Spring Band Workshops
Band Workshops are 11 weeks and start
April 8-15,
with performances June 23-26.
Class Schedule
How To Sign Up: New Students : Returning Students
Want to play in a band? Blue Bear Band Workshops are student bands organized by the school. You'll rehearse with a professional musician who coaches the band in group playing and arrangement. A full workshop consists of two singers, two guitarists, a keyboard player, bassist and drummer, plus horns, harmonica, etc. All groups will arrange and play songs by a variety of artists and groups, most selected by the band members. Students should bring songs on a CD or iPod to the first meeting for consideration. Joining a workshop is a commitment to attend all the sessions on time and to do some practicing on your own. Outside rehearsals are often scheduled by band members.
At the end of the session, each band performs live in a San Francisco club as part of the quarterly Blue Bear Showcases. Basic level bands will perform a 30-minute set. Intermediate level bands will usually appear last on the evening schedule and may play a set of any length up to 40 minutes. Note that your show night is pre-determined and cannot easily be changed - do not sign up for a band if there is any chance you won't be able to make the show. And of course, invite your friends!
See the Blue Bear Calendar for Blue Bear Showcase dates.
Basic Level Workshops
The following Basic level workshops are for all levels of players, but you need a minimum level of competence on your instrument. Guitar players must be totally comfortable moving from open position to bar chords and making chord changes without hesitation. Drummers must be able to play steady time, to do simple fills without breaking the groove or turning the beat around, to learn a variety of drum beats by ear, and to play both straight and swung eighths on the high hat. Bass players must be able to play a variety of bass lines comfortably, to listen to and lock in with the time established by the drummer, and to learn new bass parts by ear. Singers must be able to sing in tune and should be able to memorize lyrics. Keyboard players must know how to form major and minor triads without written notation. Teachers will be able to give some assistance to the learning of parts. Previous group playing experience is not required as long as you have the required proficiency on your instrument.
Cost: $375 (or $130 3x)
Performance dates are noted in parenthesis.
- Basic Rock & Blues Mon 6-8:30pm - Jim Peterson (June 24)
- Basic Rock & Blues @ Lennon Mon 6-8:30pm - Sean Leahy (June 23)
- Basic Rock, Soul and R&B Mon 8:30-11pm - Jim Peterson (June 24)
- Basic Rock & Blues Tue 6-8:30pm - Steve Kirk (June 25)
- Your First Band @ Lennon - Tue 8:45-10:15pm - Janak Ramachandran (June 25)
11 weeks plus performance - Cost: $300 (or $105 3x)
- Basic Rock & Blues Wed 6-8:30pm - Mark Schuh (June 26)
- Basic Rock & Blues @ Lennon Wed 6-8:30pm - Sean Leahy (June 26)
- Classic Rock @ Lennon Wed 8:30-11pm - Sean Leahy (June 26)
- Blues, Soul and Roots @ Lennon Sun 4-6:30pm - Randy Clark (June 24)
Intermediate/Advanced Workshops
These Intermediate/Advanced workshops are for intermediate players with at least a year of experience playing in bands and who also meet the requirements for the Basic workshops. You should be able to read charts and learn parts easily by ear. Teachers (and students) of Intermediate bands have higher expectations of the skill level of band members.
Cost: $375 (or $130 3x)
Performance dates are noted in parenthesis.
- Intermediate Rock & Blues @ Lennon Mon 8:30-11pm - Sean Leahy (June 23)
- Intermediate Rock & Blues Tue 8:30-11pm - Steve Kirk (June 25)
- Contemporary Bands Wed 8:30-11pm - Mark Schuh (June 26)
- Intermediate Rock & Blues Thu 6-8:30pm - J.T. Locke (June 25)
- Jazz Workshop @ Lennon Thu 8:30-11pm - Jim Peterson (June 23)
Blue Bear @ Lennon Studios, 271 Dore St. (near Bryant b/t 9th and 10th) in SF
The Rock & Blues Workshops are wide open as to style. Material may range from oldies to blues, alternative to Top 40. You name it.
The Classic Rock Workshop will draw mostly from the repertoire of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Students get to decide on what "Classic" means!
The Rock, Soul and R&B Workshop will include some classics from the likes of James Brown or Aretha Franklin in the mix.
The Blues, Soul and Roots Workshop covers classic electric blues and the many styles influenced by the blues, including roots rock and roots country.
Contemporary Bands is for those who want to play material by current and emerging artists and bands.
Your First Band is a small ensemble class that will learn and rehearse several rock and blues songs. You'll receive instruction in the culture of the band - etiquette, communication, how to count, beginnings and endings, how to listen. This is a great first step for those who have never played in a band before.
The Jazz Workshop is a small combo: one vocalist, guitarist, keyboard player, bassist, drummer, and up to three horns. A knowledge of scales and progressions is prerequisite, along with some prior reading and improvisational skill. Band members will be reading and soloing from chord charts and will play a diverse mix of old and new jazz standards.
Kids and Teens
Community Youth Band
Mondays 4:30-6pm - 8 week class
J.T. Locke
Cost: $250/sliding scale
Songwriting Band
Wednesdays 4:30-6pm - 8 week class
Bonnie Hayes and J.T. Locke
Cost: $315
For class descriptions and more info, see Kids and Teens. Also see our All-Star Band and Summer Camps programs for teens.
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