Each class offered is 8 weeks in length and costs $90-$125. The 1 to 2 hour classes are held once a week. The payment for a class is due in full before the second meeting of a series. Workshops are payable at the 1st meeting. Reservations and pre-enrollment are encouraged as class size is limited.
BEGINNING GUITAR
Learn to play some great classic tunes (folk, country, pop, and rock) while learning accompaniment ideas including rhythms, fingerpicking, transposing (changing the key of a song to better suit your voice, if so desired), note reading, plus some of the fundamentals of music. Learn how to put all of these ideas together to help you make your own arrangement of a song using standard sheet music. Designed for people who are total beginners, and those who have played a little or who want more knowledge concerning accompaniment ideas. Eight two hour classes at a price that can't be beat.
- Monday, July 12, 8-10pm (8 classes) - Gary Mandell - $90
YOUNG PERSON'S GUITAR
A scaled down version of the adult class including some of those current songs they can't wait to play. Rhythm accompaniment ideas are explored. Individual work with note reading is included to insure a good foundation for the future. Fine 1/2 to full size acoustic guitars (Electrics also) available for sale or to rent. For ages 9-14 years old.
- Wednesday, July 14, 4-5pm (8 classes) - Gary Mandell - $90
BEGINNING HARMONICA
Turn a simple harmonica into an exciting blues & country instrument. Learn playing techniques for single notes, clean tone and intonation, bending notes, vibrato, rhythms, chording effects, and scale formations. Blues progressions, fiddle tunes, plus a new song each week! Taught by the man who recorded with Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson. Bring a key of C (we've got them if you need them) 10 hole harmonica.
- Tuesday, July 13, 8-9pm (8 classes) - Chris Smith - $125
BEGINNING SINGING
This weekly class will help you extend your vocal range as well as strengthen your voice in general. Learn breathing techniques as well as vocal exercises to improve your vocal stamina and performance ability. Led by a woman with strong performance credentials who studied with one of the masters of vocal technique.
- Tuesday, July 13, 7-8pm (8 classes) - Sharyn Scott - $120
SONGS/TECHNIQUES FOR GUITAR
Designed for people fresh out of Beginning Guitar or those who want to brush up on their playing and expand their repertoire. Learn fun songs in an assortment of styles, new chords, simple theory, and rhythm and fingerpicking ideas. Developed with over 35 years of teaching experience by a seasoned arranger and guitarist. Great for songwriters and players.
- Returns in the Fall (8 classes) - Gary Mandell - $100
BERNIE'S BLUES REPERTOIRE CLASS
Bernie will teach 2 or 3 songs each session, lyrics and chords, drawing from his own repertoire of blues gems, ranging from the early country blues to postwar and contemporary times. Learn not only the tunes, but many of the classic techniques and riffs (licks) included with the repertoire. Bring your vocal cords, guitar, harmonica, bass or whatever and have some fun. Tape recording is encouraged.
- Call for date and time
BERNIE'S ACOUSTIC BLUES JAM WORKSHOP
How to jam the blues as taught by the guru of blues in LA County. Improve your skills on how and what to play with people in small acoustic ensembles. Learn more about backup techniques and rhythms and lead playing ideas. Get practice playing with human beings instead of a computer or tape machine. Open to guitar, harmonica, and bass or ask. An eight week course that's fun and just what the doctor ordered.
- Wednesday, July 14, 7-8pm (8 Classes) - $100
BERNIE'S ELECTRIC BLUES JAM WORKSHOP
Bernie Pearl leads an amplified blues jam, open to all instruments. Bernie has played with an array of blues greats, including Big Mama Thornton, Freddie King, Papa John Creach, Lowell Fulson, Big Joe Turner, Otis Rush, B.B. King, and more. He'll share tips and insights on playing ensemble amplified blues gleaned over his 50 years in the blues world. Small amplifiers that only go to 10 please. Eight one hour long class sessions. Class size limited to 10. Such a deal.
