Special Courses 2010-11

Elite Music continuously strives to provide the best in musical education in Toronto. We are always introducing new, unique and exciting specialty courses in addition to our conventional lessons. These courses are based on a specific syllabus establishing clear objectives and goals. Such special lessons are designed for the committed student who enjoys the educational challenge, strives for advancement or an entry into post secondary music studies.

Guitar Master Class

This course was designed for  two types of students:

1) Guitar students seeking entry into college and university post secondary music programs.

2) It is also recommended for the serious and committed musician who has reached a plateau and wants to take his guitar playing to the next level.

This 16 week course will give the student the necessary skills to pass the guitar audition requirements for York, U of T and Humber College. In addition, it will focus on guitar technique, understanding the fretboard, ear training and developing overall musicianship.

Areas covered:

• Learning to read and read well. Lead sheet and specific music parts will be covered.
• Theory and how it applies to the guitar.
• Improvising over chord changes.
• How to memorize chord changes after reading the chart through once.
• Playing in different ensemble settings.
• How to play with another chording instrument i.e. piano.
• Rhythm notation analysis.
• Playing in different grooves and time signatures.
• How to comp without the bass note.
• Chord voicings.
• Learning about the guitar’s frequency range compared to other instruments.

Instructor: Sean Bray

Jam Sessions

For young musicians ages 10-17

Brush elbows with Toronto’s best musicians who will reveal all the secrets of playing in a band! Play cover songs and write your own original ones. Week after week our professional team of instructors will teach you how to get a band together and make an impact on the stage!

At the end of each semester a recording session at Studio 92 or a live performance is scheduled.

Classes available every Friday, Saturday and Sunday starting September 10, 2010.

Registration begins August 3rd. Call and secure your spot early. 416 406  5355 ext 1

Drum Soloing

A new 8 week course that will take off this Fall 2010.

Areas of Study Include:

A) Note Values: Analysis of note values and using them to create syncopation and fundamental soloing principles.

B) Sticking Patterns: Using combination’s of right and left in single and double stroke variations

C) Groupings: Combination’s of hand and foot groupings. Being able to move around the drumset. Grouping ideas will be given with different note values. ie. eight notes, sixteenth notes, triplets etc.

D) Soloing Over A Vamp Or Ostinato: Ideas developed up to this point will be applied to a set ostinato (ie. a re-occurring syncopated pattern lasting one or two bars). A common example occurs in latin music. The piano plays the ostinato and the drums/percussion solos over it. Ostinato’s will be given in different styles (ie. Rock, Latin, Jazz etc.)

Registration begins August 3rd. Call and secure your spot early. 416 406  5355 ext 1

Greek Bouzouki

Become the bouzouki player you always dreamed of being under the professional instruction of an outstanding musician and teacher, Tasos Isaakidis. Younger or older, beginner or advanced, prepare to take your playing to the next level.

This course includes studies in bouzouki technique, Greek repertoire from different genres (rembetiko, laiko, neo kima, and Greek pop), Greek rhythms, improvisation, reading and theory of Greek music.

Registration begins August 3rd. Call and secure your spot early. 416 406  5355 ext 1