Ukulele Crash Course

Saturdays June 23 and 30, 10:00-12:00
$45.00 (includes an instruction/songbook) Ages 14-adult
You will learn basic chords, strumming patterns and how to transpose any song into a ukulele friendly key.

Please contact me to register or for more information.  Space is limited to 8 students.

Sight Singing Part 4

Session 4 of Sight Singing Crash Course is this Saturday, 10:30-12:30 at my house.

Sight Singing Crash Course: Part 3

I will teach part 3 of my Sight Singing Crash Course this Saturday, May 5th, 10-12 at my home in Charlotte.  The cost is $20.00.  You are welcome to come even if you haven't been at part 1 and 2, but you might want to look at these Sight Singing Lessons to see what you've missed.

Overview of Part 3:
*syncopated rhythms (introduction)
*dotted rhythms (practice)
*rhythms in simple and compound meter (practice)
*key signatures (major and minor)
*lots of practice sight singing in various keys and time signatures

great lead sheet website

I found this really great wiki site for lead sheets, www.wikifonia.org. You can print out a nice clean copy of a melody line with chords and lyrics. The coolest thing about the site is that it will transpose to any key that you choose.

classes for May and June

I am offering the following classes at my home in May and June.  Please contact me by phone or email to register and/or for more information.

*Sight Singing Crash Course: Part 3 of 4  (See posts below for material covered in parts 1 and 2)

Saturday, May 5, 10:00-12:00, $20.00  

*Everybody Sing: A Class for Shy Singers

Wednesday evenings, May 16, 23 and 30, 7:00-8:30,  $45.00
There is an African proverb that goes: “If you can walk you can dance, if you can talk you can sing.” This class will help you find or reclaim your singing voice in a fun and non-threatening atmosphere. Ages 14-adult

*Make a One-String Banjo (rain cancels) 

Saturday, May 19, The project takes 30 minutes to an hour.
Come anytime between 10AM and 1PM.  All ages
$15.00/banjo (includes a song/instruction booklet)

*Singing Harmony by Ear

Monday evenings, June 11, 18 and 25, 7:00-8:30,  $45.00
Learn to use the chordal structure of a song to find and sing harmonies.  The only requirement for this class is that you can match pitch.  Ages 14-adult

*Ukulele Crash Course

Saturdays June 23 and 30, 10:00-12:00
$45.00 (includes an instruction/songbook)  Ages 14-adult
You will learn basic chords, strumming patterns and how to transpose any song into a ukulele friendly key. I can order you a nice sounding Lanikai ukulele for $55.00 if you let me know by May 31st.  

Sight Singing Crash Course - Part 2

I will hold part two of my Sight Singing Crash Course on Saturday March 31, 10am-12noon at my home in Charlotte.  Contact me for more information and for the address.

What we'll cover in the class:
*time signatures (how many beats per measure and how is the beat divided)
*dotted rhythms
*rhythms with sixteenth notes
*rhythms in simple (2/4, 3/4, 4/4) and compound (6/8, 9/8) meter
*C major scale with solfege (do, re, mi,...) and note names
*melodies in major and natural minor that have mostly stepwise motion
*melodies that outline the tonic triad
*hearing the tonal center

Click here for lessons that review what we did in Part 1.

Sing and Ring Along

I will host a Community Sing and Ring Along at my home (7107 Valley Haven Drive, Charlotte, 28211) on Sunday, February 19, 2PM-4PM.  We will sing a variety of songs and accompany ourselves on hand chimes.  This event is for all ages and you don't need to read music.  Children should be accompanied by an adult.  Please let me know if you are coming so that I know how many to expect.