FASA woodwind students will enjoy a diverse array of styles from both the classical and jazz world. Technical training, as well as theory and improvisation, provide a comprehensive foundation by which students can excel in both skill and performance.

For the details of all the required courses as well as additional elective courses read the descriptions below.

Required Courses of Study:

All brass and woodwind 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.

Big Band and Orchestra:

Throughout FASA students will participate in both big band and orchestra. Led by jazz pianist/arranger, Bill Wolaver, big band offers young players opportunities to improvise on favorite jazz tunes and explore the masters of new and old – Count Basie, Glenn Miller, and Stevie Wonder. In orchestra, students of all instrumental tracks converge to perform great classical and pops repertoire.

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.

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. Because the current musical era offers such wide variety 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.

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.