Each class offered is 8 weeks in length and costs $90-$125. The 1 to 2 hour classes are held once a week. The payment for a class is due in full before the second meeting of a series. Workshops are payable at the 1st meeting. Reservations and pre-enrollment are encouraged as class size is limited.
BEGINNING CLASSES
BEGINNING GUITAR
Learn to play some great classic tunes (folk, country, pop, and rock) while learning accompaniment ideas including rhythms, fingerpicking, transposing (changing the key of a song to better suit your voice, if so desired), note reading, plus some of the fundamentals of music. Learn how to put all of these ideas together to help you make your own arrangement of a song using standard sheet music. Designed for people who are total beginners, and those who have played a little or who want more knowledge concerning accompaniment ideas. Eight two hour classes at a price that can't be beat.
- Monday, April 16, 8-10pm (8 classes) - Gary Mandell - $90
YOUNG PERSON'S GUITAR
A scaled down version of the adult class including some of those current songs they can't wait to play. Rhythm accompaniment ideas are explored. Individual work with note reading is included to insure a good foundation for the future. Fine 1/2 to full size acoustic guitars (Electrics also) available for sale or to rent. For ages 9-14 years old.
- Wednesday, April 18, 4-5pm (8 classes) - Gary Mandell - $90
BEGINNING HARMONICA
Turn a simple harmonica into an exciting blues & country instrument. Learn playing techniques for single notes, clean tone and intonation, bending notes, vibrato, rhythms, chording effects, and scale formations. Blues progressions, fiddle tunes, plus a new song each week! Taught by the man who recorded with Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson. Bring a key of C (we've got them if you need them) 10 hole harmonica.
- Tuesday, April 17, 8-9pm (8 classes) - Chris Smith - $125
BEGINNING SINGING
This weekly class will help you extend your vocal range as well as strengthen your voice in general. Learn breathing techniques as well as vocal exercises to improve your vocal stamina and performance ability. Led by a woman with strong performance credentials who studied with one of the masters of vocal technique.
- Tuesday, April 17, 7-8pm (8 classes) - Sharyn Scott - $120
INTERMEDIATE CLASSES
BEGINNING GUITAR PART II
Designed for people fresh out of Beginning Guitar or those who want to brush up and improve their playing, and expand their repertoire. Learn fun songs in an assortment of styles, new chords, simple theory, and rhythm and fingerpicking ideas. Flatpicking melodies and an intro to fingerstyle blues is included. Developed with over 35 years of teaching experience by a seasoned arranger and guitarist. Great for songwriters and players.
- Thursday, April 19, 7:30-9pm (8 classes - Gary Mandell - $100
BLUES REPERTOIRE WORKSHOP-FOUR WEEKS
Learn basic blues techniques plus blues scale patterns (pentatonics), boogie patterns, blues progressions, and common blues chord forms. Mark will explore standard as well as G open tuning and cover basic slide guitar techniques. Songs will include Mojo Hand by Lightnin' Hopkins, Boogie Chile by John Lee Hooker, and Louisiana Blues by Muddy Waters Taught by a pro who played in the Jesse Ed Davis Band for years and wrote one of the the best books on open tunings.
- Thursday, Apr 19, 6-7:30pm (4 Classes) - Mark Shark - $100
BERNIE'S ACOUSTIC BLUES JAM CLASS
How to jam the blues as taught by the guru of blues in LA County. Improve your skills on how and what to play with people in small acoustic ensembles. Learn more about backup techniques and rhythms and lead playing ideas. Get practice playing with human beings instead of a computer or tape machine. Open to guitar, harmonica, and bass or ask. An eight week course that's fun and just what the doctor ordered.
- Wednesday, April 18, 7-8pm (8 Classes) - Bernie Pearl - $100
BERNIE'S ELECTRIC BLUES JAM CLASS
Bernie Pearl leads an amplified blues jam, open to all instruments. Bernie has played with an array of blues greats, including Big Mama Thornton, Freddie King, Papa John Creach, Lowell Fulson, Big Joe Turner, Otis Rush, B.B. King, and more. He'll share tips and insights on playing ensemble amplified blues gleaned over his 50 years in the blues world. Small amplifiers that only go to 10 please. Eight one hour long class sessions. Class size limited to 10. Such a deal.
- Wednesday, April 18, 8-9pm (8 Classes) - Bernie Pearl - $100
WORKSHOPS
DJANGO GYPSY JAZZ GUITAR WORKSHOP
Stan who teaches this workshop said the following: "In this workshop we will study Django’s great solo on “Undecided” which featured the vocals of Beryl Davis, then a 13-year old singer from England. I had the pleasure of hearing Ms. Davis sing this song at Boulevard Music a few years ago with The John Jorgenson Quintet.This is a song in a major key, which has a lot of wonderful licks and concepts for the aspiring Gypsy Jazz Guitarist. Materials will be distributed in both tab and regular notation."
- Saturday, March 24, 2-3:30pm - Stan Ayeroff - $35
STACY PHILLIPS DOBRO WORKSHOP
Stacy will cover a variety of topics aimed at all levels of players. This includes picking patterns, slants, licks and how to vary them, playing in all keys, building solos out of scalar patterns, using rolls in solos, playing in minor keys, using open strings in all keys, string pulls, and easy retunings. Stacy will teach at least one tune and will be prepared to discuss the dobro in bluegrass, blues, swing, Hawaiian, and country-folk. Topics covered can be decided by the attendees. You can email him with your suggestions for topics at:
archduke@stacyphillps.com
- Saturday, March 31, 4-6pm - Stacy Phillips - $40
BROOKS ROBERTSON FINGERSTYLE GUITAR WORKSHOP
Brooks Robertson learned many of his amazing licks and techniques from the amazing Buster B. Jones. In this workshop he'll pass on some of the great Merle Travis, Jerry Reed, and Buster B. licks and techniques he learned in the months that Jones took him under his wings as his personal student when Brooks was a mere 12 years old. Referred to us by Richard Smith.
