Band Workshops

Group classes are 10 weeks and begin the week of Sept. 27, except where noted.

Class Schedule :: How to Sign Up

Band Workshop at the Blue Bear Showcases [photo by: Julie Bernstein]

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. Invite your friends!

See the Blue Bear Calendar for Blue Bear Showcase dates.

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: $345 - except Rockerwomen: $285

• Basic Rock and Blues Mon 6-8:30pm - Jim Peterson
• Basic Rock, Soul and R&B Mon 8:30-11pm - Jim Peterson
• Basic Rock and Blues @ Lennon (SOMA) Mon 8:30-11pm - Sean Leahy
• Basic Rock and Blues Tue 6-8:30pm - Steve Kirk
• Basic Rock and Blues Wed 6-8:30pm - Mark Schuh
• Alt/Country @ Lennon (SOMA) Wed 6-8:30pm - Sean Leahy
• Indie Bands Sat 3:30-6pm - Bill Spooner
• Sunday Rockers Sun 10:30am-1pm - Walter Alexander
• The Blues on Sunday @ Lennon (SOMA) Sun 4-6:30pm - Johnny Nitro
• Rockerwomen @ Lennon (SOMA) Sun 6:45-8:45pm - Lani Kilgariff

These Intermediate/Advanced workshops are for intermediate players with a year of group playing experience who can read charts and learn parts easily by ear.
Cost: $345

• Classic Rock @ Lennon (SOMA) Mon 6-8:30pm - Sean Leahy
• Great Bands: Pink Floyd Wed 8:30-11pm - Mark Schuh
• Intermediate Rock and Blues Tue 8:30-11pm - Steve Kirk
• Intermediate Rock and Blues Thu 6-8:30pm - Bill Spooner
• Jazz @ Lennon (SOMA) Thu 8:30-11pm - Jim Peterson
• Intermediate Rock and Blues Sat 10:30am-1pm - Bill Spooner

Blue Bear @ Lennon Studios, 271 Dore St. (near Bryant b/t 9th and 10th) in SF

The Rock and Blues workshops are wide open as to style. Material may range from oldies to blues, alternative to Top 40. You name it.

And guys, don't even think about enrolling in Rockerwomen.

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 Alt/Country workshop covers the twangy side of rock - Wilco, Dixie Chicks, y'all decide.

Sunday Rockers - Wake up, get out of bed, drag a comb across yer head. Then rock the morning away before heading off into the light of day.

Indie Bands - What'll it be... Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band? Birds and Batteries? You name it!

The Blues Workshop will explore a variety of shuffles and blues-influenced songs.

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.

These weekend bands are for tweens and young teens with at least nine months of lessons and enough skill to keep up in a group setting. Audition may be required; includes optional side-stage performance at the quarterly Blue Bear Showcases.
Cost: $295

• Rockergrrrls Sat 2-3:30pm - Lani Kilgariff
• Sunday Rockschool Level 1 @ Lennon (SOMA) Sun 1-2:30pm - Sean Leahy
• Sunday Rockschool Level 2 @ Lennon (SOMA) Sun 2:30-4pm - Sean Leahy

Also see Kids and Teens