Verlene's Workshops:

• Arranging for Harp Ensemble
• Beginning Harp - A Hands-on Experience
• Cool Chords and Groovy Rhythms
• Ear, Eye, Hand Coordination
• Ear Training -- Basic
  
• Ear Training -- Advanced
  
• Improvisation
• Jazz on a Cross-Strung Harp
• Performance Master Class
• Playing by Ear Part 1a: Template for Melody -- Major Keys
  
• Playing by Ear Part 1b: Template for Melody -- Modes and Minor Keys
  
• Playing by Ear Part 2a: Context for Chords -- Major Keys
  
• Playing by Ear Part 2b: Context for Chords -- Modes and Minor Keys
  
• Playing "D" Blues
• Playing in Healing Environments
  
• Playing & Improvising Middle Eastern Music
  
• Sing-Along Harper
• Singing Mechanics - a Look Under the Hood
• Singing With the Harp
• Songwriting
• Understanding Learning Styles
• Voice Stylization - Elements of Modern and Traditional Styles
• The Therapeutic Guitarist Series

For more of Verlene's workshop descriptions, visit her Workshop Videos page!

• Harmony Singing I
• Harmony Singing II
• Sightsinging made Simple
• Songwriting I
• Songwriting II
• Songwriting III
• Performance and Stagemanship
• The "Sing-along" Harper
• Cool Chords and Groovy Rhythms
• Vocal Stylization

Cool Chords and Groovy Rhythms -- three options:

Cool Chords & Groovy Rhythms Intro class

One session 1.5 - 2 hours
Modern musical styles use chords that include notes beyond the triad, and rhythms that sometimes swing, sometimes syncopate.  In this workshop, we’ll be looking at chord extensions and altered chords used in jazz, pop and blues, how they’re voiced and how they function within a major key. We’ll also cover the standard jazz and pop rhythm patterns. We’ll play through several examples.   Lots of hand-outs and hands-on!

This is the two part version:

Cool Chords & Groovy Rhythms for Arranging & Improvisation

Two sessions 1.5 - 2 hours each

Modern musical styles use chords that include notes beyond the triad, and rhythms that sometimes swing, sometimes syncopate. This will be a two part workshop covering rhythm patterns and many of the chord extensions and altered chords used in jazz, pop and blues.   Lots of hand-outs and hands-on!

During part one, we’ll be looking at chord extensions, how they’re voiced and how they function within a major key, as well as the standard jazz and pop rhythm patterns, and we’ll play through several examples. 

During part two, we’ll be applying it all by arranging two traditional tunes using chord extensions, chord substitutions, and changing the ‘feel’ by playing a different groove.  We’ll also do some improvisation exercises that will incorporate the cool chords and groovy rhythms learned in part one.   Songs will be provided, but if you have a song you’d like help on, feel free to bring that in.

The best way to attend this workshop is to come for both parts.  But those who have a jazz theory background can skip part one and attend just part two, and those who are not interested in the arranging and improvisation application can come to just part one. 

This is the three part version:

Cool Chords & Groovy Rhythms for Arranging & Improvisation

Three sessions 1.5 - 2 hours each

Modern musical styles use chords that include notes beyond the triad, and rhythms that sometimes swing, sometimes syncopate. This will be a three part workshop covering rhythm patterns and many of the chord extensions and altered chords used in jazz, pop and blues.   Lots of hand-outs and hands-on!

During part one, we’ll be looking at chord extensions, how they’re voiced and how they function within a major key and we’ll play through several examples. 

During part two, we’ll look at the standard jazz and pop rhythm patterns, and play through several examples.  We’ll also do some improvisation exercises that will incorporate the cool chords learned in part one as well as the groovy rhythms covered in part two.

During part three, we’ll be applying it all by arranging two traditional tunes using chord extensions, chord substitutions, and changing the ‘feel’ by playing a different groove.   Songs will be provided, but if you have a song you’d like help on, feel free to bring that in.

The best way to attend this workshop is to come for all three parts.  But those who have a jazz theory background can skip part one and attend just part two if they want the improvisation and rhythms, or part three if they’re just interested in the application toward arranging, and those who are not interested in the arranging and improvisation application can come to just part one. 