- Wednesday, July 14, 8-9pm (8 Classes) - Bernie Pearl - $100
CARL VERHEYEN GUITAR WORKSHOP
Tips on soloing, bending strings, ensemble playing, recording, gear and more from the lead guitar player from Supertramp. Top studio player Verheyen (Guitar Player Magazine studio guitar player of the year) answers all the questions a rocker might have.- Saturday, July 31, 3-5pm - Carl Verheyen - $30
MARY FLOWER FINGERSTYLE BLUES GUITAR WORKSHOP
In this workshop, Mary will focus on turnarounds, patterns and options for lead playing for the fingerstyle player. She will bring a few handouts of Piedmont style tunes that will stretch your ability and enhance your repertoire. All levels are welcome,- Sunday, Aug 1, 1:30-3:30pm - Mary Flower - $30
GONZALO BERGARA GYPSY JAZZ GUITAR WORKSHOP
Learn to play gypsy jazz guitar from one of the style’s premier players. Creating solos, rhythm, and techniques used in the gypsy style. Taught by the man who toured with world in the Jorgenson Quintet and always was featured as a soloist on guitar himself.- Saturday, Aug 14, 3-5pm - Gonzalo Bergara - $30
BILL MIZE FINGERSTYLE GUITAR WORKSHOP
National Fingerstyle Champ Mize demonstates and discusses his approach to composition and arranging including creating melodies and interesting counterpoint, moving beyond cliches; and improving tone, timing and dynamics to improve your arrangements.- Saturday, Sept 18, 3-5pm - Bill Mize - $30
SLIDE GUITAR WORKSHOP
Learn slide guitar basics in the styles of Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, George Harrison and other greats. Standard and open tuning work in G, E, and C tuning with tips on vibrato, muting, intonation and more. Tips and slide licks for Blues, Country, and Rock N Roll. Taught by a pro who played in the Jesse Ed Davis Band for years.
- Saturday Sept 11, 1-3pm - Mark Shark - $30
OPEN TUNINGS AND USING THEM
Alternate tuning use including G, E, and C tuning. DADGAD, minor and suspended, and Wahine tunings. Creating your own tunings, tonal expansion and application. Taught by an expert (Mark Shark) who literally wrote the book, “The Tao of Tunings.” A great compliment to his slide guitar workshop.
- Call for Date and Time - Mark Shark - $30
FLAMENCO GUITAR TECHNIQUES
Add techniques from the world of Flamenco to your repertoire of tunes. Exciting rhythm and strumming techniques combined with specific scale formations (major and harmonic minor) and cool ways to use them. Elements of Flamenco guitar techniques have appeared in various styles of music over the years providing endless possibilities to an arrangement.
- Call for Date and Time - Ted Owens - $30
STRING ENSEMBLE CLASS
Expand your child’s interest in music and ensemble playing in a class that is educational, enriching, and pure fun! Your child will learn the basic fundamentals of ensemble playing, from note reading to ear training in an engaging and creative environment. An excellent augmentation to private lessons and benefits beginning to existing ensemble players. Playing in tune will become more natural as the ensemble plays a variety of classical, folk, and some fiddle surprises. For ages 9-15 years old.
- Tuesday, July 13, 4-5pm - Sara Behar (8 Classes) - $100
PRIVATE MUSIC INSTRUCTION
Private instruction is available from our roster of fine professionals to meet your personal needs. Instruction is available for the following instruments and voice in an assortment of different styles. Quality teachers with years of experience at an affordable rate. Currently we are offering 4 1/2 hour lessons for $108.
See our TEACHER PROFILES page for details and bios of our teaching staff.
- Guitar-Gary Mandell, Ted Owens, Bernie Pearl, Mark Shark
- Piano-Gary Mandell, Kate Kohler
- Bass-Valda Hammick, Richard Simon (Upright)
- Violin-Sara Behar, Laura Kass
- Viola-Sara Behar
- Cello-Harriet Katz
- Mandolin-Mark Shark
- Harmonica- Chris Smith
- Voice-Sharyn Scott
- Saxophone/Clarinet/Flute-Kyle O'Donnell, Ken Moran
- Trumpet/Trombone/Tuba-Marc Bolin
- Drums/Percussion-Durand Stewart
- Banjo-Mark Shark
- Ukelele-Gary Mandell, Mark Shark
- Dobro, Lap Steel, Pedal Steel, Bazouki, Dulcimer & More-Mark Shark
For information and referrals or to schedule an appointment, please call our main number at Boulevard Music: (310) 398-2583
