Winter Band Workshops
"Best Ready-Made Rock Band" Winner in the
SF Bay Guardian's Best of the Bay 2011!
Band Workshops are 10 weeks and start January 16-22,
with performances April 1-4.
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: $340
Performance dates are noted in parenthesis.
- Basic Rock & Blues Mon 6-8:30pm - Jim Peterson (April 2)
- Basic Rock & Blues @ Lennon Mon 6-8:30pm - Sean Leahy (April 1)
- Basic Rock, Soul and R&B Mon 8:30-11pm - Jim Peterson (April 2)
- Basic Rock & Blues Tue 6-8:30pm - Steve Kirk (April 3)
- Basic Rock & Blues @ Lennon Wed 6-8:30pm - Sean Leahy (April 4)
- Basic Rock & Blues Wed 8:30-11pm - Mark Schuh (April 4)
- Classic Rock @ Lennon Wed 8:30-11pm - Sean Leahy (April 4)
- Teen Rock & Blues Sat 3-5:30pm - Steve Kirk (April 2) (also see Kids and Teens)
- The Blues on Sunday @ Lennon Sun 4-6:30pm - Randy Clark (April 2)
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: $340
Performance dates are noted in parenthesis.
- Intermediate Rock & Blues @ Lennon Mon 8:30-11pm - Sean Leahy (April 1)
- Offsite Intermediate Rock & Blues Tue 7-9:30pm - Sean Leahy (April 3)
- Intermediate Rock & Blues Tue 8:30-11pm - Steve Kirk (April 3)
- Intermediate Rock & Blues Thu 6-8:30pm - Colin Hayes (April 3)
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 include everything from your favorite British invasion bands to songs from the Summer of Love - whatever you deem to be "classic."
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 on Sunday Workshop will explore a variety of shuffles and blues-influenced songs.
Kids and Teens
Teen Rock & Blues Workshop
Saturdays 3-5:30pm (performance April 2)
Steve Kirk
Cost: $340
After School Rock Band
Call us at 415-673-3600 with a minimum group of four and we can schedule a 10-week After School Rock Band session to start anytime.
Cost: $225 (1 hour/week) or $315 (1.5 hours/week)
Also see Kids and Teens
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