schedule teaching, performing, and composing/arranging. He has experience performing most styles in the jazz idiom (swing, bop, free music/free jazz), as well as with pit orchestras and rock bands.

Suzanne Dorman (pictured above) will assist with the younger group Beginner Camp. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Guitar Performance from Belhaven University, where she studied with Barry Hause. She has also studied at Peabody Conservatory in the studio of Julian Gray. She has performed in venues in several states as well as in Mexico where she taught music in an orphanage for one year. In addition, Suzanne has performed in masterclasses for renowned teachers such as Nicholas Ciraldo, Adam Holzmann, and Christopher Parkening.

Talha Mirza (pictured above) will assist with the teen Beginner Camp. His love for teaching began with his association with Music For Life where he taught students ages 8-13 and saw the impact music had on others. Since then, he has also taught in local community centers and the Fairfax County Public School system. He is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Music degree with a concentration in Music Technology from George Mason University.

Never tried guitar before? Why not do it this summer? Our Beginner Camps are the perfect, low-stress environment to give it a shot! For serious guitar students who have a few years of lessons under your belt, the Guitar Workshop is a great place to take it up a notch and to have a great time rehearsing and performing with other cool guitarists.

GET DETAILS AND REGISTER TODAY!

If you are a music student between 13 and 18 years old who is relatively new to the world of composing your own pieces, our Intro to Music Composition Summer Workshop is the perfect place to find your creative voice, learn essential concepts and foundations for orchestral music writing, and hear your music notes come to life from page to live performance!

The workshop, July 9-13, will be taught by versatile composer and Mason School of Music faculty Dr. Andrew Cote, who has enjoyed presenting this program for several summers.  As a composer of acoustic and electronic music, Dr. Cote’s compositions have been performed and recorded across three continents. Recently his works have been featured at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, the North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial National Conference, the Tutti New Music Festival, and many more. Andrew is represented by BMI classical and distributes his music through self-publishing and MusicaNeo distributers located in Switzerland. As a rock and popular music artist, Andrew has recorded with several groups including Aaron Tinjum and the Tangents, Winterstar, The Double Yellow, The Dino Monkeys, Armaniche’s Architects, Famous Ladies, and several more. He is an active studio drummer, recording on several albums each year. Currently, Andrew is pursuing doctoral studies at George Mason University, where he is studying music composition with Professor Mark Camphouse – who teaches the more advanced Music Composition Explorations Summer Workshop (June 18-22).
(Visit www.andrewcotemusic.com)

“Students who take this camp will have the opportunity to write music in class for piano, strings, woodwinds, and more,” said Mr. Cote. “Best of all, you will also have the opportunity to hear you music performed by live musicians (i.e. your classmates). I love how the kids support each other and encourage each other. Students are guaranteed to walk away feeling more confident as a composer!”

An advantage of being connected to the university’s School of Music is the vibrant pool of wonderful musicians on hand, both students and faculty. A few special guests will be invited in during the week to provide feedback on the music written for the various instruments the participants have composed for. You never know who might show up!

“One of my favorite components of the curriculum is our class percussion ensemble, where everyone has to write a percussion piece and have it performed by the class,” stated Mr. Cote. “Throughout the week, your child can expect to have a hands-on experience writing music, and they will gain valuable skills that will prepare them for a lifetime of creating, analyzing, and thoughtfully engaging in the process of music creation.”

The week will finish with a music demonstration and “listening lab” for family and friends, where participants can exhibit what they have been working on during the workshop. Parents can also have the chance to discuss university life, college options, and career paths for music composers with Dr. Cote after the presentation.

GET DETAILS AND REGISTER TODAY!