- Saturday, April 7, 3-5pm - Brooks Robertson - $35
RICHARD SMITH FINGERSTYLE GUITAR WORKSHOP
Techniques and tips from one of the finest Chet Atkins/Jerry Reed fingerstyle guitarists on the planet. A National fingerstyle champion in fact. A master of Travis Picking, ragtime, and flatpicking. Chord progressions, finger rolls, harmonics, and building an arrangement are a few of the topics covered. Richard will slow down from warp speed and take you step by step through some of the great riffs and licks he’s learned over the years. Participants are welcome to bring their guitars, recorders, or just listen.
- Saturday, April 14, 3-5pm - Richard Smith - $35
RICK RUSKIN FINGERSTYLE GUITAR WORKSHOP
Techniques, tips, and tunes from one of the finest fingerstyle/rhythm/blues players around. A master of swing & ragtime guitar. He learned from the legend, Reverend Gary Davis. His books/videos on these subjects are among the best out there. Participants are welcome to bring their guitars as well as recorders.
- Saturday, May 19, 3-5pm - Rick Ruskin - $35
LAURENCE JUBER FINGERSTYLE GUITAR WORKSHOP
Covering arranging and performing for Fingerstyle Guitar, LJ encourages a musical approach to the guitar. Topics covered include: articulating a 'singing' melody; developing texture, bass-lines, harmonies and voicing; finding the 'groove'. Altered tunings and fresh ways of looking at Standard tuning are explored, using examples from the Beatles to LJ’s own compositions.Lots of useful information, interactivity and fun. Intermediate to advanced. With a Juber concert ticket for this night’s show the workshop is only $35.
- Saturday, June 16, 4-6pm - Laurence Juber - $40 ($35 with Juber conert ticket for this night)
BEGINNING UKE WORKSHOP
YES UKE CAN! By request a one day intro to uke covering all the basics needed to play easy folk and pop tunes. Chord forms, strumming patterns, simple songs and how to put them all together to get you going.
- Call for date and time - Gary Mandell - $35
SLIDE GUITAR WORKSHOP
Learn slide guitar basics that will give you a good foundation to build on. Standard and open tuning work in G, E, and C tuning with tips on vibrato, muting, intonation and more. Tips and slide licks for Blues, Country, and Rock N Roll. Taught by a pro who played in the Jesse Ed Davis Band for years.
- Call for Date and Time- Mark Shark - $35
OPEN TUNINGS AND USING THEM
Alternate tuning use including G, E, and C tuning. DADGAD, minor and suspended, and Wahine tunings. Creating your own tunings, tonal expansion and application. Taught by an expert (Mark Shark) who literally wrote the book, “The Tao of Tunings.” A great compliment to his slide guitar workshop.
- Call for Date and Time - Mark Shark - $35
BEGINNING BANJO WORKSHOP
Learn the fundamentals for all kinds of 5-string banjo styles including bluegrass, traditional and old-timey, and the sounds of the hootenanny folk era. Mark shows you picking, strumming, and essential chords while learning classic songs. A great one day introduction.
- Call for date and time - Mark Shark - $35
BEGINNING MANDOLIN WORKSHOP
Learn the fundamentals for all kinds of mandolin styles including bluegrass, traditional and old timey. Mark shows you picking, rhythm skills, fingering, and essential chords while learning classic fiddle tunes and melodies. A great one day introduction. .
- Call for date and time - Mark Shark - $35
GUITAR FLATPICKING WORKSHOP
This workshop focuses on the foundations of the style of flatpicking the guitar. Concepts include tone production, basic left-hand and right-hand positioning and acquiring chord knowledge of the fret board through the medium of learning fiddle tunes on the guitar. How to use efficient left and right hand techniques to increase speed, improve note clarity and fluidity, and develop good tone.- Call for date and time - Mark Shark - $35
PRIVATE MUSIC INSTRUCTION
Private instruction is available from our roster of fine professionals to meet your personal needs. Instruction is available for the following instruments and voice in an assortment of different styles. Quality teachers with years of experience at an affordable rate. Currently we are offering 4 1/2 hour lessons for $120.
See our TEACHER PROFILES page for details and bios of our teaching staff.
- Guitar-Gary Mandell, Ted Owens, Bernie Pearl, Mark Shark, Stan Ayeroff
- Piano-Gary Mandell, Kate Kohler
- Bass-Valda Hammick, Richard Simon (Upright)
- Violin-Sara Behar, Laura Kass
- Viola-Sara Behar
- Cello-Kevan Torfeh
- Mandolin-Mark Shark
- Harmonica- Chris Smith
- Voice-Sharyn Scott
- Saxophone/Clarinet/Flute-Kyle O'Donnell, Ken Moran
- Trumpet/Trombone
- Drums/Percussion-Stephen Flinn
- Banjo-Mark Shark, Pat Cloud
- Ukelele-Gary Mandell, Mark Shark
- Dobro, Lap Steel, Pedal Steel, Bazouki, Dulcimer & More-Mark Shark
For information and referrals or to schedule an appointment, please call our main number at Boulevard Music: (310) 398-2583
