Humble iN' Creative
Music Seminars 2024
All Humble iN’ Music Seminars, except for our ‘Music as a Meditation’ Series,
include a 15-20 minute 'Music Fundamentals' component within the Session.
All Humble iN Creative Seminars and Workshops are $50,
except for the 'Music as a Meditation' Workshop which is $30
December 30, 2023
Music as a Meditation
- Workshop -
For Music Enthusiasts and Anyone interested
We hope you will join us on the Saturday afternoon before the New Year, for a celebration of the healing and connective power of Music and the roles it plays in our lives.
• A brief presentation on Spiritual Music throughout history
• Musical meditations for practicing musicians
• Psycho-Acoustics and Present Moment Awareness
• Guided Drum circle, with accompaniment
2 - 4pm
January 4th Seminars
Instrumental Overview
For musicians
(intermediate-professionals)
and enthusiasts of all backgrounds
In this our Opening Seminar, Mark will be performing excerpts from his own originals and cover material, in order to demonstrate a variety of playing techniques and stylistic approaches to playing Guitar, Keyboards, Bass, Vocals, Djembe, and Ukulele.
Common arranging methods will be discussed and demonstrated with the aid of some pre-recorded materials, and if time permits, Mark will also demonstrate and talk about the development of his original techniques on Guitar, and the invention of the ‘Piantar’.
11am - 1pm
Improvising Basics
For Musicians
(intermediate - advanced)
Experienced improvisors know that their craft is a joyous life-long study, and that there are many approaches
to this subject.
In this seminar, Mark will briefly review some Music Fundamentals, before discussing and demonstrating the Modes (mostly on piano), as well as a variety of
other useful scales.
We will be going over important chord progressions, chord voicings, expanded and altered harmony, as well as accompaniment patterns, dynamics and tone considerations.
We’ll introduce you to the methods used in various music styles that incorporate improvising as an important component, such as Classical, Blues, Jazz, Rock, Country, World and Ambient styles, etc.
He will also share with you some of his more unconventional approaches to improvising, and various methods for creating solos and parts.
Demonstrations will be given on Piano, Guitar, Bass, Vocal and Djembe.
2 - 4pm
January 5th Seminars
Advanced Guitar Concepts
For Guitarists
(intermediate - advanced)
In this Seminar, Mark will be focusing on technically and theoretically challenging aspects of playing, performing, and studying guitar - using both conventional and unconventional approaches.
Included will be an overview of various practice and playing strategies for achieving different goals.
He will share some of his unique insights into the instrument, some of his favourite players young and old, as well as his thoughts on where the Guitar and Music in general might be headed in the future.
11am - 1pm
Alternate Tuning Seminar
For Guitarists
(intermediate - advanced)
In 1999 Mark inadvertently developed a method of instantly improvising in any tuning on guitar. He has performed hundreds of these improvisations around Ontario Canada, and has also received some international attention and respect from world class players for this unusual approach to improvising on guitar.
In this Seminar, Mark will be unpacking what led to these discoveries, and how you might make use of them for your own music.
He will also review some more conventional methods of approaching alternate tunings.
2 - 4pm
January 6th Seminars
Building Healthy
Vocal Performance
For Singers
(intermediate - advanced)
In this Seminar we aim to increase the knowledge within your understanding of Vocal Performance, and offer effective methods of applying practical technical skills to your delivery. We’re here to help broaden your musical palate, to help you grow confidence, as you add colours to your voice.
We’ll be presenting:
-
Philosophy of Singing:
Physiology, Psychology
Reassigning Fear and Nervousness
-
History & Vocal Roles:
Vocal Styles within Various Musical Genres
Listening approaches
-
Creating Magic in Vocal Performance:
Prerequisites : Breathing, Reassigning Fear and Nervousness
The Mechanics of the Voice:
The Importance of Technique:
Song choices for your voice
There will be time for discussions and further Q & As during and following the seminar.
11am - 1pm
Harmonising, Vocal Arranging, Choral Singing
- Workshop -
For Singers
(Intermediate - Advanced)
Please Fill out the Registration Form & Questionnaire (optional)
and email a copy to MJ Russell at: lifeisimprovised@gmail.com
In this first vocal workshop Mark and I will discuss Choral Vocal fundamentals, review a brief history of choral music, discuss the basics of choral sounds & styles with live and audio/AV examples.
We’ll also be looking advanced listening skills, understanding the collective focus, section gravitation, etc..
And then we will assign choir sections and get to work breaking down a few new song sections, analysing, arranging, harmonising and then performing and recording in this workshop.
Depending on the size of this group, we’ll work up to four part harmonies. Each group will practice and create a choral section which, when we reconvene, we’ll blend together and record in several musical genres. Great fun for us all.
We’ll record and send each participant a copy of the recording.
We hope you’ll join the fun, Singers.
N.B. Choral, Sight Singing and Theoretical training are not required in this improvisational workshop.
2 - 4pm