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The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday July 30, 2003 - C3 ARTSCE1 Phone: 905-845-3824 (ext. 5559) Fax: 905-337-5567 em ail: nerred@haltonsearch.com W E I ) N K S l ) .\ V . II L Y 3 ( ). 2< k )3 · I > a £ e ( :.i Guitar workshop a jam for students By Craig MacBride SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Over 150 people, from as far away as Texas, attended Appleby College last week to become rock stars. Well, they might not actually become rock stars, but by fully immersing themselves in the instru ments they love day and night, they were definitely beginning to sound more like rock stars. Guitar Workshop Plus covered more than just rock guitar, though. The course offered a choice of rock, jazz, blues, acoustic and classical, and also served bass guitarists, drummers and keyboarders. The week began with student evaluations, so they could be placed in the proper skill level. They then began their musical boot camp, beginning six-hour classes (with a lunch break) at nine in the morning. In the class, which had a maximum of 10 students, there was a lot of hands-on-the-instrument work, mixed with theory and ear training. Following the class was a halfhour ensemble jam session, and then two hours of clinics with pro fessional musicians. Finally, the students got to take a break and have dinner, though afterwards, they were back at clinics or watched the several concerts that took place throughout the week. Robben Ford, Rik Emmett and Lome Lofsky, all guitar legends who have played with the best in different genres, were recruited to play at this year's workshop. After the concerts, some of the students got to go home. Of the approximately 150 students in volved this year, more than 120 spent the week living on campus, which was necessary for the large U.S. and out-of-province contin gents. "It's a full immersion," said Brian Murray, who parted ways with National Guitar Workshop last Gabe Balog, a director with an engineering consulting company who enrolled with his 13-year-old son Andrew, is happy with it. Living in Oakville and not staying on-campus for the week. Balog paid $550 each for him and his son. Those who spent the week at Appleby paid $810, including all meals. Watching his son on stage with other students, all of them showing off what they'd learned, Balog thought it was well worth the price. Professional guitarist/sing er/songwriter Frank Cosentino was leading the band of four guitarists, a faculty bassist and a student drum mer. interrupting to give pointers. What was most impressive was how Cosentino dealt with the stu dents. He wasn't talking down to them, but working with them to improve their skills, more like a mentor. This method seems to be a part of Murray's plan, and it's pay ing off with customer satisfaction. "It's excellent; it's a great expe rience," Balog said. "I just wanted to play with some really great peo ple like Frank, and jam with peo ple." Illustrated by Balog and his son joining up together, there is no age limit or requirement for the work shop. The students' ages range from 11 to 70. To find out more about the Guitar Workshop Plus, visit www.guitarworkshopplus.com. Peter C. McCusker · Oakville Beaver G uest in stru cto r Robben Ford plays d u ring a concert for the G u ita r W orkshop Plus students. year to start up his own workshop. ing off the hook. That's what makes ``It's a very unique program, the me happy, tells me it's working." only one of its kind in Canada." In fact it seems to be working The course helps round out the so well that next year Murray is students' talents, and gives them looking to expand, either to enough to work on to keep them Vancouver and then the U.S.. or to busy until the following year, when an extra week or two in Oakville. many students will return. "This is a great place to do it" ``We've had a very strong Murray said as he walked across the response this year." said Murray, green grass between buildings. "I 36, who played his first profession could save money and do it some al gig at 15. "People walk away where else, but people want to see from here and tell their friends. grass when they wake up, not a Next month, my phone will be ring- parking lot." Peter C. McCusker · Oakville Beaver Classical g u itar iastru cto r A rek Saw zdargo m akes a point about fingers to his clavs. " in sp irin g artistic ex cellen ce" O akville ^ c ad em y Presenting... Royal Academy of Dance Dance Technique Ballet, jazz, tap, aero, stretch & strength Offering Oakville the finest in arts exploration and development. Competitive Dance Please call to arrange an audition. Auditions dates: July 16, July 30 and Aug. 20 from 3:30pm to 6:30pm Hip Hop Instrumental and Vocal Instruction Dramatic Arts Fine Arts and Media Arts R egistering Now fo r Fall 2003 M o rn in g and A fte rn o o n P resch o ol P rog ra m s fo r a ge s 6 m o. to a d u lts · B irth d a y P a rtie s P a cka g es 1011 Upper Middle Road E & Eighth Line 905.844.ARTS (2787) w w w .oakvilleacadem y.com O akville's newest state-of-the-art 7000 sq. ft. fa cility Peter C. McCusker · Oakville Beaver K erry Pigott sits in a t a rock g u itar class at G u ita r W orkshop Plus at Appleby College last week. The Oakville Art Society' s 38thAnnual "D a re to D re a m A n O a k ville In stitu tio n P ro vid in g E xcellence In C lassical B a lle t T rain in g F or O ver 4 0 Years Classical Ballet (R.A.D. & C ecchetti) G eneral D ivisio n Professional D ivisio n Pointe Pas de Deux C haracter - Folk Dance Spanish Dance M odern/Jazz Pilates Body C o n d itio n in g A d u lt Classes IN T H E (D aytim e & Evening S tu d e n ts p e rfo rm w ith th e O a k v ille B a lle t C o m p a n y in O a k v ille 's o w n "The N utcracker". Monday August 4th Civic Holiday 10 am to 5 pm W aterfront H eritage Park in Bronte Located at the foot of Bronte Road at the corn er of O ntario S treet and Jones O akville's Premiere O u td o o r A rt Show O ver 120 artists from throughout Southern Ontario Paintings, Pottery, Sculpture, Glass P hotography and More A ll cla sse s a c c o m p a n ie d b y p ro fe ssio n a l p ia n ists F o u n d e r a n d A rtistic A d v iso r: E liz a b e th P a te rs o n Former M ajor and Children's examiner for the Royal Academ y of Dance (30 yrs.) R esid en t G u e s t T e a c h e r: M e rc e d e s B e rn a rd e z Former Artistic Director o f Quinte Ballet School o f Canada C h ris to p h e r H ird Dancer with the Royal Ballet, England Registration starts Tuesday, August 5th from 2 p.m. - 7 p.m. OaJ&itte Schoolo f (Dance Established 1960 Amanda Anderson, Artistic Director, Frank Bayliss, Administrative Director 260 R obinson St., O akville O N L6J 1G 6 9 0 5 -8 4 4 -7 0 3 5 www.oakvillcballct.com Admission $2.00