Category: Music

Teaching artist and classical guitar musician Chris Jenkins will be leading several guitar (and ukulele) workshops this summer for kids and teens, from complete beginner to more advanced. Time to get picking, plucking and strumming!

Are you a teenager who is thinking that it might be cool to start learning how to play guitar?

Have you already been playing guitar for a while and would like to learn how to play better with other musicians?

Are you a kid ages 8-12 who thinks the ukulele (that little Hawaiian guitar) is awesome?

If you answered YES to any of the above, we have a summer workshop for you! Professional guitarist Chris Jenkins is ready to show you the ropes (or the strings, rather) of guitar-playing. Depending on your answer above, choose from the following options:

• Guitar Essentials for Beginners (Ages 13-18) | July 11-15 OR July 18-22
• Guitar Ensemble for Intermediate to Advanced (Ages 13-18) | July 5-21 (T, W, Th eve only)
• Ukulele Adventures for Beginners (Ages 8-12) | July 11-15

 

 

GUITAR ESSENTIALS
In Guitar Essentials, beginner students will learn the basics, such as guitar notation forms, how to play melodies, and strum chords on an acoustic guitar (please bring your own).  You’ll be amazed what you can learn in one week! This workshop will also prepare you for individual lessons or a school guitar program.
LEARN MORE/ REGISTER

 

 

GUITAR ENSEMBLE
In the Guitar Ensemble, more experienced students will learn many aspects of guitar study and performance, including good practice habits, preparing for performance and audition, fingerstyle and classical technique, and playing as an ensemble. A special three-week, three-evening format allows for schedule flexibility. Family and friends always enjoy the performance at the end of the program.
LEARN MORE/ REGISTER

 

 

UKULELE ADVENTURES
In Ukulele Adventures, younger kids will begin to learn fingering, strumming and more on this popular little instrument known as the “Hawaiian guitar”. You will also receive preparation for full size acoustic guitar playing. Please bring your own standard (soprano) ukulele.
LEARN MORE/ REGISTER

 

“The summer guitar opportunities at Mason are a great way to get started on the guitar or to further develop your skills,” says program director Chris Jenkins. “Plus, you will learn alongside others in a friendly and encouraging setting!”

 

 

CHRIS JENKINS BIO 

Chris Jenkins Website

 

SEE ALL SUMMER ARTS PROGRAMS AT MASON

This summer, we are launching our very first Summer Music Intensive at Mason’s School of Music. From July 25-29, high school musicians will be immersed in rehearsals, master classes, college discussions, and performances!

The following programs are included in the Intensive week:

• Mason Summer Percussion Academy
• Mason Summer Brass Academy
• Mason Summer Clarinet Academy
• Music Composition Explorations
• Music Recording Camp

 

 

 

Activities include rehearsals and instrument coaching led by Mason professors and guest artists, lectures and discussions, master class demonstrations, insights into college preparation and auditions, and more. The week ends with a final performance concert for family and friends that showcases what the students have learned. Music Recording Camp even has its own “Release Party”! On top of that, students have the option of choosing the Summer Residential Housing plan (for an extra fee, deadline extended to May 1st) for an even fuller university experience, complete with evening activities, concerts and on-campus lodging.

“Mason Summer Percussion Academy is a comprehensive program designed to offer students a chance to explore their full potential as percussionists,” says Percussion Academy director John Kilkenny. “From drumset classes to world percussion clinics, from college audition prep to sightreading seminars, this is the PLACE to be this summer!”

 

 

“This program offers a focused week of practice, learning, and – most importantly – making music with your fellow performers,” says Brass Academy director Adam Stokes. “We hope you can join us!”

“I am particularly excited about Dr. Marie Ross coming from Germany” says Clarinet Academy director Catina Sweedy. “In her workshops, Marie demonstrates historical clarinets from all eras, from the beginnings of the instrument in the Baroque period through the late Romantic. She plays well-known repertoire on each instrument to demonstrate the original sound, how the sound and technique of the clarinet evolved, and how it is different from the sound of the modern instruments we are used to today.” Dr. Ross will bring eight period clarinets that the students will be able to try.

 

 

Composition students get the unique privilege of studying with well-known composer-conductor Professor Mark Camphouse, and Music Recording students get the opportunity to work in Mason’s new recording studio.

Auditions are not required to get in to these programs, and spaces are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Sign up today!

SEE ALL SUMMER MUSIC PROGRAMS

 

Kanako Chikami is a Percussion Instructor at Potomac Arts Academy and is a current candidate for her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at George Mason University. She has been on faculty at Potomac Arts Academy for a year and has taught as part of our summer camps as well as private lessons. Enjoy this YouTube video of Kanako performing and learn more about her in the interview below:

PAA: How did you first fall in love with music?

KC: According to my mom, I started singing when I was two years old in front of TV. She thought that I might like music, and she signed me up to learn marimba, piano, and chorus in my kindergarten.  I think I loved playing marimba and singing the most.

PAA: Tell us about a teaching experience you had that was especially memorable.

KC: I had a chance to teach a percussion ensemble for middle-high and high school students at Sumer Camp of Potomac 2015 Summer at GMU. I picked a piece, Fanfare for Tambourines for 5 percussionists, for them. They only had 3 or 4 rehearsals until a final concert. My concern was that some of them never touched tambourines before. However, each student had tremendously high motivation and concentration, so it was easy for me to coach them at every single rehearsal. In the final concert, they did a great job and seemed that they had a great time.  I was very grateful to teach them.  

PAA: What are some unique things you do when you teach?

KC: Whenever I teach a piece of percussion music to my students, I let them sing rhythms with metronome first and don’t let them play with real instruments. This is because I want them to get used to rhythms on the page without worrying about technique.

PAA: Do you have any pets? If so, tell us about them. If not, tell us the type of pet you would like to have.

KC: No, but I would like to have a dog or cat in the future. I like Shiba-Inu and Rossian Blue.

 

If you’re interested in signing up for lessons with Kanako, simply go to our Private Music Instruction page to get started!