JAN 14 - 21st, 2011
THE 12th ANNUAL SUMMERSONG
summersong guest book

 

 

The Program
      The first couple of years the classes were mainly A Cappella Singing & Songwriting. While keeping tabs on demand and interests, the program has expanded to include other musical disciplines and subjects. The program is consciously designed for all levels of ability, from complete beginners to professionals. It is this blend that somehow creates a supportive, stimulating, and encouraging musical and social environment in which all can flourish.

Participants customise their schedules to include as many or as few classes as they want. Most classes are held daily; a few are one offs. The final program is not revealed until the first day of camp. Students sign up for each class at camp.


2011 classes (subject to changes, additions, surprises)



Tony Backhouse
will lead 2 daily classes in a cappella singing. His repertoire includes the passionate African American styles as well as surprising pop, jazz, and Tony's original, award-winning choral arrangements that are thrilling and uplifting. For the past few camps Tony has formed all eager blokes into an all male chorale that performed some spine-tingling material. This may happen again!


Songwriters will have two choices. Kristina Olsen will again teach her hugely popular Songwriting class. This daily session suits students with or without songwriting or musical experience, and always seems to enthral, inspire and make songwriters out of all participants. There's daily homework.

Songwriting - Beyond the Gateway with Aurora Jane

For experienced songwriters looking to expand upon and enhance their existing skills, this workshop will explore from foundation to realization. Utilize arrangement as a gateway to endless possibilities. Gain an understanding of what it is to be a producer, and how this broad vision can enhance your creativity.  Experiment with a multitude of musical styles and textures to create something entirely different. Use the knowledge acquired to gain clarity about your unique creative vision. Ideally participants will bring 2-3 songs at near completion stage to the workshop. Expect innovation, renovation, rejuvenation.

 

BODY, HEART & SPIRIT SING with Fumi Yamamoto
Fumi's class is designed to deeply open and energize the entire body and create free pathways for your energy and breath.  Movement, breathing exercises, meditative work, and meridian and posture alignment will all be infused with her expert use of essential oils and vocal vibrations to excavate any tension and release blockages.  Some singing, relating to the repertoire Tony will be teaching in his sessions, plus other delights, await the participants.


Again this year Summersong's Band Lab workshop, which will be lead by Karl Farren . - We will also be exploring JAMMING techniques this year in a daily, open situation with guidance by various teachers, as requested!

"Playing simultaneously is not the same as playing together." There's something very special about the feeling you get when you're playing or singing with other musicians, and it 'clicks'.  Whatever the lineup, there are fundamentals that apply.  In this workshop you'll develop your ability to perform as part of a unit.  Participants’ original songs will be workshopped into band arrangements. We will then explore the elements of structure, timing, rhythm, feel, space, dynamics, harmony, pitch/key, etc. This is NOT about being a virtuoso player.  It's about playing a part that contributes to the whole.  It will be very 'hands-on'.

 

Beginning Guitar will be taught again by Karl Farren. Beginners Guitar class is designed for the complete novice. Strumming, tuning, the major chords, practise hints and simple exercises that will have you playing songs----this is the level one guitar class.

Guitar Accompaniment for Singer/songwriters with Luciano Mesiti
This is aimed at experienced guitar players who want to empower and enrich how they accompany themselves and/or others. It's an intermediate level class that requires some guitar and music experience.  Topics to be explored: exercises and theory for improving guitar for vocal accompaniment (solo or duo), how to accompany someone singing or another guitar player, techniques for arranging songs for your guitar style. Further exercises will look at improving harmony, learning variations to chords, rhythm guitar techniques and more.

BASS GUITAR with Aurora Jane
This is a beginner's class for those familiar with stringed instruments, who want to understand the basics of bass playing.  Some knowledge of scales, rhythm, and general musical experience will be a plus.  We will explore the role of the bass in melody, rhythm, groove, et al.  Please bring a bass if you can, as we'll not have more than a couple of extras. 

 

Elliott Orr, of Brisbane's Talkin the Drum, and his divine dancing consort Josie Kukukulie will be leading a daily African dance and drumming session.  Recommended for all levels, this high energy class will teach you the essential patterns to deeply enjoy the joys of djembes, doon doons, and other percussion instruments.



Elliot and Josie
 
The Schedule
The daily class schedule commences after breakfast with two morning sessions of classes. After lunch there are three class periods, and students are encouraged to keep one period free for their rehearsal/homework/swimming time.

There is also a day in the middle of the week where the schedule is completely different, but I like to keep the details of that a surprise until we're at camp.

The evening activities vary from night to night. The first evening we have an all camp kind of warm up where we do some group improvisation while getting to know each other.
On subsequent evenings students perform their works in a kind of cafe/club set up, the instructors perform for the students, jam sessions, one mega party with a varying theme, and the final evening is the concert of all the classes.
 

In the past we've had Chinese New Year's sand sculpting and ceremony on the breathtaking beach, hide and seek group games throughout the site, etc. .
As usual, everyone will be asked to bring gifts to share with strangers, as well as party gear of any description for these events.
Catherine McEwan and Shelley Hughes are the sublimely creative queens of celebration, and they'll again be busy insuring that Summersong   participants learn about the art of celebration as well as music.

 

 
 
   



For further info .click here and ask Alison

The 12th Annual
Summersong Music Camp

JAN 14 - 21st, 2011
Alison Pearl
PO BOX 234
Mullumbimby NSW 2482

ph. 02 66 845 570

email apearl@mullum.com.au


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