The Sing-Along Harper
1.5 - 2 hour workshop
In this class we’ll learn how to “jam” along with a song circle on popular sing-along songs – just like people who play guitar!  We’ll use folk and pop tunes that have words and chords only – no written music.  You’ll learn how to play chords in a variety of rhythm patterns and you’ll learn “fingerpicking” styles to play along with singers and guitarists and other musicians in a group setting.  You can of course also use these patterns to accompany your own singing or another singer or instrumentalist! 

In addition to the song handouts, there are handouts that will help you determine how to set your levers, what notes to omit when the chords travel outside the key, and how to determine the time signature, and establish the “groove” of a song

Singing with the Harp -- two workshops:

Singing with the Harp – a Look Under the Hood (or –Singing Technique)

1.5 - 2 hour workshop
This is a basic “how-to” for singers who play the harp.  We’ll take a look “under the hood” at the mechanics of singing to gain an understanding of the physiology of singing.  Visual concepts and practical exercises will be given to provide a clear path to improving the strength, range, and effectiveness of the singing voice.  We’ll also cover issues concerning singing and playing harp and some tips for coordinating all the muscle activity needed to do both harp and singing at the same time. 

Singing with the Harp – Modern Styles
1.5 - 2 hour workshop
Learn the modern grooves and chords to use for accompanying yourself in jazz, blues, R&B, pop, rock, country, and other modern styles.  This will be a hands-on workshop and will be “hand-out heavy.”  So, bring your harps, and be prepared to have a lot of fun learning rhythmic patterns and cool chords!

Singing Mechanics - a Look Under the Hood

1.5 - 2 hour workshop
This is a basic “how-to” for singers.  We’ll take a look “under the hood” at the mechanics of singing to gain an understanding of the physiology of singing.  Visual concepts and practical exercises will be given to provide a clear path to improving the strength, range, and effectiveness of the singing voice.

Vocal Stylization - Elements of Modern and Traditional Styles

1.5 - 2 hour workshop
In this class, you'll learn what elements go into styles like: jazz, pop, country, rock, bluegrass, folk, blues and so on. Elements include voice timbre and registration, pronunciation, phrasing, ornamentation, and vibrato.

Songwriting

1.5 - 2 hour workshop
In this class, we’ll cover the basics on how to construct a song.  This includes lyrics, melodies, and chords.   We’ll look at song forms, how to include a lyrical or melodic “hook,” how to integrate the melody and lyrics, and how to find chords to support the melody.

Understanding Learning Styles

1.5 - 2 hour workshop
It’s never too late to look into your “style” of learning – Kinesthetic? Auditory? Visual? Right brain? Left brain? Concrete? Abstract?  All these and more will be discussed complete with tests you can take to assess your style.  Then, learn to use your strengths to help build skills in those areas that may have seemed illusive in the past.

Improvisation -- three workshops:

Intro to Improvisation

1.5 - 2 hour workshop
Improvisation is very useful. You can improvise: when you forget where you are in an arranged piece; while waiting for the cue to start the processional music; to check your tuning; for meditation; for creative expression…  Learn some simple patterns and tools for improvisation that you can apply right away!

Improvisation for Meditation

1.5 - 2 hour workshop
In this class we’ll learn patterns and modes that work well to accompany spoken meditations and guided visualizations. These same ideas will work well for playing for Labyrinth walks, or in hospital or hospice settings.

Improvising Middle Eastern Music on Lever Harp

1.5 - 2 hour workshop (for therapeutic musicians)
When playing for patients from other cultures, it is nice to be able to offer music that is closer to home for them. Learning a few tunes from every culture is a great ambitious goal, but rather than having several distinct melodies in your memory banks, you can learn a few simple scales and chord progressions that will give you hours of improvisational material. This workshop will focus on middle eastern scales and chords that can be played on lever harp, although any instrument will be able to apply them as well.

Ear-Eye-Hand Coordination

1.5 - 2 hour workshop
In this class you’ll learn to coordinate hearing music (ear) with reading music (eye) and with muscle memory (hand) for more success in playing from written music, or by ear, or improvisationally!

