Welcome to Virginia Music Adventures’ 2009 Summer Music Institute. We are pleased to present a program that offers students the flexibility to experience a one, two, three, or four week summer music experience. With a focus on varied classroom Topics and Styles in the mornings, both Performance Ensembles and Workshop Groups in the afternoons, and Fun Friday adventures to local amusement and theme parks, the VMA Summer Institute can complement other summer courses or be a stand alone program as you choose.
With VMA Institute’s incremental modular offerings, families construct their own course sequences. Study a different topic each week, or stay with a topic for all four weeks during morning blocks. Participate in performance ensembles or workshop groups during afternoon ensembles. Students can register for one module, a half day or a whole day as they so choose.
Afternoon workshop groups allow for weekly participation and culminate in informal performances on Friday mornings during our FMJam! Performance ensembles require a four week commitment and include public performances throughout the session and on the weekend concert tour.
Modules are so flexible that students can even take a week off for another off site activity such as a sports camp or family vacation and then return for subsequent modules.
VMA groups have been recognized by the City Council of the City of Los Angeles; the Ministry of Tourism of Nassau, The Bahamas; the U.S. Consul General and the Mayor of Beyoglu District, Istanbul, the Republic of Turkey; and the Board of Supervisors of Fairfax County, Virginia. The VMA team has been offering Northern Virginia youth music performance and travel opportunities for 30 years. After concert tours to four continents and the Caribbean over the last 5 years, we look forward to a summer with a balance of theoretical and practical music instruction coupled with our hallmarks: performance, travel and adventure!
Summer Institute 2009 will be held at Little River United Church of Christ, 8410 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA 22003.
Modules
Early Morning Drop off & Late Pick Up Service
Ideal for working families. Kids will watch movies, do arts and crafts, play outside, play board games, or listen to music while waiting for the Institute day schedule to begin or wind down.
Topics - Block A
90 minute instructional block focusing on classroom related subjects such as Music History and Theory. Topics will cover Western European Music History, the History of Jazz, Basic Theory, and Advanced Theory.
Styles - Block B
Students will focus on individual playing and listening skills through small group instruction. Classes include intermediate and advanced improv and surveys of world music and jazz history.
LUNCH
Kids will bring their own brown bag lunches and have time for outdoor and indoor play.
Ensembles 1
Choices include two Performance Ensembles; Wind Ensemble and Advanced Jazz Combo, and several Workshop Groups consisting of Woodwind, Brass, Percussion and Vocal Ensembles providing insturmentsal and vocal opportunities at the intermediat, and advanced playing levels. Minimum one year playing experience required for instrumentalists. Placement by audition.
Ensembles 2
Choices include two Performance Ensembles; Big Band and Choir, and Workshop Groups such as a jazz Lab Band, and chamber groups. Each group will provide playing opportunities for musicians of intermediate and advanced levels. Placement by audition.
Fun Fridays
To end the week, we will start out with FMJam! where students offer short presentations representing what they learned during the week. At the conclusion of FMJam!, students may choose to board a bus for a day of adventure and fun at either King’s Dominion or Busch Gardens.
for more information
Wind Ensemble
Traditional wind ensemble literature in a small chamber performance ensemble setting. Placement by audition, requires 4 week commitment.
Combo
Classic combo jazz for advanced players. Placement by audition, requires 4 week commitment
* Workshop Groups:
Jazz & Classical
Woodwind
Brass
Percussion
Vocal
Vocal Workshop
Want to know how some of the biggest musical stars got where they are today? It's not just great hair and amazing looks. Students of all musical styles will benefit from this vocal workshop to learn about, and tune up with, solid vocal technique. Singers will work with utilizing healthy breath support, relaxation, body awareness, diction, style elements, expression, confidence, musicality and more! Vocal exercises will be taught and you'll receive a CDcopy of many exercises used in the class to keep your practice going at home. Students will work on one piece of music each week to apply the techniques.
Instrumentalists, beginning singers as well as current singers are encouraged to join - learn to make the most of your vocal instrument! Vocal Jazz group members are strongly encouraged to attend this class.
Vocal Jazz
The vocal jazz group is a focused, fast-paced group that will give members a great workout with vocal harmonies, sight-reading, hearing "the changes", internalizing rhythms, learning vocal blend and loads of style. Music and recordings of individual parts will be provided and group members can expect to have an intense, fun experience - this is not your mama's high school choir! Group requires a 4-week commitment and audition. Instructor recommends that all who are interested audition, regardless of past vocal experience. The vocal jazz group is encouraged to join in the Friday Morning Jams and will perform in the final concert on July 24!
Big Band
Traditional Big Band performance group for experienced players. Placement by audition, requires
4 week commitment.
Choir
Vocal jazz performance group. Placement by audition, requires
4 week commitment.
Lab Band
Introductory big band jazz workshop group for emerging players.
Chamber Groups
Classical music in small workshop groups.
for more information
* Theory I
Basic theory for emerging musicians.
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of Western Music Theory. Areas such as reading and writing musical notation will be discussed. Developing and realizing simple harmonies will also be presented.
As a prerequisite for this course it is assumed that students have acquired or are acquiring basic performance skills in voice or on an instrument.
The ultimate goal of the Theory I course is to develop a student's ability to recognize, understand, and describe the basic materials and processes of music that are heard or presented in a score. The achievement of these goals are approached by using a combination of both listening and written exercises.
