City Music Centre (East)
All Saturday morning and weekday twilight classes take place at:
Brighton & Hove Music, Arts and Study Support
County Oak Avenue, Brighton BN1 8DJ
Emma Collins, Team Leader, City Music Centre (East)
Instrumental / Vocal Techniques
At City Music Centre (East) students gain their first instrumental/vocal experience by joining one of our technique classes. These sessions focus on the development of specific instrumental/vocal techniquesrequired for a range of popular/contemporary styles, with an emphasis on learning through performance. Classes are designed for students who have been learning for approximately one year, through to more experienced players. Collaborations between students from different instrumental/vocal groups are encouraged, creating exciting performance opportunites for all students as part of our lunchtime concert series.
Drum Kit Techniques
Day/Time: Saturdays 9.00-10.00am, 10.00-11.00am, 11.15am-12.15pm
Tutor: Sam Glasson
Techniques covered in these sessions include timekeeping, improvisation, soloing, and performing style, with backing tracks used to develop these skills. The drum kit studio is equipped with Pearl Drum kits, Zildjian cymbals, Roland VHD-1 V drum kits, a Roland TD8K drum kit and audio equipment. The three classes are progressive, with students usually gaining their first experience of this larger-group tuition at the 9.00am class.
Guitar Techniques
Day/Time: Saturdays 9.00-10.00am, 10.00-11.00am, 11.15am-12.15pm
Tutor: Mark Preston
Techniques covered in these sessions include scale and chord patterns, improvisation, sound creation and performance styles which are explored through audio/visual examples and discussion. The classes provide opportunities for electric, acoustic and bass guitarists to enhance and develop their playing.
Keyboard Techniques
Day/Time: Saturdays 9.00-10.00am, 10.00-11.00am, 11.15am-12.15pm
Tutor: Rosemary Kemp
Techniques covered in these sessions include improvisation, part-playing and further exploration of a variety of contemporary styles. The keyboard studio is equipped with Yamaha DJX's, Roland EM10's and EM20's, however students are also invited to bring their own instrument. The three classes are progressive, with students usually gaining their first experience of this larger-group tuition at the 11.15am class.
Vocal Techniques
Day/Time: Saturdays 9.00-10.00am: Primary (Yrs 5 and 6), 10.00-11.00am, 11.15am-12.15pm
Tutor: Lucy Pickering
Vocal classes give students an opportunity to develop techniques required to sing a range of contemporary pop styles and take place in our vocal studio which has a fully equipped PA and audio equipment. Techniques covered in the sessions include voice production, backing singing, interpretation and microphone technique.
Applications are welcomed from any students who enjoy singing a wide variety of popular music. The three classes are progressive, beginning with a class for children in years 5 and 6 (9.00am), followed by classes for secondary-age students.
Grade V Theory
Day/Time: Tuesdays 4.00-5.00pm (September enrolment), 5.00-6.00pm (January enrolment), 6.00-7.00pm (Fast track)
Tutor: Joe Samuel
One year courses are available with the specific aim of preparing students for the ABRSM grade V theory examination. A minimum entry requirement for this course is a knowledge of all major and minor key signatures and an ability to read both treble and bass clefs. The Fast Track session offers a shorter theory course, designed to help experienced instrumentalists with a good understanding of music theory to imporve specific areas of knowledge in preperation for the examination.
Jazz Band
Day/Time: Tuesdays 4.30-5.30pm
Tutor: Richard Baker and Emma Collins
Jazz Band provides an opportunity for players to develop improvisation and reading skills, while exploring a broad range of music. Recent performances have included swing, blues and latin classics, through to modern day pop and funk styles. For many students this is their first experience of playing in a specialist jazz ensemble. Applications are invited from students of saxophone, trumpet and trombone who have reached a standard of Grade 4 or above and students of drum kit, guitar, bass (acoustic or electric) and keyboard, with the required reading skills. Applicants may be asked to attend an informal audition.