Ear Training -- Basic

1.5 - 2 hour workshop
In this workshop, open to all musicians, you'll start with matching pitches, then move to intervals, and then on to phrases that include steps, skips, larger leaps, and chord patterns. Each section will include instructions and demonstrations, tips and concepts to help you identify and match what you hear. You will participate by filling in your answer sheets (handouts provided ahead of time) for each set of examples that Verlene will play on four different instruments (harp, keyboard, guitar, and violin). At the end of each section, she will show the answer key so you can check your answers. 

Ear Training -- Advanced

1.5 - 2 hour workshop
In this workshop, open to all musicians, you will be presented with more advanced sequences as well as chord identification. As in the Basic Ear Training workshop, you will participate by filling in your answer sheets (handouts provided ahead of time) for each set of examples that Verlene will play on four different instruments (harp, keyboard, guitar, and violin). At the end of each section, she will show the answer key so you can check your answers.

Harmony Singing I
In this class you will learn how to sing harmonies!  Each class session will include some listening and ear-training exercises and some of the chord basics necessary to build harmonies.  By the end of this five-week course, you’ll be singing harmonies to some familiar tunes.  Handouts and a practice CD are included in the class fee. 

Harmony Singing II 
For those who have some experience already in harmonizing and know basic chord theory, this class will go a step further by harmonizing outside of the basic three note chord.  It will include creating counter melodies and some simple jazz harmony.  Handouts and a practice CD are included in the class fee.

Sightsinging Made Simple 
In this class you will learn the Sol-feg system of sightsinging (that’s Do Re Mi, etc.)  You’ll be given exercises for learning the syllables used, and for learning all of the intervals of the major scale.  You’ll learn how to recognize the key from the key signature, and how to “find Do” in any key.  The goal by the end of the five week course is to be able to sightsing a number of melodies from the “Name that Tune” handout.  Handouts and a practice CD are included in the class fee. 

The “Sing-Along” Harper 
In this class we’ll use the Rise Up Singing book to learn how to “jam” along with a song circle on popular sing-along songs.  We’ll also use a few pop tunes that I will bring in as handouts.  You’ll learn how to “comp chords” in a variety of rhythm patterns to play along with the singers and guitarists in a group setting.  You can of course also use these patterns to accompany your own singing or another singer or instrumentalist!  If you don’t have a copy of Rise Up Singing, you can order one from me ahead of time and I’ll have your copy at the first class – and you can reimburse me then.

Songwriting I
This class covers the basics on how to construct a song.  This includes lyrics, melodies, and chords.   We’ll look at song forms, as well as song styles.  Each week there will be a brief in-class writing exercise and a take-home project that will build your writing skills.  You will also have the opportunity to work on a song that is an ongoing work-in-progress throughout the five-week course.  Each week you will apply another element of songwriting.  The goal is for each class member to have written a song that is in a finished form by the end of the five weeks.  Individuals in the class will have the option to ask for input during the class time on their work-in-progress or homework assignment.

Songwriting II 
A continuation of Songwriting I, this class will dig in deeper to understand what makes a song lyric work – how to include a “hook” in the lyrics as well as the melody, how to match the lyrical content and verbal style to the musical style, and how consonants and vowels effect both the meaning and the "sing-ability" of the song.  There will be assignments throughout the five weeks and the goal is to have a minimum of five songs in some stage of completion by the end of the course.

Songwriting III 
This class is for songwriters who already know the basics about form, melody, lyric writing, and chords.  We’ll discuss some of the finer points of lyric writing, melodies, and chords, and spend most of the time working with songs brought in by class members.   The goal here is for each class member to finesse a song that was already in some kind of finished form before the beginning of the first class.  We'll also cover how to register for copyright.

Performance & Stagemanship 
In this class we’ll work on presentation skills such as how to introduce yourself and your songs, how to interact with the audience, what to do with the microphones, how to interact with the sound crew, and how to deliver your song effectively. Each week, we will cover the how-to’s and you’ll get some practice with each of these aspects.  We'll videotape each week, and on the fourth week, each will have an opportunity to put it all together in a 10 minute "show."  Have songs prepared to perform for this part.  Bring a blank VCR tape if you would like a copy of the tape.