FASA guitar students work under the tutelage of Mario DaSilva, whose diverse musical background brings students a breadth of skill and style. Guitar studies are available for classical and acoustic guitar only and incorporate multiple styles such as country, folk, blues, and classical. Note reading, as well as chord and rhythm chart reading will lay the foundation for students to learn ‘comping’ or accompanying. Our goal is to give students the technical skills to perform and enjoy a variety of styles with ease.
The guitar track is available with a one week or two week option. Students participating in the two week program in the guitar track must also choose a secondary track of study as a vocalist or orchestral instrumentalist.
During week one guitar students will devote their efforts to the guitar track performance, which takes place Saturday, July 17. As week two ensues, guitar track students will move into their secondary tracks in the FASA choir or instrumental tracks to prepare for the final show.
For the details of all the required courses as well as additional elective courses read the descriptions below.
Required Study:
All guitar students will participate in the following.
Private/Small Group Lessons:
Students will participate in 2 lessons throughout their two weeks at FASA. Each lesson will be an hour in length and will include 1- 3 students, depending on age and skill. Parents are encouraged to attend and record or video tape lessons for future review. Additional private lessons may be purchased at $50 per hour.
Technique Class:
Week one: Students will participate in a daily, one hour technique class, designed to suit their individual skill level.
Week two: Students will implement their new technical expertise as the tracks assemble to prepare for the final performance.
Guitar Group:
Students will be learning the repertoire to be performed for both the guitar track performance as well as week two’s final show.
Rhythm Section:
Week one: For piano, guitar, drums, and bass, this daily course is designed to give rhythm section players experience playing in a modern configuration. Pop, country, blues, jazz and rock styles all utilize this core group of players. Rhythm section classes will give students coaching in ‘comping’ in multiple styles. Students will be placed in groups based upon their skill and previous experience.
Week two: Students of all tracks will assemble to prepare for the final performance.
Applied Theory and Improvisation: beginning and intermediate
Week one: Students will participate in a daily 2 hour course that combines both theory and improvisation. The goal of this class is to, not only teach music theory, but give students the means to apply it in performance through improvisation. To improvise is to spontaneously create and perform without previous preparation, and in a musical age offering such a wealth of styles to young performers, the benefits of improvisational skills are great. The improvisational portions of the course will teach the basics of how to improvise in a variety of styles and rhythms, while theory portions of the course will study the basics of reading chord/rhythm charts, note reading, musical keys, and jazz theory.
Students will be grouped into classes based on their level of knowledge and skill.
Week two: Students of all tracks will assemble to prepare for the final performance.
Elective Courses of Study:
The following classes are available for an additional fee.
Bluegrass Band:
Traditional bluegrass instruments, fiddle, guitar, bass, mandolin, and banjo (banjo is only a secondary instrument) are eligible to participate. Each group will have a private coach, and will learn basic soloing/group skills. This elective will be offered daily for one hour during week one only. $75 additional fee.
Songwriting:
Are you interested in writing your own music and lyrics? Here’s your chance to get started. Songwriting classes will guide students who are just beginning, while developing experienced writers who are already hooked, blending the study of both lyric writing and musical composition. This elective will be offered daily for one hour during week one only. $75 additional fee.
Composition and Arranging:
Taught by Bill Wolaver, master arranger and composer, the composition and arranging class is designed for students interested in composing and arranging. It will focus on techniques for melodic and harmonic development, as well as orchstration.This elective will be offered daily for one hour during week one only. $75 additional fee.
Click below for a complete bio.
Mario DaSilva: Classical and acoustic guitar director.
Secondary Tracks
Piano, guitar, bass, drums, and drama offer a one week option not requiring a secondary track.
Students participating for the entirety of FASA in the drama, dance, piano, bass, drum or guitar tracks are required to choose a secondary track, as either a vocalist or as an orchestral instrumentalist.
The purpose of this configuration is to provide students an opportunity to hone their skills and perform individually in their primary track’s performance, while still allowing corporate participation in the final show, as a part of the choir or orchestra.
Week 1 students spend the majority of their time in their primary track preparing for week one’s track performances. For one hour each day students will participate in classes with their secondary track where they will finalize the parts they will be performing during week two.
Week 2 students spend the entirety of their time preparing for the final show in their secondary track in the choir or orchestra.