Click to close box.Theory II
Intermediate theory for experienced musicians.
* History of Western Music
Chronological survey of Western European music from ancient to modern times.
This course will focus on the history of music of the European tradition. From its roots in ancient times through to present day, how traditions have changed and evolved to what we now know and consider to be traditional music. This course will utilize multiple listening, anthology (music literature and score) examples, and other cultural and artistic examples that tie in with each period in order to allow for students a better, holistic knowledge of the roots of the music that preceded modern tradition.
Click to close box.* Jazz Sax
The lineage of jazz saxophone through important and historically significant recordings.
This course is designed to introduce young saxophonists (or anyone interested) to the lineage of jazz saxophone through important and historically significant recordings. Important players form the eras such as swing, be-bob, hard-bop, and contemporary will be discussed and listened to. The influence of jazz giants such as Charlie Parker and John Coltrane, as well as the many saxophonists inspired by them, will be covered. The focus will also be on what is occurring in the world of saxophone today, as that the art should also be looking forward to the future and not solely at the past.
Click to close box.* Improv I
For emerging jazz players who have mastered their major scales.
Intermediate Improvisation
This course will be a guide to the practical application of scales and arpeggios used in post be-bob jazz improvisation.
Basic theoretical knowledge of scales and chords will be discussed while applying these concepts to the real life jazz language. Students will learn how to play over the ii-V-I progression and using both vertical (arpeggios) and horizontal (scales) approaches to to
improvisation. Popular song forms such as "the blues" and "rhythm changes" will be discussed and used as vehicles for improvisation.
* Improv II
For experienced jazz players looking to enhance their skills.
Advanced Improvisation:
Students will combine scale studies, a working knowledge of chords symbols, and a keen awareness of jazz harmony to help build a jazz vocabulary that can be easily accessed and adapted to various jazz styles. Students will study and learn to play guide tone lines, modes, songs with active harmonic rhythm, odd time signatures, and contemporary styles. The class will stress listening to classic jazz examples, transcribing solos, and writing original melodies over standard chord progressions. Each student must have a spiral staff paper notebook and a folder to keep track of hand-outs. Examples from Jamey Aebersold's books and CD's, and Jim Snidero's book called "Jazz Conception" will be provided. Improvisation is a great opportunity for personal expression through music. This class will be a positive, non-competitive environment designed to promote creativity.
* World Music
Geographical survey of music and culture.
This course will focus more on the cultural aspect of various regions of the world through the history and practices of music. As each culture’s definition of music shifts and changes dependent upon the culture’s society values, the students will have the opportunity to explore each setting through various listening, video, and activities to encourage a better understanding of each culture’s ideals, customs, and traditions.
Click to close box.* Jazz History
I & II
A two part, chronological study of American jazz music history using rare audio and vido clips.
Learn about the original American Classical music called Jazz. Where did it come from, what did it evolve into and the trials and tribulations during American history's most memorable times such as The Great Depression. Music's influential musicians stem from jazz music. Observe it all in chronological order through rare audio and video clips.
Click to close box.Weekly Schedule
| Week 1 June 29 - July 2 4 sessions |
Week 2 July 6 - July 9 4 sessions |
Week 3 July 13 - July 17 4 sessions |
Week 4 July 20 - July 24 5 sessions |
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| 7:45 - 8:45 am | Early Drop Off | |||
| Topics 9:00 - 10:30 |
Theory I or II European History I Jazz History I Jazz Sax |
Theory I or II European History II Jazz History I Jazz Sax |
Theory I or II European History III Jazz History I Jazz Sax |
Theory I or II European History IV Jazz History I Jazz Sax |
| 10:30 - 10:45 | Break | |||
| Styles 10:45 - 12:15 |
Improv I or II World Music Jazz History II |
Improv I or II World Music Jazz History II |
Improv I or II World Music Jazz History II |
Improv I or II World Music Jazz History II |
| 12:15 - 1:00 | Lunch | |||
| Ensembles 1 1:00 - 2:30 |
Wind Ensemble Combo Workshop Groups |
Wind Ensemble Combo Workshop Groups |
Wind Ensemble Combo Workshop Groups |
Wind Ensemble Combo Workshop Groups |
| 2:30 - 2:45 | Break | |||
| Ensmbles 2 2:45 - 5:00 |
Big Band Choir Lab Band Chamber Groups |
Big Band Choir Lab Band Chamber Groups |
Big Band Choir Lab Band Chamber Groups |
Big Band Choir Lab Band Chamber Groups |
| 5:00 - 6:00 | Late Pick Up | |||
| Fun Fridays |
| July 10 - King’s Dominon |
Fees
Weekly Tuition
(Prices for 4 sessions)
Mornings |
Afternoons |
Early & Late |
|
One Morning All morning (A & B), |
Ensembles 1 Ensembles 2 All Afternoon |
(Prices per week) Early Drop Off or Both |
Fun Fridays |
|
|
July 3 - HOLIDAY July 10 – King’s Dominion |
July 24 - Final Activity Day Special last day activities culminating in final evening performance and reception - No Charge |
Weekend Tour | |
| July 17 – 19 - Williamsburg & Virginia Beach $300.00 - Return 8 pm | |
Payment Schedule
Registration Due at time of Registration
Payment one: 50% due by March 30
Payment two: balance due by May 30