This year at Grosse Pointe Music Academy we will offer a variety of Band/Ensemble classes for students of all ages and instruments. We now offer Rock Band, Jazz Band, String Quartet, Guitar Ensemble and Adult Rock/Blues Jam group.
Band/Ensemble classes help students learn the skills necessary for playing and performing with other musicians. We help to match students of similar ages, style tastes, and experience to make class exciting as well as educational.
Rock Band Classes generally consist of 3-5 band members playing drums, bass, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboard, and vocals. Students will learn to jam as a group over basic rock/blues changes in all keys and play popular tunes from tablature and sheet music. Rock band students and students of all band/ensemble classes will benefit strongly from having private lessons in addition to their band class.
Jazz Band:
Jazz Band Classes will consist of a drummer, bass player, rhythm guitar player, keyboard/piano player, vocals, and any number of possible lead woodwind or brass instruments. Jazz band is a music reading intensive class with students learning to play from written Jazz music and charts. Soloing, Comping, Chord Substituting, and a number of other Jazz skills will be taught and utilized on a weekly basis.
String Quartet:
String Quartet class will consist of two violins, a viola, and cello player. Students will learn to play classical tunes as well as some pop tunes. Reading music is a big part of the String Quartet class. Students should have at least 6 months experience in private lessons before joining this group.
Guitar Ensemble:
Guitar Ensemble is a class for all guitar players and a bass player too! Why guitar ensemble? Guitar is a versatile instrument capable of rhythm, harmony, and melody. Combining multiple guitar players into a group, all playing together, is quite an awesome experience. Guitar students very rarely get the ensemble experience that band and orchestra instruments do in school. Guitar ensemble is a great way to get experience playing guitar and learning to read music while playing in a group.
Adult Rock/Blues Jam Group:
You are not too old to play! This class is designed to give adults the experience of playing in a band and learning functional performance skills. Adult students will learn to play rock and blues progressions and popular songs. Call us and sign up today to let the fun begin!