Accompaniment workshops
Found in: Accompaniment, Marketing & Advertising, Workshops
Terah W., Kansas
I am wondering if any of you have thought about doing an Accompaniment Workshop for current or potential students as a 4 – 6 week affair like we do ‘ordinary’ Workshops? I love Accompaniment, have done lots of it and would love to perhaps do something like this over the summer, but don’t want to reinvent the wheel if there is already something like it out there.
I just think this part (okay, all of it is!) of the program is magical, I have a heart for it as well as for teaching it, plus I think it would be a great pathway to bring folks in to the rest of the program while doing it. I think I could put together a good version for a Workshop over 4 – 6 weeks, but you teachers are such a wealth of ideas, I wanted to hit you all up first!
Laurie Richards, Nebraska
Great idea. Just to clarify for everyone, if you want to use the Accompaniment program in this way for prospective students, you would need to get approval first.
The intention should be to offer something of value with that focus (Accompaniment/worship) while also representing what Simply Music offers as a comprehensive curriculum. (Like you said, ‘a great pathway to bring folks in to the rest of the program’).
Robin Keehn, Washington
We have always done Accompaniment Workshops for our existing students. You plan this at least three months in advance. Have your students prepare three accompaniment pieces (I’d recommend having them play music they love and don’t let them pick anything challenging–difficulty is not the point–playing with the band is). Find yourself some musicians to play with your students. You need a guitar player, a bass player, and a drummer at a minimum. Students need to prepare these pieces. Have them sign up for a 10-minute spot. This is not a performance. This is an opportunity to jam with a band. When it’s their turn, they come in with their family and friends–only who they want there. They hand the band the lead sheets for he music they’ll play and they can count the band in–or you can. Off you go! If they’re prepared they can play 3 pieces in 10 minutes.
Terah W., Kansas
Thanks Robin! You clarified the difference between this very excellent concept of training current students and what I am interested in doing: using the “Acc Workshop of a Different Kind” as a vehicle of introduction, communication, and exposure to the overall method. Therein lies the need for ‘approval’, I suppose. I think an Acc Workshop like this could open many doors and minds to the idea of pursuing music once the magic of accompaniment as a style sparks a person’a imagination.
Laurie Richards, Nebraska
I may be able to help with some ideas. Probably in the forums where it will be easier to track.