Workshops:

Special Seminars and Electives

Guitar/Bass Synthesis: Chair of Guitar and Technology, Bill Purse will teach you the ins and outs of MIDI and computers for today's guitarist (all styles); hands-on studies at Duquesne's Music and Technology Center utilizing: GR-1 and new GR-30 Roland Guitar Synths, Macintosh software, and state -of -the art synthesizers, samplers, and controllers techniques, ways to improve tracking; and desktop music publication.

Slide Guitar Techniques:
This workshop will focus on essential techniques for playing electric
and acoustic slide guitar in a rock-blues style that was pioneered by
players such as Duane Allman (electric) and Merle Watson (acoustic
fingerstyle).
Topics to be discussed will include: dampening (muting strings to cut
down on overtones and noises on surrounding strings), finger choices
(considering which finger to wear the slide on to allow for chording
and other types of non-slide playing in a song), using your fingers vs. a
pick, slide types (glass vs. metal), standard and open tuning, scales,
melodic phrasing.
Clinician: John Marcinizyn

Multi-Track Recording: Overview of some of today's most popular techniques from a producer's standpoint; EQ and microphone placement for the guitarist, and many other topics. Learn how to use your equipment to the best of its ability; Professional demo tape production: how to control your budget to get what you paid for; invaluable for home four-track cassette recorder owners. Clinician: Tom Kikta/ President; Digital Dynamics Inc. and Alana Records

The Business of Music: Informational seminars on how to direct your career and avoid the pitfalls in the music industry. Gain business skills in: self-promotion, what it takes to be a professional, behind the scenes insights of the music business, record deals, and more.

Guitar and Bass Maintenance: An in-depth how to session addressing guitar care and maintenance issues. Clinician: TBA

Everything You Want To Know About Amplifiers: An intensive class that will help your maintain and understand the parameters of guitar and bass amplification. Clinician: Rick Struzzi

Performance Development Class: An opportunity for students to practice gaining the control and composure required to successfully perform music.

Equipment and Electronic Effects: A "how to" workshop in the use of outboard electronic effects including the ultimate effect processor Roland's VG-8 Guitar System. How to utilize and design complex signal processing chains and how to pick the best equipment for your style. Demos of up-to-date gear along with special informative uses of effects for the guitar. Clinician: Bill Purse/Chair of Duquesne University's Guitar and Technology Program

Multiple Levels of Music Theory: From beginning theory for the guitarist or bassist with no theory background to more advanced theory for students with some background in music theory.

The Complete Rhythm Guitarist: Studies in all styles of rhythm performance, including: Latin, Jazz, Rock, R & B, Blues and Funk. Includes daily opportunities to perform with professional jazz and rock rhythm sections. Some sight-reading ability is required.

Audition 101: A how-to course for the student who will be auditioning for post-secondary study of the guitar or bass or for a performance spot in a band. Repertoire, scales, sight reading, and much more will be covered so that students will have a competitive edge when auditioning.

Rock and Jazz Ensembles for Guitar and Bass: These classes provides an opportunity to interact with a professional rhythm section. Some sight-reading ability is helpful.

Participant's Concert: An evening concert to be held on the fourth day with a limited number of performers being selected. This event is always the highlight of each year, and is opened to the public.

NOTE: Classes are subject to change or substitution