Featured Class:

AHEAD OF THE CURVE COACHING PROGRAM

Do you need to progress really fast?

We are excited to be offering a brand new one-on-one guitar course called Ahead of the Curve. This class is designed to get students on the fast track of guitar mastery. Each class is 1 to 1.5 hours long (once a week) and will teach students how to get the maximum amount of results from their effort. As well the course will be customized to the student's current level.

Ahead of the Curve Blues

Ahead of the Curve Jazz

Ahead of the Curve Rock

Ahead of the Curve Theory

Ahead of the Curve Improvisation

This course is open to all levels of playing ability. All potential students must audition before signing up for the classes.

Students who are not willing to commit to a minimum of 1 hour of practice a day for at least five days a week should not apply.

4 week program: $380

8 week program: $720

10 week program: $850

12 week program: $960

Call Mark Fitchett for an audition or more information

310-918-0439

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PERFORMANCE CLASSES

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Performance classes are included as part of our semi-annual recitals.  Students practice the art of performing for each other, with helpful guidance, tips and coaching either from Program Director Lisa M. Kato, or from an experienced music instructor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ADULT JAZZ JAMS (must be 21+)

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Get to jam with other adult students in a fun, relaxing atmosphere!

Blues & Beyond Workshop & Jam Session  

With a Live Band!

Taught by guitarist Mark Fitchett this four-hour workshop will help inspire your playing to new levels. Topics to be discussed include: 

• Soloing
• Dynamics
• Rhythm Styles
• Modal Jamming
• Playing With a Band
• Improvisation Techniques
• Jamming on Different Styles

 

Participants should have some basic chord and scale knowledge. This session is open to all guitarists & pianists. Other instrumentalists may apply.

4 hour class: $75

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

YOUTH ROCK BAND 101

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Fall Rock Camp Sessions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ADULT ROCK BAND 101

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Spring & Summer sessions posted soon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

YOUTH BLUES ROCK JAM CLASS

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Spring & Summer sessions posted soon

Blues & Beyond Workshop & Jam Session  

One day workshop with a live band!

Taught by guitarist Mark Fitchett this four-hour workshop will help inspire your playing to new levels. Topics to be discussed include: 

• Soloing
• Dynamics
• Rhythm Styles
• Modal Jamming
• Playing With a Band
• Improvisation Techniques
• Jamming on Different Styles

 

Participants should have some basic chord and scale knowledge. This session is open to all guitarists & pianists. Other instrumentalists may apply.

4 hour class: $75

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JAZZ CLASSES

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Spring & Summer sessions posted soon

Jazz Band Program

Small Group Ensembles

Jazz Improv Class

 

Jazz Band Program

We have created a workshop style class for young musicians ages 13-18. It will be in a jazz "Big Band" format. Ideal for the homeschooled

The instrumentation consists of:

• 4-5 trumpets
• 4-5 trombones
• 2 alto saxophones
• 2 tenor saxophones
• 1 baritone saxophone
• piano
• bass
• guitar
• drums

Various musical styles performed within the jazz band context will be taught, and there will be an emphasis on improvisation.

Potential students must audition to be in this class. No prior jazz experience is neccessary. However, some facility on their instrument, and music reading skills are important.

The class will be 12 weeks long and meet for two hours once a week. The last class will be a recital held at the same time as the class.

 

 

 

Jam Band Workshop

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What do bands like The Grateful Dead, The Allman Brothers, Phish, Santana, Hendrix, and the Cream, as well as literally every blues and jazz artist have in common?

It is the ability to play together and create incredible original improvised music.

So how do these bands pull off this seemingly amazing feat of coming up with such great sounding music off the top of their heads?

In this workshop, various ideas and techniques will be presented to show musicians how to play together and improvise individually as well as collectively to create their own “Jam Band” sound.

Topics discussed and demonstrated include:

Creating moods

Grooves

The “Space Jam”

Modes
Improvisation

Playing Techniques 

Whether you want to carry on the tradition of the classic jam bands like the Dead, or just be able to put in extended jamming sections in your songs like Hendrix, Cream etc. this workshop will teach you how to create your own original improvised music from as little as one or two chords, a simple scale and some basic rhythmic ideas.

 

 

 

Beginning Improvisation Classes

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In these four-week classes, students will be introduced to the basic fundamentals of improvisation.

Rhythmic and melodic techniques will be covered as well as specific chord progressions and scales that lend themselves to soloing in jazz, rock and blues styles.

Students will also gain experience performing in an ensemble situation and learn how to “jam” with other musicians.

Some of the topics covered will be:

• Modal Scales
• Chord Progressions for Modes
• Blues Scales
• 12-Bar Blues
• Phrasing
• Basic Soloing Techniques

No improvisation experience necessary, but students should know some basic major and minor chords and scale fingerings.

There will be some assignments and students must be willing to practice on this material in between each class.

Intermediate to Advanced Classes

Are you bored with your soloing ability? Know a few bluesy licks but want to move on? Classes are offered for those who already have some soloing skills and are looking for ways to go beyond the basic rock/blues licks and scales they already know.

 

If you are interested, please call 310-918-0439 to get on the list. . Classes will be held once a week on Saturday or Sunday. Each class is 90 minutes long, and there are four classes per session. Price per 4-week session is $140. Classes are open to all instrumentalists. Pre-teen, Teen and Adult classes are available.

 

Mark Fitchett on improvisation:

Why I Improvise

I am passionate about improvisation in all styles of music. This is my love, my joy, my high in life. I get the most satisfaction from this aspect of my live performances. The creativity experienced, especially when I’m “on,” is something I don’t experience in normal everyday life.

Why it started

I had been playing the guitar for a couple of years as kid and was just starting to listen to Santana, Johnny Winter, Led Zeppelin and The Allman Brothers when one of my friends mentioned that the guitarists were making their solos up on the spot. That just floored me, I couldn’t believe it! I knew right then and there that I had to be able to do that too; thus starting my lifelong quest to perfect the art of improvisation on the guitar.

How it developed

Beginning with garage/basement bands, my friends and I got together and jammed for hours at a time on modal one chord jams, simple progressions and blues. Later on, as I developed my skills, I moved into progressive rock, fusion and funk, and eventually be-bop influenced jazz. Along the way I also picked up skills in Country, Classical, Latin, African and other various ethnic music and hybrid styles.  

Where it’s heading

Although I am constantly refining my technique and exposing myself to many different types of music and musicians in an effort to find new ways to express myself, something that has been inspiring me for quite some time now is teaching other musicians to improvise. The fact that no two persons interpret an idea the same way has been fascinating to me, and that I, an experienced musician for over 30 years can learn even from a beginning improviser.

The ultimate goal

I want to introduce musicians and listeners alike in the art of improvisation. This part of popular music seems to have disappeared in the last few years, especially in the mainstream. I am on a quest to educate, enlighten and inspire the masses, and believe one of the best ways to accomplish this is through teaching. If I can get a student to experience even a fraction of the passion I had as a beginning musician then I am convinced that they in turn will inspire others and be open to listening to and enjoying great musicians improvise.

-Mark Fitchett

Guitarist/Composer Mark Fitchett has been performing, writing and improvising Blues, Rock and Jazz for over 30 years.

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Watch Mark Fitchett jam on youtube!